If you are trying to reduce calories and sugar in your diet, then you may be wondering what is the healthiest sugar substitute to use. But when the matter is healthy sugar substitute, things can get a little confusing. There is a variety of sugar alternatives on the market claiming to be healthy when in reality they are nothing more than artificial sweeteners.

To be healthy it needs to be natural. Natural sweeteners are derivative from plants. They taste like sugar but contain less calories than the real thing. Even better, they do not raise blood-sugar levels and can help prevent various illness such as type 2 diabetes. A great example of natural sweetener are pure stevia products.

Stevia is a natural sweetener extracted from the plant Stevia, ich is native to South Africa. Pure stevia products have no calories and no carbohydrate. Available in liquid and powder form, pure stevia products can be found in online and offline natural food shops and can be used to substitute sugar in basically any kind of baking and beverage.

The advantages of using stevia to replace sugar in your diet are numerous. In its pure form, stevia sugar substitute is non-caloric and doesn’t impact glucose levels – a great advantage for hypoglycemics and diabetics. Plus, it contains no fat or carbohydrates, so it’s ideal for dieters (especially those watching carb intake). Unlike artificial sweeteners, when measured properly pure stevia products have little aftertaste and cause no side effects. In fact, it has been safely consumed around the word for decades. Because stevia is a sugar-free product, it can also be used by those who suffer from candida.

As mentioned above, stevia can be used as a healthy substitute in baking and cooking since it is heat stable. However, use one teaspoon of the stevia for one cup of sugar since stevia is 200-300 times sweeter than real sugar. When used in beverages, stevia dissolves easily and quickly – depending on your preferences, only a pinch may be needed.

When shopping for pure stevia products, keep in mind that you usually get what you pay for. So don’t buy a product based only on the price solely; taste and quality also matter. Also, higher percentage of stevioside doesn’t necessarily make stevia better; you can find great quality stevia with this main plant composition at even 80%. And start slowly. Use a minimal amount as it can be overwhelming if you add too much in the beginning. You can always add more later if necessary.