Benefits of Stevia Pura - A Calorie-Free, Natural Sweetener

What is Stevia Pura?

Stevia pura refers to pure stevia extract, derived from the leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana). Unlike plain stevia leaf powder, stevia pura extract contains very little filler and allows you to sweeten foods and beverages with significantly smaller amounts. This makes it an incredibly popular natural sweetener.

Benefits of Consuming Stevia Pura

There are several key benefits that make stevia pura an excellent sugar substitute:

• Extremely sweet but contains no calories
• Does not raise blood sugar levels so safe for diabetics
• Pure extraction ensures you consume very little powder
• Suitable for low-carb and ketogenic diets
• Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties

Finding Stevia Pura at the Grocery Store

With the rising popularity of natural sweeteners, most large supermarkets now stock some form of stevia pura product. However, not all are created equal so check the label carefully.

Ideally you want an extract powder that is 100% pure stevia without additives. Sometimes you may see inulin fiber or maltodextrin added as filler. While not harmful, this does increase the required serving size.

Some popular grocery store options include:

• SweetLeaf Stevia Extract
• Truvia Stevia Extract
• NuNaturals Stevia Powder
• Now Foods Better Stevia
• Zing Stevia Extract

How To Use Stevia Pura Powder

The ultra-concentrated powder form allows you to add natural sweetness using just a tiny sprinkle. As stevia pura extracts can be 200-300 times sweeter than sugar, it's important not to overdo it.

Try adding small amounts at first, taste, and gradually increase to find the desired sweetness level without bitterness or aftertaste. Expect a learning curve as you adjust from regular sugar.

Baking and Cooking

When cooking or baking, you'll need to make some recipe adjustments for best results:

• Reduce oven temperature slightly to prevent overbrowning
• Let batter/doughs rest for 5-10 minutes to allow sweetness to develop
• Add a little extra liquid to account for reduced moisture
• Combine with erythritol or monk fruit to improve flavor and texture

Hot and Cold Beverages

Stevia combines extremely well with both hot and cold drinks. As dissolvability can vary between brands, it's best to first mix powder with a little water before adding to the full beverage.

Try stirring into coffee, tea, smoothies, protein shakes, lemonades, and even cocktails for guilt-free sweet sipping.

Yogurt, Cereal and Fruit

Sprinkling stevia onto yogurt, oatmeal, chia puddings, fruit salads or directly onto berries and grapes makes for a perfect low-sugar breakfast, snack or dessert.

The Bottom Line

Incorporating stevia pura extract powder into your diet provides access to natural sweetness without unwanted calories, carbs or blood sugar spikes. Just remember - less is more with this ultra-concentrated product. Check the ingredient label, start with tiny amounts, and adjust quantity and recipes as needed.

FAQs

Is stevia pura safe?

Yes, many studies have confirmed the safety of pure stevia extracts like rebaudioside A. Stevia has been used for centuries in some South American and Asian countries. It has GRAS status which means generally recognized as safe by the FDA.

Why is stevia pura so much sweeter than sugar?

The steviol glycosides contained in stevia leaf extracts bind differently to taste receptors on the tongue leading to a highly potent sweetness sensation. Just tiny amounts of rebaudiosides trigger a strong sweetness signal to the brain.

Does stevia pura contain calories or net carbs?

No, stevia extract powder contains no calories, fat, protein, or carbohydrates so does not directly impact blood sugar or ketosis. Check labels as some brands add filler ingredients like maltodextrin which will provide a few additional carbs.

Can I bake with stevia pura powder?

Yes, with a few recipe adjustments such as reducing oven temperature slightly, letting batters rest before baking, and adding extra moisture, stevia pura can successfully replace sugar in baked goods recipes ranging from cookies to cakes and muffins.