ReplaceSugar.com - Your Healthy Solution to Guilt-Free Sweetness

Are there any healthy replacements for sugar?

Most people have at least an occasional craving for some-thing sweet, and they often satisfy this desire with sugar-laden, fat-filled foods. One of the biggest problems with sugar is that it can markedly elevate blood sugar levels, throwing off the body's delicate chemical balance. Addictive in nature, sugar also leaches important minerals from the body, causing weakness to the immune system. And any excess sugar is converted by the body into fat. Artificial sugar alternatives such as saccharin and aspartame are certainly not the complete answer, considering their health risks are not fully known. So how can that sweet tooth be satisfied without compromising good health? The answer may lie in stevia, nature's calorie-free sweetener.

Today we are lucky that there is a sweetener that is both natural and healthy, with no negative health implications or side effects. The sweetener you have been waiting for is .... Stevia.

What is stevia? A shrub native to Paraguay, used for over 1500 years by the native Guarani Indians. A herb with an abundance of positive effects. The whole leaf contains numerous phytonutrients and trace minerals and is much sweeter than sugar (10-15 times) without negative health effects.

Stevia can sweeten almost any food or drink with no added calories, no carbohydrates, no tooth decay and is diabetic and hypoglycemic safe. Stevia nourishes the pancreas and does not raise blood glucose levels, making it not only safe for diabetics but also beneficial. Since there are no calories or carbohydrates, stevia is an excellent weight loss aid. It does not cause the negative side effects often reported with the use of artificial sweeteners. Adding stevia to your diet on a regular basis has been reported to help minimize hunger sensations, cravings for sweets or fatty foods, aide in digestion, decrease hypertension without effecting normal blood pressure, stabilize blood glucose levels, shorten recovery time from cold and flu and aide in addictions to tobacco and alcohol. When used in toothpaste or mouthwash, cavities and gum disease is reduced due to its antibacterial properties.

After extensive research, stevia has been safely used for over 30 years in Japan, where aspartame has been banned. Japanese manufacturers use stevia in cola, pickling, gum, ice cream and a wide variety of other foods. Other countries around the world have also been using stevia as a sugar substitute in food manufacturing. Stevia may be used in cooking and baking as a natural sweetener, children may enjoy dessert recipes without risk of weight gain, tooth decay or hyperactivity. Stevia research has discovered numerous health benefits associated with stevia use.

Pure-le Natural provides you with a variety of stevia forms for you to enjoy. We only use the highest quality stevia without harmful glycemic ingredients such as alcohol, glycerine, silica, maltodextrin or dextrose. Be sure to visit our popular recipes section and try stevia cookies, cakes, breads, muffins, jams and more desserts.

Although anyone can benefit from using stevia instead of sugar or chemical sugar substitutes, there are certain people who are more likely to benefit from its remarkable sweetening potential. Some of these people include those with diabetes, those interested in decreasing caloric intake or weight loss, people concerned about tooth decay and children.