Does the body process it and store it like sugar? Just curious if it’s healthier and what other effects it has that aren’t common knowledge.
Thanks
I can’t make any comments as to whether it’s healthier or not, as that kind of depends on the person and the dietary context. We do generally need some amounts of sugar to actually function as humans.
That said, if you’re trying to cut sugar but like sweetness, stevia is a good option (assuming you like the flavor) because it does taste sweet (actually, much sweeter than sugar) but is fully passed by our digestive system. You can read more about it here (disclaimer: that is an article on a stevia producer’s website so it’s absolutely biased, but as far as I know it’s still correct), but basically, stevia is never stored in our body as energy; it comes out through the colon and the kidneys.
Edit: if it doesn’t go without saying, that’s what it means to be a zero-calorie sweetener; our body doesn’t get any energy out of it. There are other 0-cal and low-cal sweetener options out there too.
Stevia has zero effect on blood glucose and it is a more “natural” artificial sweetener in theory as it’s from a plant but what you use at home is still highly processed.
I use it and like it.
Edit: I use truvia which has erythritol which is also naturally occurring and cuts stevia’s bitterness.
The body does not process or store Stevia like sugar. Stevia is natural in that it comes from the Stevia leaf. An important fact to keep in mind is that it is much, much sweeter than sugar… approximately 30x sweeter than sugar. So, if you substitute Stevia for sugar, adjust your portions accordingly. Otherwise, you might not like the taste. As for healthier versus not healthier compared to sugar, I am unsure. I can say this, though; it is a great alternative for diabetics and other people who need to watch their blood sugar levels, such as people with hypoglycemia. I, personally, do not need to watch my blood sugar levels; I learned about Stevia from a friend who manages her diabetes dietetically. She is fortunate to be able to do so.
From a calorie/blood sugar perspective, everyone else pretty much nailed it. There is some reason to believe that stevia may be related to problems with gut bacteria though, which should prompt a closer look. https://www.google.com/amp/s/neurosciencenews.com/stevia-microbiome-17382/amp/(Sorry i don’t know how to use mobile well and I’m in a hurry!)
Perfectly fine to consume. Artificial sweeteners in general are a safe and effective sugar substitute. Obviously stevia is more ‘natural’ which certainly doesn’t automatically make something healthier. But in this instance it’s totally fine and if it helps you cut down on sugar then have at it
I used stevia by itself for hot cocoa, sure it’s sweet but tastes metallic. If blended half and with sugar then taste is tolerable but I know you want zero calorie. It’s.probably like most things and you’ll get use to it