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What is Stevia?

You may have heard of this zero-calorie sugar substitute called stevia, but what is it? Well I had the same question so I got to reading and this is what I learned. 

Stevia is a plant that grows in South America and is related to the daisy and the ragweed and grows a bush-like plant. The leaves are dried and the result is a powder that is around 200 times the strength of sugar. 
Diabetics everywhere should all get on board with stevia since it doesn't contribute any calories or carbohydrates to your diet and does not affect blood sugar or glucose levels. Even after a meal, blood sugar levels are still low. A natural sweetener like that is hard to come by! 
Stevia is easy to come by and it is starting to show up in more of our favorite drinks, snacks and deserts. It is reasonably priced and a little goes a long way.
So if you're looking for a way to cut some sugar out of your diet, here is an easy place to start. I plan on picking some up at the store and using it in my next recipe. I will keep everyone updated on how it tastes! 

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