Is "raw" sugar that much better for you? What about Stevia?

Yes and no. Yes, raw sugar has more vitamins and minerals that occur naturally in the sugar cane, so it is a carbohydrate that is less empty than white sugar. Raw sugar is made by evaporating sugar cane juice without adding chemicals and with less factory processing. No, sugar is sugar. Consuming sugar causes an increase in blood insulin then in turn causes your body to take sugar stores in your blood and convert them to fat. Non-nutritive sweeteners like stevia may be a better alternative to raw sugar, but beware of Splenda. Due to a the looseness of FDA law, Splenda is 98% pure sugar, but the label can say sugar-free.

Stevia Article
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/103/1/Stevia---sugar-alternative.html

White Sugar vs. Raw Sugar Article
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/73/1/White-sugar-vs-raw-sugar.html