There are two reasons why steviol glycosides are excellent sweeteners. First and foremost, they supply no energy (0 kcal) and do not raise blood sugar (GI=0).Also, steviol glycosides are found in nature, and they are extracted from stevia in much the same way that sugar is extracted from sugar beets and canes. Consequently, many consumers see them as a more natural alternative than synthetically produced sweeteners such as aspartame, acesulfame K and sucralose.