PureVia sugar substitute is a pure extract of the naturally sweet Stevia plant.  It’s called Reb A and is the sweetest part of the Stevia plant.  PureVia is made by milling the leaves from the Stevia plant and then steeping them in water in a process similar to brewing tea.  The extract that is a result of this process is further purified to seperate the Reb A in a process using ethanol.  Ethanol is made naturally from sugar cane.

What is Reb A Exactly?

Rebaudioside A, or Reb A, is commonly know as the sweetest of all natural compounds in the Stevia leaf.  Reb A is 200 times sweeter than sugar, so very little goes a long way.

Eco-Friendly Packaging

PureVia doesn’t just stop at using natural ingredients, the packaging the product comes in is eco-friendly, too!  The cartons are made from 100% recylced fiber and 35% post consumer content.  By using eco-friendly packaging, PureVia is reducing it’s carbon foot print every year.  Every ton of virgin paper uses up to 14 trees, so using recycled packaging saves the forests.

Facts About PureVia

• The substitute has ZERO calories
• Made from the sweetest part of the Stevia leaf
• Made from natural ingredients
• Stevia extract is 97% pure Reb A
• Each PureVia stick sweetens like 2 tablespoons of sugar
• PureVia is perfect for those with diabetes
• It’s certified kosher parve
• PureVia is not genetically modified
• Available in convenient take anywhere stick packets

Saccharine is one of the oldest sugar substitutes, known by the brand name of Sweet N Low. Controversy arose when saccharine was linked to cancer in laboratory rats. Today, many people have substituted aspartame, with the most popular brand being Nutra Sweet. Aspartame is best for sweetening beverages and not recommended for baking.

Ace-K, or Acesulfame-K is yet another sugar substitute that is actually more sweet than sugar. It can be used in baking, but it should be used moderately as it has two hundred times the sweetness of real sugar. Another popular substitute with a long name is Cyclamate. Weight Watchers uses this under the name Sugar Twin. It can be used for baking and sweetening beverages.

Yet another sugar substitute that is quite popular is called Splenda. Spenda is made from sucralose which is derived from real sugar. If baking, use this brand rather than a generic brand because the measurements are identical. Sucralose is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar so precise measurements are important. Splenda is available in any supermarket and comes in yellow packages.

The best sugar substitute for you is one that tastes good, does not cause health problems and is recommended by your medical professional. You should know that as sucralose and even natural sweeteners like stevia gain popularity less people are choosing aspartame and saccharine. Whether or not to use a sugar substitute at all is a matter of personal choice and something that relates to your individual health and any conditions you may have.

Aspartame

Aspartame is known by the brand name Nutra Sweet. It is commonly used to sweeten cold beverages like tea and soft drinks. One disadvantage to aspartame is that you cannot use it to bake with. It is best reserved for cold foods and drinks.

Saccharine

The most popular brand of saccharine is Sweet N Low. Saccharine is an effective sugar substitute but has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory rats. Although these effects were not proven on humans, many people have decided to avoid this type of sugar substitute.

Cyclamate

Sugar Twin is the most popular brand of cyclamate, the sugar substitute used by the Weight Watchers program. It is many times more sweet than real sugar, so use caution. On average a packet of cyclamate is ten times as sweet as the same amount of sugar.

Sucralose

The most popular form of sucralose is Splenda. Splenda can actually be used just like sugar when baking. This means you do not need to adjust the recipe. However because sucralose itself is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar if you use a different brand measuring will be difficult.

Stevia

Stevia is considered by many to be one of the best sugar substitute products because it is natural. This herb is in the same family as the Chrysanthemum. It provides a very sweet taste for foods and beverages and does not have many of the same drawbacks as artificial sweeteners.

Some sugar substitutes have side effects, you can read about them here.

Sucralose

Today there are three natural sugar substitutes worth your consideration and they are sucralose, agave nectar and stevia. Sucralose is better known by the brand name of Splenda. It is made from sugar, but is not sugar. Therefore it is safe for diabetics. Splenda is actually much sweeter than sugar but it measures the exact same which makes it perfect for cooking and baking. If you use any other brand there will need to be adjustments made or your food and drinks will be way too sweet. Read about Sucralose side effects.

Stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener that is actually an herb from the same family as the Chrysanthemum. Like sucralose, it is sweeter than actual sugar. You can purchase stevia most anywhere sugar substitutes are sold. It is considered safe for diabetic patients to use this sweetener, however if you do have diabetes you should consult with your doctor first. Because stevia is natural many people feel better about using it than they would an artificial sweetener.  Read about Stevia side effects.

Agave Nectar

As a hypersweet natural substance, Agave is very high in calories, but a fraction of the amount is needed to equal the same level of sweetness as sugar.  Agave is sweeter than honey, but is less viscous.  Agave is derived from the Blue Agave plant found mainly in Mexico.  Agave nectar is made up mostly fructose and glucose, Wikipedia sites one source at 92% and 8% respectively.

When choosing the best natural sugar substitute it may be necessary to test the different ones available and see what you prefer. One person may like stevia and the other may prefer sucralose. With any sugar substitute there may be controversy, and research is required to discover the product that is best for you. However you should know that natural sweeteners can be just as good, if not better than sugar and can definitely be better for your health.

There are a variety of reasons why you should consider using a sugar substitute. However, there are so many different ones it can be difficult to discern which is the best sugar substitute. This is a matter of evaluating your personal health needs, preferences and the products you are considering. The first step is to learn as much as you can on the subject and find out about different products meant to replace sugar in your diet.

If you have high blood sugar, are pre-diabetic or diabetic, then a sugar substitute is a good idea for you. Of course this is something that should be discussed with your physician who will be the one to diagnose your blood glucose issues in the first place. Another reason to consider sugar substitutes is if you are overweight. Many people find they feel better once they cut sugar from their diet. However what works for one person may not work for another.

As you can see there are plenty of health-related reasons to use sugar substitutes. There are plenty to choose from. For example, two of the oldest are saccharine and aspartame. Known by brand names like Sweet N Low and Nutra Sweet, these substitutes are not without their share of controversy. One of the newest sweeteners is Splenda, made with sucralose. It is many times sweeter than actual sugar, however Splenda is measured the same which makes it easy to bake with.

When deciding to use a sugar substitute for health reasons, you may decide that the best sugar substitute for you is a natural one like stevia. Stevia gives you the sweetness of sugar without the side effects. Raw sugar, while not a substitute, is a healthier alternative to refined white sugar. If you have any questions about the impact of sugar or sugar substitutes on your health consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian.

Did you know that there are around 95 different negative side effects for aspartame? Maybe you don’t even know what is aspartame is? Sadly, Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is commonly used in many candies, sugar alternatives, sodas and other drinks. Aspartame is highly dissolvable and therefore can deposit itself into any kind of tissue. The effects that aspartame has on your body can vary greatly depending on your genetics. Side effects may occur quickly, they may happen gradually, or the reactions can be acute. Many doctors believe that a large amount of people are afflicted with side effects from aspartame. Even though the side effects of aspartame are well known, it is still commonly used in many “diet” products.

The following is a list of some of the side effects for aspartame:

Aspartame may also trigger or cause, the following diseases, and Aspartame poisoning may also mimic the following diseases, making it hard to diagnose:

1. Alzheimer’s Disease
2. Multiple Sclerosis
3. Fibromyalgia
4. Hypothyroidism
5. ALS
6. Grave’s Disease
7. Epstein-Barr
8. Chronic Fatigue
9. Mercury Sensitivity
10. Lupus
11. EMS
12. ADD
13. Lymphoma
14. Lyme Disease
15. Post-Polio Syndrome
16. Meniere’s Disease

Aspartame tampers with your amino acids, decreasing levels of crucial hormones such as dopamine, tyrosine, adrenaline, seratonin, and norepinephrine. Therefore it is harder for the cause of the effects to be found in blood tests, because it is causing the symptoms to occur seemingly naturally. So the next time you go to the doctor with symptoms that can’t be explained, you can blame it on something like aspartame that is in your diet. I suggest you read the labels before you buy anything and make sure you are not ingesting Aspartame AT ALL. If you find out you are using products that contain Aspartame, THROW THEM OUT AND DON’T USE THEM ANYMORE. The effects caused by Aspartame are SERIOUS, and if you choose to consume Aspartame daily then you should do so on your own discretion.