Is Stevia safe?
Yes, research shows that Stevia is perfectly safe. Despite 10 years of research into potential downsides in quantities, no adverse effects are known of to date, on the contrary even, health benefits have been demonstrated with intake in higher quantities. The EFSA, the European Food Standards Agency is also convinced of this and has officially approved the use of Stevia.
Why are we hearing about Stevia only now?
Stevia has actually been used for centuries as a natural sweetener in countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Israel, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay. In Japan for instance Stevia is added to soft drinks as a healthy replacement for Aspartame.
Due to the availability and the emergence of cheaper sugar and synthetic sweeteners, the effect of Stevia remained a well-kept secret in Europe.
In view of the socioeconomic importance of these sectors over the past 10 years the politicians have reviewed the policy on sugar subsidies resulting in refineries being closed, this has created a gap for Stevia.
What are the most significant benefits of Stevia?
We have listed the main benefits of Stevia for you below:
• Completely natural
• Huge sweetening power (300 times sweeter than sugar)
• Only small quantities needed
• Frequently tested and found to be 100% safe
• Unlike some sweeteners, totally non-carcinogenic
• Stable when heated, hence suitable for frying and boiling
• Non-addictive, unlike ordinary sugar, for instance
• Results in less plaque on teeth and fewer fillings
• Contains zero calories and contributes to driving down obesity
• etc.
Why choose Cavalier chocolate with Stevia?
Because it is an exquisite way of enjoying delicious Belgian quality chocolate without worrying about health. Because our healthy sweetened chocolate contains no glucose, granulated sugar or fructose but we still manage to keep the authentic taste of chocolate.
In actual fact we all like sweet things and accordingly our taste is for more sweet things than are recommended in a healthy diet. That is why Cavalier went in search of alternative sweeteners in order to retain as far as possible all the goodness in cocoa beans and to improve the bitter taste of the cocoa in a healthy way. Making the right choice from the wide variety of sweeteners is therefore of the utmost importance. Sweeteners differ in many factors, namely: sweetening power, taste and texture, energy release, their effect on blood sugar levels and effects on the body (e.g. no tooth decay).

Cavalier decided on the Stevia sweetener, among other things because it tastes nice and sweet but has no harmful effect on teeth, body weight or health in general, on the contrary even.
Moreover our own dieticians, nutrition engineers and chocolatiers, supported by the Universities of Ghent and Leuven and KaHo [Catholic University College] Ghent, are engaged in an on-going quest for further product optimisation in terms of both taste and health.
Is Cavalier Stevia chocolate healthy?
Absolutely! Stevia is health and chocolate is healthy. You can actually work it out for yourself.
It has even been proven that chocolate is positively healthy. Below you will find some of the aspects of chocolate that contribute towards the body functioning properly.
• Rich in antioxidants
• Lowers blood pressure
• Improves cholesterol balance
• Strengthens your defence mechanism
• Good for low carbohydrate diets (only with healthier chocolates such as Cavalier Stevia chocolate)
The Mayan enjoyed the beneficial effects of cocoa for centuries and this age-old knowledge has been increasingly confirmed in recent years by scientific studies. Many refer to chocolate as a magic food; whatever the truth of this chocolate has always been able to raise passions.
Chocolate is not only good for the body but over and above this it also has a positive effect on the mind. Chocolate actually contains minimal quantities of caffeine and theobromine (both stimulants) serotonin and phenylethylamine, which (like carbohydrates besides) have a stress-resistant effect as well as antidepressant properties.
Finally chocolate contains a great deal of mineral salts (especially magnesium: 110 mg per 100 g) and B complex vitamins.
A study by Chantal Bismuth, professor of toxicology at the Hôpital Lariboisiere in Paris, explains that "cocoa is a complex substance that is made up of at least 800 different molecules, a number of which have a known pharmacological effect". This suggests that chocolate has an antidepressant effect and is a source of pleasure that goes beyond sensual fun, being a physical stimulant and a source of wellbeing for people and strengthening one's memory.