Stevia sweetener is a natural sweetener, made from a medicinal plant called Stévia that has sweetening properties.
It can be used to replace sugar in cold, hot drinks and culinary recipes. Without calories, it sweetens 300 times more than ordinary sugar and can be used by children, pregnant women and diabetics, according to the doctor or nutritionist's advice.
Adding 4 drops of Stevia is the same as putting 1 tablespoon of white sugar in a drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where does Stevia come from?
Stevia is a plant found in South America, present in the following countries: Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Its scientific name is Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni and sweetener Stevia can be found in several countries around the world.
2. Can diabetics, pregnant women and children use Stevia?
Yes, Stevia is safe and can be used by people with diabetes, pregnant women or children because it has no side effects or allergies. Stevia also protects teeth and does not cause cavities. However, diabetics should only use it with the knowledge of their doctor, because Stevia, if consumed exaggeratedly, may need to change the dose of insulin or hypoglycemic that the person is using, to prevent blood sugar from decreasing too much.
3. Is Stevia all natural?
Yes, the Stevia sweetener is completely natural because it is made with natural plant extracts.
4. Does Stevia alter blood glucose?
Not exactly. Because Stevia is not the same as sugar, it will not cause hyperglycemia, and when consumed moderately, it will also not cause hypoglycemia, and so can be used quietly in case of diabetes or gestational diabetes, but always with the knowledge of the doctor.
5. Does Stevia hurt?
No, Stevia is safe for health and is not harmful to health because it is not like other industrialized sweeteners that contain sweeteners. However, it should be used sparingly. See the side effects and contraindications of Stevia.
Price and Where to buy
It is possible to buy Stevia in liquid form, in powder or in tablets, in some hypermarkets, in natural products stores or through the internet, and the price varies between 3 and 10 reais.
A bottle of Stevia Pure has a higher concentration of the plant and therefore only 2 drops equals 1 tablespoon of sugar. This can be bought in stores of natural products and costs about 40 reais.
See other healthy and sweetener options to replace sugar.
