Sugar Substitute (stevia Sweetener)
What is Stevia Sweetener?
For those looking to reduce their sugar intake, or for consumers who are intolerant to certain types of sugars, Stevia Sweetener is a great option. This natural, zero-calorie sweetener is derived from the leaf of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana, which belongs to the chrysanthemum family. Over centuries, people have used stevia as a sweetener in food and drinks.
Stevia Sweetener has become increasingly popular in the past decade or so due to its benefits. It’s not only considered to be an excellent low-calorie sweetener for those trying to reduce their sugar intake, but it also doesn’t contain any glucose or fructose. This makes it a welcome addition to diets that are low in sugar, such as the ketogenic diet.
What are the benefits of using Stevia Sweetener?
Aside from being low in calories and free of sugar, there are many benefits to using Stevia Sweetener as a sugar substitute. Firstly, Stevia Sweetener not only tastes sweet but it also has a slightly bitter aftertaste. This makes it an excellent choice for those who are looking to add flavour and sweetness to food and drinks while reducing the sugar content at the same time.
Stevia Sweetener also provides several health benefits. It’s low on the glycemic index, which makes it a great choice for those with diabetes or gestational diabetes, as it does not cause a spike in blood sugar like other sweeteners. It is also packed with antioxidants, which can help to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. Additionally, Stevia Sweetener has been linked to a decreased risk of cancer and improved cholesterol levels.
What forms does Stevia Sweetener come in?
Stevia Sweetener is available in several forms, which makes it convenient for a variety of uses. It is commonly found in the form of a powder, which can be used in baking and cooking, as well as a liquid, which is often sold as a zero-calorie sweetener for food and drinks. It is also available as a tablet, which can be added to food and beverages to sweeten them, or in a crystal form to be used as a sugar substitute.
How to use Stevia Sweetener?
Since Stevia Sweetener is calorie-free and sugar-free, it’s easy to incorporate it into your diet. When using the powder or liquid forms of Stevia Sweetener, the ratio of how much to use can vary depending on your desired sweetness. In general, you may choose to follow the labeling instructions from the product to find the optimum amount. As a guide, you should be aware that one teaspoon of stevia powder is roughly equivalent to two teaspoons of sugar.
Another tip for getting the most out of Stevia Sweetener is to experiment with adding flavours, such as vanilla or cinnamon, to enhance the sweetness. This can be done when using the liquid form for coffee or tea, or when making your own zero-calorie sweetener from the powder. Additionally, you can use Stevia Sweetener in place of sugar or artificial sweeteners when making jams, jellies, or cook desserts.
In conclusion, Stevia Sweetener is a great natural alternative to other sweeteners and sugars, and comes with a variety of health benefits. The good news is that it’s available in several forms, making it easy to incorporate it into your lifestyle in many different ways. Whether you’re looking to reduce your sugar intake, or add a hint of natural sweetness to your food and drinks, Stevia Sweetener is an excellent choice.
The Journey of a Sugar Substitute: The Making of Stevia Sweetener
Sugar substitutes have become increasingly popular over the years, with more and more people looking for healthier alternatives to sugar for their foods and drinks. One such sugar substitute is stevia sweetener, a natural, zero-calorie sweetener, made from the leaves of the stevia plant. While it is derived from a natural source, the process required to create the sweetener that finds its way to your dinner plate is a detailed one, and involves a number of steps that work together to bring you this healthy, sweet alternative to traditional table sugar.
The first step of the stevia-making process is to properly cultivate the plant itself. The stevia plant is a perennial shrub native to South America, and it has been used as a sweetener for many centuries. The plant should be grown in rich, well-drained soil, and harvested in the early fall or winter months.
Once the stevia leaves have been harvested, they must be dried and crushed into a fine powder. This powder is then mixed with water and left to steep overnight. This allows for the extraction of the sweet compounds found within the leaves, as well as the removal of any bitter components. The result is a thick, sweet-tasting liquid concentrate, called stevia extract.
From there, depending on the desired sweetness level, manufacturers may add other substances to the extract, such as maltodextrin or molasses. Maltodextrin is the disaccharide form of glucose, produced from food starches such as potatoes and corn. It is often added to increase sweetness levels, as it is a slower-acting carbohydrate than pure glucose. Molasses, meanwhile is a thick, syrupy sweetener made from the byproducts of sugar refining. It is usually added to/enhance the flavor of stevia extract, and balance out any bitter notes.
This mixture of stevia extract, maltodextrin, and molasses is then heated to high temperatures with the aim of concentrating the naturally-occurring sweet compounds within the extract. After warming, the material is allowed to cool, after which it is filtered and spray-dried, further concentrating the sweet compounds into a white, crystalline powder. This powder is then sieved to remove any impurities and packaged for retail.
At its most basic, this is how stevia sweetener is made and travels from the plant to the dinner plate. However, for most commercial products, additional ingredients are often used to create a product more suitable for food and beverages. To this end, some manufacturers may use other natural sweeteners like erythritol or dextrose to provide more structure and mouth-feel when using stevia in product formulations. Erythritol is a sugar-alcohol derived from fruits, vegetables, and fermentations of yeast, and has the added benefit of providing a cooling sensation on the tongue. Dextrose, meanwhile, is a simple sugar derived from starches, and is often used to round out the sweetness level of stevia.
In some cases, flavor modifiers such as citric acid or natural flavorings may also be used to enhance the taste and aroma of the stevia product. Citric acid is one of the most commonly used food acids, and is found in almost all citrus fruits (as well as a number of other fruits and vegetables). As for natural flavorings, these compounds are derived from plants, animals, seaweed, or fungi, and can also be used to enhance the aroma and taste of stevia products.
Finally, it should be noted that the stevia products currently available in stores are generally designed for individuals who want to cut back on their sugar intake. To this end, most of the products in the market are blends of stevia and other sweeteners, so it’s important to read the label before making any assumptions about the product.
With stevia sweetener now becoming a dietary staple, it is important to understand just how it is made and travels to your dinner plate. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can rest assured that the stevia product you consume is made from quality ingredients, and is a healthy, safe, and natural alternative to traditional table sugar.
| Total Sugars | 0 ug |
per 100g
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