Stevia is a type of herb that can be used as an artificial sweetener. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008 to be sold as an ingredient to sweeten foods. The FDA deemed stevia “generally recognized as safe.” If you are considering using stevia or foods with stevia in them, you should review the pros and cons of the herb.

                                             No Calories

A pro of stevia is that the herb does not contain any calories. This can help you sweeten items without having to ruin your diet. Since the body does not metabolize stevia, you have no caloric intake.

Stable Blood Sugar Levels

Stevia does not raise blood sugar levels when ingested. This means that the sweetener is safe for use by diabetics.

Natural Source

Stevia is derived from the stevia plant’s leaves. It is cultivated mostly in Asian and South American countries. It does not contain artificial additives in order to sweeten foods. It is also said to be sweeter than table sugar and may require dilution.