How to make stevia taste good in recipes

How to Make Stevia Taste Good in Recipes

Bysite_admin

Flipping to sugar free nutrition for health issues like PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, and digestive problems, among other issues, can seem impossible. This is especially true for those who have a sweet tooth. While many sugar-free sweeteners are just as bad or worse for you as sugar, stevia can actually be a good alternative. To pick out a good brand, make sure to read the ingredients. Many brands put all kinds of additives in their formula.

The issue with stevia is that for many people, it actually has a bitter or too sweet aftertaste. I really disliked it when I first tried it. Well, it turns out that it’s a bit of an acquired taste!

The other issue is that unlike most sweeteners, stevia doesn’t stand very well on its own. There is work that needs to be done to make it taste better in recipes. Since I’ve played around with the sugar free sweetener for a while, I’ve discovered different ways to make it taste better.

Sugar free stevia can taste good in recipes

Start with protein powder

Many sugar free protein powders are sweetened with Stevia. These formulas are put together to create a product that is as tasty as possible. Of course, some brands succeed at that better than others do. I really like the Vega Sport Performance chocolate powder. Some of their other products are far too sweet, but this one is amazing. The Genuine Health Fermented Vegan Proteins+ vanilla powder is another good one. It blends really nicely with all kinds of flavours. These powders will help you better adjust to the stevia taste.

Add other tastes

Combining a few of the basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami) actually makes stevia a bajillion times more enjoyable. I haven’t tried combining umami and sweet so I can’t attest to this one, but by including other tastes, stevia tastes so much better.

So how do you do that? If I’m making overnight oats, I add sea salt or pink Himalayan salt (it’s tasty, it contains all kinds of minerals, and I have low blood pressure). For acidity, I add a bit of pure lemon juice because the flavour is subtle. Then, I may add cocoa for bitterness. And finally, the stevia will take care of the sweetness.

Use liquid stevia

Most people who have experimented with stevia agree that using it in its liquid form is the tastiest. So, save yourself the trouble and don’t bother trying the powdered form. I like the NOW brand liquid stevia. It has less of that unpleasant aftertaste than the powdered form does.

Combine it with xylitol

The two sweeteners seem to work really well together. I specifically recommend xylitol because it is also technically sugar free. However, those simply looking to reduce sugar instead of completely eliminating it may find that maple syrup, molasses, or coconut sugar has the same effect.

A word of caution when using xylitol: since it’s an alcohol sugar, our bodies can’t break it down. As a result, eating large quantities of it can create a laxative effect. I also generally don’t recommend it for those who have known digestive issues.

Which other tricks have you discovered to improve the taste of stevia?

You may also be interested in:

  • Enzyme Production for Healthy Digestion

    Bysite_admin

    When we eat, our bodies produce enzymes to break down what we eat. However, as we age, our enzyme production begins to decline. Enzymes are needed to avoid and reduce inflammation in the body. When foods are not broken down fully, large particles of food find their way into corners of our bodies where they…

  • All About PCOS: Testing, Root Causes, and Management

    Bysite_admin

    As an acupuncturist working mainly with menstrual issues, it’s important that I address Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. Many people with menstrual issues eventually discover that their problems stem from PCOS. Common symptoms include irregular periods, acne, mood swings, unwanted weight gain, and increased facial hair growth. For many of my acupuncture patients coming in…

  • Let’s talk about gut flora

    Bysite_admin

    The microbiome is the combination of all the organisms living in our body, or gut flora. Some of these organisms are healthy, and some not. Hundreds of different strains exist. The combination of strains in the gut is determined at birth. If the baby is born through the birth canal, baby will receive mom’s bacteria….

  • 7 Easy Ways to Eat More Healthy Fats

    Bysite_admin

    Almost everyone would benefit from adding more healthy fats to their diet. This is especially true for those with conditions where blood sugar levels fluctuate a lot, such as PCOS and diabetes. Fats from healthy sources help slow down your body’s absorption of sugars in your food. They also help your cells better listen to…

  • Healthier Beverage Options

    Bysite_admin

    Whether you want to lose weight, bring your androgen levels back to a healthy level, or support your liver, alcoholic beverages can slow your progress down. But that doesn’t mean that you need to miss out on the social aspects of your life. If your friends are headed out to the bar, there are things…

  • Root cause treatment for chronic illness

    Bysite_admin

    Many patients in my acupuncture practice want to find ways to address the root cause of their chronic illness. Often, they feel let down by a healthcare system that has only supplied them with bandaid solutions. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, treating the root of a health issue involves addressing your constitution. Your constitution is essentially…