Stevia is a sweetener and sugar substitute extracted from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana. The active compounds of stevia are steviol glycosides (mainly stevioside and rebaudioside), which have up to 150 times the sweetness of sugar, are heat-stable, pH-stable, and not fermentable.
High Sweetness
The sweet taste of the leaf comes mainly from steviosides, the plant extract can taste 200 times sweeter than the same amount of granulated table sugar.
Zero Calories
It has no carbohydrates, calories, or artificial ingredients. Major U.S. soda companies now sell diet cola soft drinks sweetened with stevia. Some flavored waters also have stevia.
Lower Blood Pressure
Studies have shown that taking stevioside (one of the sweet compounds in stevia) as a supplement can reduce blood pressure.