For years health conscious consumers have been in a huge debate on which one is a better choice, Stevia or Truvia. Let’s first look at what each one is and then go from there.
What is Stevia
Stevia is a sugar substitute and sweetener derived from the plant species known as Stevia Rebaudiana. It is part of the sunflower family. Stevia Rebaudiana is also known as sweetleaf or sugarleaf. The active compounds in Stevia have 150 times the sweetness that sugar has. The compounds are pH-stable, heat stable, and not fermentable. These compounds also have a negligible effect on blood glucose making it an attractive choice for diabetics.
Stevia rebaudiana has been used for 1,500 years by the Guarani people of South America, they called it “sweet herb”. In Brazil and Paraguay they have the leaves for hundreds of years to put in their teas and medicines, they refer to it as “sweet treat”. Stevia was named after botanist Petrus Jacobus Stevus.
Legal Acceptance Worldwide
The legalities of using Stevia as a food additive and supplement varies from country to country. Japan has been using Stevia as a sweetener for decades. The United States banned Stevia back in the 1990s and then in 2008 approved some specific forms to be used as food additives. In Europe the European Union (EU) approved Stevia additives starting in November of 2011. The Stevia plant is legally grown in most countries however it is sometimes restricted for use as a sweetener. China (1984) and Japan (1970) have been using it the longest.
Japan started cultivating Stevia as an alternative to saccharin and cyclamate back in the early 1970s. They were both suspected of being carcinogens. The Japanese currently consume more Stevia than any other country. However, China is the world’s largest exporter of Stevia based products.
Different Forms
You do have to keep in mind that there are numerous forms of Stevia out on the market. Not all of them are in its natural form. You can grow your own Stevia plant in your own garden. Yes it is legal. You can even purchase it as a dried leaf and grind them up into a powder yourself. If you don’t want to go that route you can make sure you choose a Stevia product that is made of whole leafs. You can also always add dried or fresh leaves directly to whatever you are drinking. You can make your own liquid form of the Stevia extract. You will need just two ingredients. 1 cup of the Stevia leaves and organic vodka. It will take you a little over 36 hours to make but you know you are getting a pure and completely natural form of Stevia. Lastly, you can buy 100% pure Stevia extract from Trader Joe’s and also Sweet Leaf.
Truvia is made of natural flavors, rebiana, and erythritol and is a Stevia based sugar substitute produced in a 40 step process. It is manufactured by Coca-Cola and Cargill. It is the third bestselling sugar substitute in the United States. The EU just approved Truvia as a food ingredient in July of 2011 and it is now available in supermarkets throughout Europe.
Cargill had two class action lawsuits brought against them in 2013. The lawsuits claimed that Cargill used deceptive marketing by calling Truvia a “natural” sweetener. It claimed that the ingredients used in its making were “highly processed”. It also says that erythritol is manufactured using genetically engineered ingredients. Cargill ended up settling out of court back in 2014 for $6.1 million.
Which One Should You Use?
Stevia vs. Truvia which one is right for you? There is more to this debate than whether you are skimping on calories or not. Both are marketed as natural healthier alternatives to table sugar and artificial sweeteners. But definitely take note that Truvia is Stevia plus more. Stevia is produced naturally and has a high concentrated level of sweetness. That is what Truvia banks on and uses Stevia as its major ingredient.
But it also contains the chemical erythritol. Erythritol contains zero calories and used as a bulking agent that adds texture and volume to Truvia. Even though erythritol is extracted from such fruit as grapes, melons, and pears it is still chemically processed. It contains less health benefits than Stevia does. Erythritol is considered a sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohols are known to have unpleasant side effects. One is that it isn’t easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. That lends to the calorie free aspect but can also lead to bloating and diarrhea.
Truvia also contains rebiana which is found in the Stevia plant. Truvia only contains a “touch” of this however. Truvia is mostly Erythritol which is why people argue the fact that it is “natural”. Truvia is a true sugar alcohol that is 99% genetically modified. Some consider Truvia to be a GMO which is a definite no no in today’s health conscious society. Although, the FDA has yet to actually test Truvia to see if it does have long term negative health impacts.
However, both ultimately could be considered a better choice over sugar hands down. Unlike sugar both Stevia and Truvia don’t cause tooth decay. They don’t mess with blood glucose levels which make them a better alternative for diabetics. The fact that they are calorie free also make them both a better alternative to sugar when it comes to obesity risk. A high dietary intake of sugar greatly increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. Other side effects of sugar are sugar addition, and hyperactivity.