Silica is added to stevia as an anti-caking agent to prevent clumping and ensure the powdered stevia remains free-flowing. Silica is a common food additive that is generally recognized as safe by the FDA. It helps maintain the quality and texture of the stevia product by absorbing excess moisture and preventing the formation of lumps.
The sweetener Stevia is a natural, calorie-free sugar substitute derived directly from the Stevia plant. It can be found in stores under the brand names Truvia and PureVia.
Stevia
Approximately 0.5 grams of stevia are in a teaspoon. Keep in mind that the weight can vary depending on factors such as the brand and how finely the stevia is ground.
No. Stevia with Dextrose includes Dextrose whereas, plain, pure Stevia should have only Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. Now, most Stevia powders have fillers to help with packaging ie. Erythritol and Xylitol, both of which are natural . Watch the ingredients in the brand of Stevia you choose and make sure you know what the fillers are and what percentage of Stevia is in the product. Some may have a lower percentage of Stevia, a higher percentage of filler, as well as unsafe fillers. Stevita Stevia has 95-98 percent of Stevia in their products. See the related link for further information.
Be careful what brand of Stevia you purchase. It might be a good idea to find out where the company gets their Stevia from and how it is produced ie. cultivated on a Stevia farm or in a lab and where. A lot are being sold in the stores now but just be cautious. You may want to look into Stevita brand Stevia. They actually cultivate their stevia on farms in Brazil which is one of the places Stevia originated from centuries ago. You can find Stevita Stevia products at SteviaSmart.com In December 2008, the FDA approved Rebaudioside-A (a sweet stevioside extracted from stevia plants) for use as a food additive. It has become available in mainstream grocery stores under the brand names Truvia or PureVia. Otherwise, pure stevioside extract (which includes Reb-A and other steviosides) has been available for years in powder and liquid form from natural food stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.
petrified
Silica gel is not edible because it is hard and tough. It also has other chemicals added to it that should not be eaten. The silica gel itself is not toxic.
Fossils formed when silica is added are called silicified fossils. Silica replaces the original organic material of the organism, resulting in a preserved fossil with a glassy appearance. This process can produce detailed and well-preserved fossils.
Stevia drops are the Stevia leaf crystals broken down into liquid form with water. You can get Stevia drops in many flavors as well as just clear. Ask what percentage of Stevia is used before you buy as some companies don't use much Stevia.
No, stevia is not an effective contraceptive.
Equal is a brand name for aspartame, an artificial sweetener, while Stevia is derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant and is considered a natural sweetener. Equal contains few calories and is often used in low-calorie and sugar-free products, whereas Stevia is calorie-free and is marketed as a healthier alternative due to its natural origins. Both serve as sugar substitutes but differ in their sources, composition, and potential health perceptions.