Stevia is a plant-derived sweetener made from steviol glycosides obtained from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana. Steviol glycosides are intensely sweet, so only a small amount is needed to provide sweetness. They contain very little energy compared with sugar and are widely used as sugar-reduction sweeteners. Stevia is not a treatment for diabetes or any other disease; its primary food-use benefit is providing sweetness while reducing the amount of conventional sugar needed.