Stevia is a sweet leaf that is extracted for its sugar-like substitute. Stevia plants are of the same family as chrysanthemum flowers and asters. The leaf of the stevia plant has been used in many countries outside the U.S. to make sweet teas and beverages for generations. Now stevia extracts, syrups, and powders are available for purchase easily. So, stevia is plant-based, but is stevia gluten free?
Yes, Stevia is gluten free. This zero calorie sugar alternative often contains ingredients such as stevia extract, dextrose, chicory root fiber, silica, and erythritol or inulin. None of these ingredients contain gluten. Other healthier gluten-free alternatives to Stevia include Lakanto Organic Monkfruit Sweetner, Monk Fruit in the Raw, Wholesome Non-GMO Allulose, and Madhava Simpla Allulose Sweetner.
In this article, we will discuss stevia and other natural sweeteners. We will go into detail about stevia’s nutritional value and facts, as well as look at some other healthy natural sweetener options. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Top Brand Stevia Products
When the leaf of stevia (stevia rebaudiana bertoni) is extracted and purified a liquid that is 300 times sweeter than cane derived sugar is made. When combined with a bulking agent such as dextrose or maltodextrin it can resemble sugar granules and be used as a granulated sugar substitute. We will dive into the nutrition of these top brand sugar alternatives listed below.
- Stevia in the Raw
- Truvia Sweet Complete® Granulated All-Purpose Sweetener
- Thrive Market Organic Stevia
- Bowl & Basket Stevia Sweetener
- SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener
- Nature Restore Organic Stevia Leaf Extract Powder
Stevia in the Raw
Stevia in the Raw is considered a zero-calorie food product since it contains less 1 calorie per serving. The FDA standard to be deemed dietetically zero is less than 4 calories per serving. Stevia in the Raw is naturally a gluten free food. This sugar substitute is also kosher and vegan.
There are 0 calories 100 grams or 1 packet of Stevia in the Raw. Stevia in the Raw is a gluten free sweetener.
Here are the ingredients for Stevia in the Raw:
- Stevia Extract
- Dextrose or Maltodextrin (less than 1%)
Nutrition Facts (per 100g):
- Calories 0
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 1g
- Protein 0g
- Sugars 0g
- Sodium 0mg
Truvia Sweet Complete® Granulated All-Purpose Sweetener
Truvia Sweet Complete® Granulated All-Purpose Sweetener is made from three ingredients:
- The Stevia Leaf in its purest form to get the best taste.
- Erythritol, which is alcohol sugar made from the fermentation process of many fruits, but also sometimes beer or cheese.
- Chicory Root Fiber, which is made from the chicory plant which is naturally sweet and high in fiber. The Chicory Root Fiber does add a little carbohydrates and fiber to this Truvia sweetener.
There are still 0 calories in a serving of Truvia Sweet Complete® Granulated All-Purpose Sweetener. Truvia is a gluten free sweetener.
Here is the list of ingredients for Truvia:
- Stevia Leaf Extract
- Erythritol
- Chicory Root Fiber
Nutrition Facts (per 2 teaspoons or 7g):
- Calories 0
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 7g
- Protein 4g
- Fiber 2g
- Sugars 0g
Thrive Market Organic Stevia
Thrive Market Organic Stevia is non-GMO, gluten free, vegan, keto-friendly, and all Natural. There is no salt in this product and there are 0 calories in 1 gram or 1 packet of Thrive Market Organic Stevia.
The ingredients are inulin, stevia leaf, and silica. Inulin is the fiber syrup derived from the chicory or Jerusalem artichoke plant, it is all natural and sweet. Silica or silicon dioxide is used a food additive used to keep any substance from caking or sticking it to itself in clumps. Silica can be naturally found in rice, green beans, and lentils to name a few.
Here is the ingredient list for Thrive Market Organic Stevia:
- Organic Inulin
- Organic Stevia Leaf Extract
- Silica
Nutrition Facts (per 1g):
- Calories 178
- Fat 4g
- Carbs 03g
- Protein 22g
Bowl & Basket Stevia Sweetener
Nutritionally, this food is a zero-calorie sweetener. Bowl & Basket Stevia Sweetener is a one for one sugar substitute. This means that 1 cup of Bowl & Basket Stevia Sweetener is equal to 1 cup of sugar. This is extremely useful in baking.
There are 0 calories in 2 grams or 1 packet of Bowl & Basket Stevia Sweetener. Bowl & Basket Stevia is gluten free.
The ingredients for Bowl & Basket Stevia Sweetener:
- Maltodextrin
- Stevia Extract (Rebiana)
Nutrition Facts (per 2g):
- Calories 0
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 2g
- Protein 0g
- Sugars 0g
SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener
SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener is sourced from South America. This sweetener is gluten free. There are 0 calories in 2 teaspoons or 1 packet of SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener. This product is also non-GMO and certified organic. SweetLeaf brand prides itself with a statement that their zero-calorie stevia sweetener has no bitter after taste.
The ingredients in SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener are:
- Organic Inulin
- Organic Stevia Leaf Extract
- Silica
Nutrition Facts (per 2 teaspoons):
- Calories 0
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 0g
- Protein 0g
- Sugars 0g
- Fiber 0g
Nature Restore Organic Stevia Leaf Extract Powder
This sweetener by Nature Restore is a gluten free. Nature Restore Organic Stevia Leaf Extract Powder is a single origin and single ingredient sweetener. There are 0 calories in 1 gram or ½ a teaspoon of Nature Restore Organic Stevia Leaf Extract Powder. Seemingly made of nothing with zero values in all areas of nutrition, this stevia-based sweetener is keto-friendly.
One of the only complaints about Nature Restore Organic Stevia Leaf Extract Powder is that the powder is very fine and does clump when adding to drinks or mixers for baking.
The ingredients in Nature Restore Organic Stevia Leaf Extract Powder are:
- USDA Certified Organic Stevia Leaf Extract Powder
Nutrition Facts (per 1g):
- Calories 0
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 0g
- Protein 0g
- Fiber 0g
Healthy Sugar Alternatives to Stevia
Monk fruit
Also a gluten free sweetener, monk fruit is a naturally sweet fruit that is made into a powder or syrup and used as a sugar substitute. Monk fruit is also called magic fruit, luo han guo, or swingle. Originating in Southeast Asia, this fruit was first used by Buddhist Monks in 1200 A.D. Hence its name, Monk fruit!
Much like stevia, monk fruit also has no adverse reaction to blood sugar levels in the body. The brands Lakanto, Monk Fruit in the Raw, and Natural Foods all have monk fruit products that we will review the nutrition facts for below.
Lakanto, Organic Monkfruit Sweetener
Lakanto, Organic Monkfruit Sweetener is zero calorie, keto, organic certified, and gluten free. This monk fruit powder is considered to be a one for one sugar substitute. Meaning that for every tablespoon of monk fruit powder is equal to one tablespoon of granulated cane sugar. The carbohydrates in the nutrition facts for the monk fruit powder are from the sugar alcohol or erythritol. There are 0 calories in 2 teaspoons or 8 grams of Lakanto, Organic Monkfruit Sweetener.
The ingredients for Lakanto, Organic Monkfruit Sweetener are:
- Organic Erythritol
- Organic Monk Fruit Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 8g):
- Calories 0
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 8g
- Protein 0g
Monk Fruit in the Raw
Monk Fruit in the Raw is made from the ripest Luo Han Guo fruit from Asia. These monk fruit granules are keto, kosher, and gluten free. There are no calories in 0.8 grams or 1 packet of Monk Fruit in the Raw. Even with the addition of sugar alcohol, this monk fruit powder has zero carbs per serving.
The ingredients for Monk Fruit in the Raw are:
- Erythritol
- Monk Fruit Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 0.8 g):
- Calories 0
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 0g
- Protein 0g
- Fiber 0g
Natural Foods Luo Han Guo 7% (Monk Fruit Powder)
This monk fruit powder is a zero-calorie sweetener. Naturally derived ingredients that are non-GMO. There are no calories in ¼ teaspoon or ½ a gram of Natural Foods Luo Han Guo 7% monk fruit powder. Natural Foods Luo Han Guo 7% monk fruit powder is a recommended sugar substitute for those with blood sugar issues, diabetes, hypoglycemia, and pancreatic issues.
The 7% in the label name is to represent the percent of mogrosides in each serving. Mogrosides are the backbone of a monk fruits sweetness. A mogrol is also referred to as a glucose unit and is a way to measure the sweetener of a product.
The ingredients for Natural Foods Luo Han Guo 7% are:
- Luo Han Guo Extract
- Non-GMO Tapioca
- Maltodextrin (from yucca root)
Nutrition Facts (per 0/.5 g):
- Calories 210
- Fat 5g
- Carbs 50g
- Protein 5g
Allulose
Allulose is yet another sugar substitute that is gluten free. Allulose is plant-based sweetener. Naturally occurring is fruit such as raisins, prunes, and figs. Allulose is the syrup extracted from these sweet fruits. The fruits are fermented and then the natural sugars are extracted. Studies are continuing to be done about adverse GI tract effects from consuming too much allulose, as something to keep in mind. Brands that make great allulose sweeteners are Madhava and Wholesome, let’s look at their nutrition facts.
Madhava Simpla Allulose Sweetener
Madhava Simpla Allulose Sweetener is nut free, salt free, vegan, gluten free, and preservative free. This allulose is made without sugar alcohols and uses instead chicory inulin and a bit of magic monk fruit. There are no calories in 8 grams or 2 teaspoons of Madhava Simpla Allulose Sweetener. The carbohydrates in this recipe come straight from the natural allulose itself. Madhava Simpla Allulose Sweetener is a zero-calorie granulated or powdered allulose product.
The ingredients for Madhava Simpla Allulose Sweetener are:
- Allulose
- Prebiotic Fiber (Chicory Root)
- Monk Fruit Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 8g):
- Calories 0
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 8g
- Protein 0g
- Sugars 0g
- Fiber 0g
Wholesome non-GMO Allulose
Wholesome non-GMO Allulose is mild, sweet, and has no bitter after taste. This pure allulose product is a single ingredient product. Wholesome extracts its allulose granules from figs, raisins, and kiwi fruits. USDA organic, kosher, gluten free, and naturally vegan, this product is a great sugar replacement. Even with 5 carbs coming from the allulose itself, there are no calories in Wholesome non-GMO Allulose per serving of 5 grams or 1 teaspoon.
The ingredients for Wholesome non-GMO Allulose are:
- Allulose
Nutrition Facts (per 5g):
- Calories 0
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 5g
- Protein 0g
- Sugars 0g
- Fiber 0g
Final Thoughts
After reviewing the nutrition facts for stevia, monk fruit, and allulose there are only small nuanced differences in ingredients and processes. The purer and more single ingredient the product is the better. Depending on your dietary preference and intestinal reaction to zero calorie sugar substitutes there are many to choose from. All the natural sweeteners we covered, including stevia, are gluten free. There are no ingredients in any of the listed sweeteners that have any adverse gluten ingredients.
Top picks for gluten free sweeteners are the purest forms of sweeteners. For our stevia choices, both Stevia in the Raw and Truvia Sweet Complete® Granulated All-Purpose Sweetener have the most natural ingredients. Whereas the Wholesome non-GMO Allulose is a single source and all-natural sugar substitute. Wholesome non-GMO Allulose is our top healthy pick for a natural sweetener.
Related Questions
Is Powdered Sugar Gluten Free?
Not interested in sugar alternatives but still want to know if powdered sugar is gluten free? We have a deep dive article about Powdered sugar!
What natural gluten-free sweetener can I substitute for brown sugar?
Besti Brown Monk Fruit Sweetener with Allulose is a granulated sugar substitute that will not having you miss your brown sugar. Simple ingredients, naturally derived, and gluten free this one for one brown sugar substitute promises no adverse GI tract effects. Purchase and learn more about it here.
Is Stevia Vegan?
Yes! Stevia is considered vegan-friendly.