Truly Sweet Stevia

When I enthusiastically recommend the health promoting herb, stevia, to people as a natural sweetener, the response of those who have tried it may often be a nasty face, a yuck. And that reputation for stevia has gotten around even to those who have not tried it. This is because some forms of stevia on the market are indeed very bitter, and if people are not prepared for how little to use, the first taste can be a shocker. After that, they may never try it again, and may wonder how anyone in his right mind would want to. Stevia is so concentrated a sweet that just one extra drop is way too much, though over the years of using all the brands, I have found some that I am very pleased with, and I can squirt away at my leisure, pointing the dropper and knowing the sweetening is occurring in a gentle way. I no longer have to hover over it with my face close to the dropper, counting each drop and stirring and tasting after ever one.

Unfortunately, some companies use dextrose with the stevia to accomplish this, and that completely cancels out the benefits of stevia as far as I am concerned. Stevia itself does not raise the glucose levels, and is natural, not a sugar, so it allows us to avoid things like dextrose. Adding it makes absolutely no sense to me at all.

Stevia is wonderful for those who avoid sugars because they are hypoglycemic, diabetic, have candida issues, or are simply minding their health and beauty. Stevia helps us become more tolerant to glucose, keeps us from digesting as much of it, and keeps us from craving it. Often the craving for alcohol is because of the sweetness so it can help that too.

Sugar is not good for anyone, as it causes inflammation of the body leading to wrinkles and aging. It also lowers the immune system drastically immediately upon consumption. It throws off the liver, spleen, pancreas, and creates mental fog. It causes cavities and gum disease. There are many substitutes for sugar, and all the chemical ones are worse than sugar itself, with well proven ill effects. Agave is a much better, choice as it is low on the glycemic index, but it does still act as a sugar somewhat.