Stevia: Nature’s Alternative To Artificial Sweeteners

Due to the potential toxicity and unknown long term consequences of using artificial sweeteners, it is good to know that there is a safe alternative

Stevia is a slow release sweetener that can be used by those who don’t want to use sugar or artificial sweeteners and who are sensitive to either It is wonderful for diabetics as well

The Indians of Paraguay have used Stevia for centuries Europeans learned of Stevia when the Spanish Conquistadors of the sixteenth century sent word to Spain that the natives of South America had used it Stevia comes from a shrub native to the northern regions of South America It is now also grown in Brazil, Uruguay, Central America, the US, Israel, Thailand and China We here in the US simply refer to it as the Stevia plant

It has very potent sweetening properties and can be used instead of sugar for cooking, baking, and sweetening pretty much anything in place of sugar or artificial sweeteners that are used in practically everything processed today It is probably one of the safest sweeteners on the market

Stevia is completely natural and doesn’t affect blood sugar levels like sugar does, or pollute our bodies like artificial sweeteners do Plus, you don’t need to use much, since it is very concentrated You most likely won’t find Stevia on your grocer’s shelves yet, but it is available at whole food and natural food stores everywhere It generally comes in liquid or powdered form For those concerned with sugar intake, Stevia is a wonderful alternative

Corie Goodson MPH CHES is a health educator, speaker, freelance writer and author of Tween Kwisine: A Road to Better Health

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