Stevia (botanical name Stevia rebaudiana) is a plant species originating from Brazil and Paraguay. It contains a substance called stevioside or steviol, which has many times the sweetening power of sugar. It is used in several countries as an alternative sweetener to sugar.

The sweet taste of its leaves has been known for centuries to the indigenous people of South America, who use it as a natural sweetener. In recent years, the stevia plant and the sweeteners derived from its leaves have attracted attention due to the increased demand for low-sugar and low-calorie foods. The plant's leaves and the sweeteners derived from them have multiple times the sweetness of sugar, do not provide energy (calories), and do not contain carbohydrates.

Sweeteners derived from stevia provide zero calories and can be an option for people who want to reduce or maintain their weight. Studies have shown that sweeteners with few or zero calories can contribute to weight control by reducing the caloric content of the diet and maintaining pleasure in the diet, helping people stay committed to their diet for a longer period.

Stevia sweeteners do not contain carbohydrates and do not affect blood glucose, so they can be consumed by people with diabetes. They also do not provide energy (calories) and can contribute to reducing or maintaining normal weight, a very important parameter for controlling diabetes and its complications.