Is Stevia a Good Replacement for Sugar? Complete Guide

Stevia is becoming more and more well-liked as a calorie-free, plant-based substitute for sugar. Because it is taken from a plant rather than being created in a lab, many people prefer it to artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame. It is especially well-liked by those with diabetes or poor blood sugar management because it has few to no carbs and doesn't cause a sudden surge in blood sugar.

Stevia is a sugar substitute made from the Stevia rebaudiana plant's leaves. For hundreds of years, people have consumed these leaves for their sweetness and utilized them as herbal medicines to manage high blood sugar. Steviol glycoside molecules, which are 400–450 times sweeter than ordinary sugar, are what give them their sweet flavor.

How is So Sweet Stevia processed?

• Leaf particles are filtered out from the liquid.
• The liquid is treated with activated carbon to remove additional organic matter.
• The liquid undergoes an ion exchange treatment to remove minerals and metals.
• The glycosides that remain are concentrated into a resin.

What's left is concentrated stevia leaf extract that has been dried using a spray gun and is prepared to be turned into sweeteners. To sweeten food or beverages, the extract is typically provided as either a highly concentrated liquid — like our Stevia Liquid Drops — or in convenient single-serve sachets.

There are various sugar substitutes made from stevia. These products have the same volume and sweetening power as sugar but none of the calories or carbs. In baking and cooking, they can be used as a 1:1 substitution — try our Stevia Powder for all your baking needs.

Is So Sweet Stevia healthier than sugar?

So Sweet Stevia has fewer calories than sugar, and stevia may aid in weight loss by encouraging you to consume fewer calories. For those following low-calorie or low-carb diets, it's a fantastic sugar substitute because it has neither calories nor carbs. Stevia reduces the Glycemic Index (GI) of foods, which means that they have a smaller impact on blood sugar levels. Table sugar has a GI of 65, while stevia has a GI of 0 since it includes nothing that raises blood sugar levels.

If you prefer tablet form, our Stevia Tablets are perfect for tea and coffee. For baking, explore our Stevia Extract for a highly concentrated option.

Is there a link between stevia and cancer?

There is some evidence to support the idea that stevia may aid in the treatment or prevention of some cancers. A 2012 case study demonstrated that glycoside stevioside, which is present in stevia plants, promotes cancer cell death in a human breast cancer line. These results were supported by a 2013 case study.

Not sure which sweetener is right for you? Explore our full range — Erythritol, Xylitol, and Monk Fruit Sweetener — or shop our Combo Packs for the best value.

Also read: How to Avoid Weight Gain with a Sedentary Lifestyle | How So Sweet Stevia Helps with PCOS | How to Cut 400 Calories a Day by Switching to Stevia