1. Natural Properties
Sweetness: It can be about 200 to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar.
Zero Calories: It contains no calories or carbohydrates, making it helpful for weight loss.
Glycemic Index (GI): Its glycemic index is zero, meaning it does not raise blood sugar levels.
2. Main Benefits
Diabetes Control: Since it does not change blood sugar levels, it is the best alternative to sugar for diabetic patients.
3. Areas of Use
Stevia powder can be used directly in cooking and beverage preparation:
In making tea, coffee, or juice.
Measurement: It has to be used in very small quantities. Just a pinch of stevia powder is enough to get the sweetness equivalent to one teaspoon of sugar.
Combination: Sometimes stevia is mixed with 'erythritol' or 'maltodextrin' in the market. It is good to check for 100% pure stevia when purchasing.