In its raw form, stevia is a natural sweetener. However, when it is included in food and supplements it can undergo various levels of processing that can make it more artificial. According to Pure Food Company, there are three different kinds of stevia: organic whole leaf stevia, stevia extract, and patented forms of stevia extract. Of these, the "most natural" is organic whole leaf stevia. This is unadulterated stevia, presenting the ingredient the same way it appears in nature. It can be a little earthy and bitter in taste, in addition to sweet. Stevia extract, which is typically what is used in pre-workout supplements, is a concentrated version of whole leaf stevia. This extraction process means the stevia becomes processed. This is not necessarily a bad thing - lots of reasonable food is processed. Where it gets tricky is the fact that this stevia extract could include preservatives and other additives. Common additions include maltodextrin, which has a high glycemic index and may be unhealthy in large doses, especially for diabetics. The least natural form of Stevia includes patented versions like Truvia and Stevia in the Raw. These include a heavily processed version of stevia known as Reb-A. This includes erythritol and dextrin, which are sugar alcohols and glucose, respectively. Generally speaking, pre workouts sweetened with stevia or stevia extract should be considered healthier choices, not necessarily perfectly healthy choices.