Do stevia sweeteners offer any special advantage beyond being natural?
Stevia, now approved by the FDA for use as a sweetener, is currently available in several brands. Since it’s 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, it is essentially calorie–free in the amounts used. Keep in mind that “natural” on food labels has no legal definition. No research identifies any clinical advantage over other zero–calorie sweeteners. Like the others, it does not raise blood sugar and it seems that it does not promote dental cavities. Substituting sweeteners like this for a single teaspoon of sugar only saves 16 calories, but in foods or drinks with larger amounts of sugar, stevia and other zero–calorie sweeteners can make a significant calorie difference over time.
