Ask the Herbalist: Is Stevia Really Better than Artificial Sweeteners?
Q: Is stevia really better than artificial sweeteners? A: Imagine walking out into your garden and picking a sweetener to add to your coffee or tea. A quarter to a half of a leaf is all you would need to sweeten your entire drink if the leaf was from a stevia plant. Stevia rebaudiana, also known as sweetleaf, is being sold in many forms as a natural sweetener — an alternative to refined sugar and artificial sweeteners. Stevia is unique in that it tastes naturally sweet, but has a glycemic index of zero, which means that it does not affect blood sugar and can be used by diabetics and others who wish to avoid blood sugar spikes or calories. Best of all, a small amount of stevia is 100 – 300 times sweeter than cane sugar; a little goes a long way. Stevia is a plant that enjoys subtropical and tropical temperatures. But this sweet tasting plant can also be easily cultivated in Western North America and South America. This being said, I grew stevia in my yard a couple of years ago in Maryla
