Santa Monica Area Health, Beauty and Fitness | Stevia: Sweeter than Sugar -- and Healthier

When was the last time you heard someone say, "You know, sugar is really bad for you."  They told you the truth.  There is absolutely nothing beneficial for our bodies that comes from sugar.  Yet, millions of us consume too much each day.  The best alternative to sugar is stevia.  Stevia is a tropical and subtropical plant of the sunflower family.

For many years natives from South America, the Indonesian islands, and ancient Japan used stevia as a health tonic.  They also made tea with it and used it for a heartburn cure.  It has a rich and successful history in many countries around the globe.

The sweetness level is approximately 300 times more than table sugar.  In higher concentrations it tasts like licorice.  Diluting it to normal amounts yields a heavenly sweet taste.  Our family puts it in many of our baked dishes.  Goes great with smoothies too.

Where can you find stevia?  Any health food store should have it available.  Many local food co-ops have stevia.  My recommendation?  Buy a plant and use the leaves as sweeteners.  Grind them fresh as you need them.  However, the powdered, bottled form is great as well.

Why not try stevia?  It's cheap, easy-to-use, and provides the added benefit of being much healthier than sugar.  You don't have to eat the same junk that everyone else does.

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