subject: Stevia- The Unique Zero Calorie Sweetener [print this page] Stevia - by now most of us have heard something about this amazing perennial and some of the claims evoked by its many admirers.
So lets recap what we know first of all, the hype about being all-natural and not artificial like other low-calorie sweeteners is absolutely true. Its easily the best zero-calorie sweetener on the market and its created a huge buzz that has swept across the globe.
Stevia is being grown in parts of Asia and areas of the southwestern United States as well as in many parts of its native South America.The leaves of the plant contain natural glycoside compounds including dulcoside A & B, rebaudiosides A-E, steviolbioside and stevioside which are the compounds responsible for producing the sweet taste sensation.
The extract of Stevia is similar to other non-nutritive sweeteners, such as sucralose. Stevia has zero calories, is 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar, and doesnt contribute to dental issues.
Comparatively, 1 teaspoon of sugar equates to 1/8 teaspoon of powdered Stevia leaf extract and for 1 cup of sugar, you would only need 2 tablespoons of Stevia.
Regarding safety, its a fact that the beneficial effects of non-nutritive sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose have been under question for some time.
Stevia is basically a natural, calorie free sweetener that contains variety of essential nutrients required by body. Scientific research has shown it to be beneficial in controlling blood sugar levels and bringing them to normal. It is used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, indigestion and heart problems. Stevia also has antibacterial properties which help in fighting infectious disease and prevents tooth decay and dental plaque. As a medicinal herb it works great for our health and adds natural sweetness in your food.
On the other hand, Stevia has been used in South America without documented concerns for hundreds of years. In Japan, artificial sweeteners were banned around 40 years ago, so Stevia has been used to sweeten food and beverage products for much of that period. Thousands of clinical studies have been conducted by the Japanese and have consistently found Stevia to be safe.
Stevia is also well suited for diabetics as it produces no noted allergic reactions. Its also been tested on individuals with hypercholesterolemia where it was noted that triglycerides and LDL were reduced, while HDL was increased (Sharma & Morge, 2007). This makes Stevia more desirable than table sugar which increases blood triglycerides and can often lower HDL (good cholesterol).
So what does this all add up to? Well, Stevia clearly offers all-natural, zero calorie benefits along with a long and growing list of safety and nutritional data to back up its use, so if you enjoy a bit of sweetness in your life, Stevia seems to have your best health in mind.
