A big thanks to Marra Chinn for contributing this fantastic article on stevia. Marra is the owner of Sweet Earth Cakes, and I can honestly tell you her Plantain Nut Muffin is one of the healthiest, most delicious, baked food products I’ve EVER experienced!
The Natural Sweetener Stevia
If you are like me, you are probably wondering if Stevia will be another agave story. Truth is, I used to eat agave, but I didn’t do the research on this “miracle” sugar substitute. I naively took advice from a doctor who said agave was so much better than eating sugar or honey—that I should be replacing sugar with agave, period. Now that I know the truth about agave, I don’t consume it. To be honest, before going “sugar free,” I didn’t think I consumed a lot of sugar anyway, but then again, I didn’t realize how much sugar, maltose, dextrose, sucrose or high-fructose syrup was in the foods I used to eat. Added sugar (whether refined or chemical) is commonly found in processed foods. I can go on writing at length about all the “natural” foods that have added sugar. You’d be surprised.
But I digress, when my new doctor told me I could only have stevia, I first did some research to make sure this “sweetener” legitimately didn’t raise blood glucose levels and was natural. I recommend you read more here or do your own research before you try it.
I told my doctor I couldn’t stand the bitter aftertaste of stevia. Then he told me about a product line called NuStevia which I now buy online at vitacost.com. It’s been a lifesaver, and I use it in everything from hot quinoa cereal and smoothies to desserts and afternoon tea. It comes in liquid or powder form, so you can decide what version you like best. There are many brands out there for you to try, but I do recommend ordering online to save up to 50%, compared to shopping at your local grocer.
Please know NuStevia is never going to taste like real sugar, but it is sweet without the harsh after taste of regular stevia and it’s strong, so you’ll only need a fraction of the amount compared to regular sugar. This is your chance to enjoy your sweets without the guilt or nasty side effects!
– Marra Chinn Allen
Owner, Sweet Earth Cakes