I’ve gone back and forth with stevia for years. It seems like sometimes I like it, sometimes I love it, and sometimes I’m like, “meh.”
But the bottom line is, stevia has helped me out of a tight spot more than once. I’ve been known to have a sweet tooth, and the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve been privy to diseases like diabetes that are dominated by diet and lifestyle choices.
Hence, the advent of stevia as my sweetener of choice.
The only downside to it that I can tell is stevia’s bitter aftertaste, which can easily be remedied with the debittered or flavored stevia. Aside from that, I have nothing but praise.
If you’re new to it, [bctt tweet=”stevia is a plant native to Paraguay that is 300 times sweeter than regular table sugar,”] and minus the calories. Due to its potency, only a small amount is necessary to sweeten. Plus, it has a zero GI, or glycemic index, making it ideal for diabetics or pre-diabetics.
Once stevia leaves reach their peak sweetness, they're harvested and dried, and in a process similar to steeping tea, the dried leaves are soaked in water to unlock the sweet substance trapped in the leaf.
The finished product is a high purity sweetener that can be eaten alone or used in combination with other natural sweeteners to deliver great-tasting low-, no- and reduced-calorie drinks and foods.
Stevia-based products are used in juices, tea, desserts, sauces, yogurt, breads, or just as a tabletop sweetener. The indigenous people of Paraguay used powdered stevia leaves to sweeten beverages for centuries and by the 1800’s, stevia consumption was established throughout South America, including Argentina and Brazil.
In 2008, a high purity stevia extract containing the steviol glycoside rebaudioside A (rebiana) earned Generally Recognized as Safe status under the laws administered by the FDA allowing it to be used in foods and beverages. Japan and Europe have also given their seal of approval for stevia as well.
Now, more and more people have discovered all-natural stevia. I use it for a variety of reasons, including baking, to sweeten lemonade and iced tea, raw pudding, even soups. And I never feel guilty about eating any of it! Stevia eliminates the guilt factor from eating because it’s natural, making it a higher quality sweetener than refined sugar, and I just naturally eat less too because I get my sweet fix in half the amount it normally takes with sugary foods.
Not to mention, stevia doesn’t have the same effect as sugar when it comes to how I feel when I eat it in that it doesn’t suck my energy or leave me feeling lethargic because it doesn’t rush your blood sugar in the same way sugar does thereby leaving you on an even keel.
Therefore, in my opinion, it’s a win-win all around!
You can purchase stevia in any natural health food store, or online. As a general rule, when using stevia in place of sugar, substitute ½ tsp stevia for 1 tsp sugar. Stevia In The Raw is a great brand that mixes and blends exactly like white sugar, so you can substitute cup for cup in every cooking, baking or beverage recipe.
You can sprinkle stevia on cereal, oatmeal, fruit, or bake cakes, cupcakes, or muffins. Prettty muh whatever you want! And it tastes just as sweet as sugar.
As far as I'm concerned, taste buds rejoice!
To find out more ways to get more energy naturally, download a free copy of my new report The Top 10 Ways to Stop Feeling So Tired All the Time – Drug-Free and Naturally! just by clicking below!
Love,
Angela
Angela Minelli is an author, speaker and founder of Angela Minelli International, a heart-based global business serving purpose-driven everyday women and entrepreneurs whose self-image and weight issues are inhibiting their confidence and blocking them from pursuing their life’s passion.
Angela's joy is in taking a stand for women who are living less than ideal lives, stopped by fear and doubt, which prevents them from stepping into their innate power and delivering their God-given genius to the world. Her coaching programs and products are designed for women with busy lifestyles yet allow for powerful transformation to take place within a small segment of time.
As a natural health practitioner and digestive health specialist, Angela specializes in helping people overcome weight and energy issues through holistic, non-invasive protocols that address the root cause of their conditions, including adrenal fatigue, candida, thyroid disorders, and more.
Explore the ideals that are the cornerstone of her work at angelaminelli.com.