Stevia is a sugar substitute that is 200 times sweeter than sugar without the calories! It can be used in leaf or ground form, or liquid and remains quite a favorite among one of the natural sugars used by many who are looking for a safe alternative for a sweetner that does not affect glucose level. This form of sweetner is also safe in pregnancy if used in it's simplest form.  Stevia extract may have positive effects on health, including fighting certain cancers, lowering “bad” and increasing “good” cholesterol, and managing blood sugar. However, research is still ongoing.   *Overly processed forms of this sugar do not react in the body the same way, and do carry more harmful effects because of the chemicals in which they are processed. Always read labels to see if these forms are processed if you are sensitive to certain chemicals.  "T.ruvia" is a stevia product.