MATT ROBERTS | TRAINING ARTICLES

STEVIA - THE NATURAL SWEETENER

By Kasia Vermaire

Stevia is derived from an herb -- the sweet leaf herb -- that's native to Central and South America. Stevia does not affect blood sugar levels, it has virtually no calories, and there are absolutely no toxicities associated with its use. It has been used safely around the world for literally thousands of years, and is, in fact the alternative sweetener of choice in diet soft drinks in countries such as Japan.

However, in the United States, stevia has been oppressed by the FDA, which has denied its use in food and beverage products, most likely to protect the profits of aspartame manufacturers. It is available in most where there are powder or liquid forms available.