The Benefits of Stevia, a Natural Sweetener

The Benefits of Stevia, a Natural Sweetener

The herb stevia (STEE-vee-uh) has a pleasant taste and is great for your health. Stevia's complex stevioside molecule is made up of glucose, sophorose, and steviol, and it is this molecule that provides the plant with its sweetness. The molecule rebaudioside, also found in stevia, is responsible for some of the sweetness. 

Stevia has an unusual flavor that lingers in the mouth and has been described as sweet with a hint of licorice. In general, the bitterness is minimal in high-quality stevia. Stevia's sweetness is distinctive compared to that of sugar or artificial sweeteners, yet it's still wonderful. Even if the first bite takes some "getting used to," most individuals end up enjoying the flavor after a while.

Paraguayan and Brazilian indigenous peoples have used stevia leaves for millennia to sweeten yerba mate and other caffeinated beverages. Stevia is a shrub native to South America. The Compositae (sunflower) family is home to the stevia plant. Natives of Paraguay have been using this herbaceous, semi-bushy, perennial shrub for centuries to mask the bitter taste of their beverages. Its natural range included semiarid grassland, scrub woodland, and even mountainous regions of South America. The plant has made its way to countries in the Pacific Rim, where it has recently become widely planted for home usage, where its raw leaf form is consumed, and where it is now commercially processed into sweetener.

Stevia is incredibly sweet, as anyone who has tried it can attest. Paraguay's natural noncaloric plant has been used as a sugar substitute and flavor enhancer for ages. Natural, calorie-free sweetener stevia is becoming widely studied for its potential to block fat absorption and reduce blood pressure, in addition to its widespread use for its pleasing flavor.

Both unprocessed and refined stevia are significantly sweeter than sugar. The regulation of blood sugar, prevention of hypertension, treatment of skin problems, and protection against tooth decay are just a few of its medical applications. There is evidence from other research that it is effective against bacteria and viruses as well. The benefits of stevia are real. In addition, it has zero calories and zero carbohydrates. Stevia is a wonderful sugar substitute for diabetics, dieters, and anybody else concerned with their health.

When applied topically, Stevia is very therapeutic. When applied to a cut or scrape, the stinging sensation quickly subsides, and the wound heals quickly with no scars. Smooth the black liquid all over your face, wait 30–60 minutes, and then rinse off to use whole leaf Stevia extract as a facial mask. This will aid in skin tightening, wrinkle smoothing, and the healing of acne scars and other skin imperfections. Many people have also had success using this for seborrhea, dermatitis, and eczema. You can get great results by adding Stevia concentrate to your shampoo or by putting it on your hair after shampooing, letting it sit for a few minutes, and then rinsing it out. Stevia is great for your hair and scalp.

There are many other useful things that Stevia can do. Stevia, for instance, has been demonstrated to have a positive effect on mood as well as on energy and concentration. In addition, it has been found to inhibit the multiplication of the oral bacteria that, among other things, make the acid that causes gingivitis and tooth decay.

The Far East has recently become familiar with Stevia. Stevia, a natural herb native to South America, was developed as a sweetener and flavor enhancer in the 1970s and 1980s and has subsequently found widespread use in Asia. Soy sauce, sweet pickles, and soft drinks all make use of it, and it has been well accepted in Japan. The Japanese version of Diet Coke uses stevia instead of sugar.

Soft drinks, ice cream, biscuits, pickles, chewing gum, tea, and even skin care items have all incorporated Stevia into their formulas. Stevia-based sweeteners account for over 40% of the Japanese market. Countries including Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Brazil, Malaysia, and Paraguay are among the top producers of stevia.

Many skin care products on the market today include stevia as an ingredient due to its popularity in the cosmetics sector. Topical application has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing skin imperfections. Stomach pain can be soothed by stevia as well.

Everyone can benefit from stevia; however, there are no signs of a lack. People with diabetes, obesity, age, youngsters, and athletes may all benefit from using Stevia.

If you have diabetes, high blood sugar, or are overweight, talking to your doctor about taking a Stevia supplement is a good idea.

Stevia use has shown promise for lowering blood pressure in some people with hypertension. Stevia's ability to operate as a vasodiolator in situations of high blood pressure has been demonstrated, suggesting it may be useful in the management of hypertension.

When Stevia first appeared in the United States in the 1980s, an "anonymous firm" filed a "trade complaint" with the Food and Drug Administration. The Celestial Seasonings herbal tea firm is one example of a business that uses stevia. The FDA demanded that they cease production of the "adulterated" tea containing stevia. In an unexpected raid, the FDA ordered Traditional Medicinals, another tea manufacturer, to destroy their entire stock of Stevia teas.

Why has Stevia been classified as a Schedule I drug by the federal government? Despite Stevia's long history of safety testing by Japanese researchers, the FDA has labeled it a "dangerous food additive" in official documents. Many believe that it was the manufacturers of aspartame (also known as "Nutrasweet") trying to stifle competition by filing the "trade complaint" with the FDA (despite the Freedom of Information Act), but the FDA has refused to disclose the identity of the complainant.

The FDA has gone to great lengths to conceal information regarding Stevia from the public, leading some to believe it is a harmful drug. However, despite being used by millions of people worldwide, in some places for hundreds of years, no negative side effects have ever been linked to it.

Even though Stevia can be promoted as a dietary supplement thanks to legislation passed in 1994, the FDA is still not allowing any mention of its probable usage as a sweetener or tea.

In 1995, the FDA partially revoked its ban on stevia. In the United States, stevia can now be sold as a "nutritional supplement" but not as a sweetener. This is also the case in the European Union, and the WHO is pushing for universal adoption of these measures.

The advantages include a lack of calories, reduced blood pressure, and normalized glucose levels.