When you factor in sucrose, dextrose and fructose corn syrup, the average American consumes 2-3 pounds of sugar a week. In the last 20 years, sugar consumption for the average American has grown from 26 pounds to 135 pounds of sugar a year. Surely, this is a ticking time bomb and must be reversed.

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Making my morning cup of tea is not the same without the a little sweetener in it. Fortunately, there's a guilt-free way to make it sweet as sugar without any of the calories or potential side effects of sugar.

Stevia is a non-caloric herb that is native to South America and has been used as a sweetener for centuries. It contains many health promoting qualities and is an outstanding herb that is 300 times sweeter than sugar in its natural state and much, much more when processed.

Just like honey, stevia has its own unique flavour and tastes very sweet with a hint of licorice. Use a little too much and it'll give you an almost bitter aftertaste. Just a dash is all you need to sweeten your coffee or tea.

Medicinally, stevia has been used to treat hypertension, skin disorders, regulate blood sugar, cholesterol and to prevent tooth decay – the exact opposite of what sugar does. There is no rise in blood glucose and it stimulates insulin production. It is very suitable for diabetics and weight management as it is cholesterol and calorie free.

In North America, regulations prohibit the use of stevia as a sweetener, though it may be sold as a dietary supplement. Rumour has it that the powerful sugar lobby saw stevia as a threat and lobbied the FDA in banning this great product as unsafe and untested, though it has been used for centuries in South America. In Japan, stevia is used as a food additive in beverages and candies without any health concerns or adverse effects.

Browse our selection of stevia and see if there's one suitable for you. Personally, I use the NOW Stevia 28 grams most often. The NOW Stevia Packets are convenient as they are measured and good to keep around the office. I've used the Organika Liquid Stevia before and do enjoy it though I did find that it was a little too easy to overdo it. And finally, everyone likes chocolate, don't they? NOW Stevia Dark Chocolate is a tasty treat that's great in coffee.

Benefits
• non-caloric sweetener
• inhibits fat absorption and lowers blood pressure
• regulates blood sugar levels