Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana) is a very adaptable bush that is native to Paraguay in South America. The leaves of the stevia bush are 300 times sweeter than sugar. Some names it has been called are sweet leaf, honey leaf, sweet herb, and candy leaf.
Commercial uses of Stevia
Stevia has been used in Japan as a sweetener since 1970, where it mades up 40% of the sweetener market. As a matter of fact, diet drinks that are sweetened with artificial sweeteners in the US are sweetened with Stevia in Japan.
Stevia has not been approved in the US as a sweetener, but it has been approved as a nutritional supplement. In the 1980's stevia was banned in the US as a result of an unidentified company filing a trade complaint with the FDA. After much public uproar, the ban was lifted in 1995, hence stevia now being sold as a nutritional supplement. Though the FDA does not endorse stevia as a sweetener, studies conducted by the European Food Safety Authority(EFSA) concluded that Stevia is safe for adults and children. No adverse affects have ever been reported as a result of stevia consumption.
Health Benefits of Stevia
Stevia is safe for diabetics, as it has a glycemic index of zero. It is good for weight control, since is has no calories. And, not only does stevia not spike blood sugar, but research from the Journal of Phytomedicine has concluded that it actually encourages insulin creation in the body. Another study of participants with Type II diabetes showed that their blood glucose levels were lowered after eating a meal that contained stevia.
Stevia has also been shown to lower high blood pressure (hypertension). A study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology revealed that of the participants given stevia in a double blind study of 106 Chinese individuals with hypertension, those who were given stevia had lowered diastolic and systolic blood pressure readings after 3 months of taking stevia, and the effects lasted for a year until the conclusion of the study.
Another benefit of stevia is that is doesn't cause tooth decay. As a matter of fact, a study by Portuguese researchers showed that stevia kills the Streptococcus mutans that contribute to the formation of plaque. Another study concluded that stevia generally strengthens the immune system.
Stevia is sold in most major supermarkets and health food stores. It can be purchased in liquid form, as crushed leaves, or in a more concentrated processed form. It usually has a slight aftertaste, and trial and error is often needed to see what one enjoys using it with. It mixes well with beverages, and is heat safe in cooking.
Sources
- Efsa.europa.eu, "Scientific Opinion on the safety of steviol glycosides for the proposed uses as a food additive", 8-20-2010
- Exploring Issues of Philosophy, Principle and Conscience in Contemporary Health Care, "The Bittersweet Story of the Stevia Herb", 8-20-2010
- Diabeteshealth.com, "Stevia—a New Player in the Artificial Sweetener Game", 8-20-2010
- Stevia.net, "Safety Studies ", 8-20-2010
- Metabolismjournal.com, "Antihyperglycemic effects of stevioside in type 2 diabetic subjects", 8-20-2010
- Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, "Immune up regulatory response of a non-caloric natural sweetener, stevioside.", 8-20-2010
- Herbalextractsplus.com, "STEVIA LEAF", 8-20-2010
Angel Chavis - Angel Chavis lives in NC with her husband, daughter, and various pets. She is a Christian, wife, homeschool mom, writer, student, and ...
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