Stevia-Sweetest Herb For Restoring Health
STEVIA (Stevia
Rebaudiana)
Stevia, formally
known as Stevia
Rebaudiana or Stevia Rebaudiana
Bertoni, is one of the most health restoring herbs on the
Earth. It is a small green plant bearing leaves which have a
delicious and refreshing natural sweet taste that can be 10 to
15 times sweeter than common table sugar, Stevia is a
fairly unassuming perennial shrub of the aster family.
Asteraceae is native to the northern regions of South America.
It has now been grown commercially in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay,
Central America, United States, Israel, Thailand and China. Stevia leaves
contains several chemicals called glycosides, which taste sweet,
but do not provide calories. The major glycoside is called
Stevioside.
The Stevioside that is extracted from the plant comes from the
leaves of Stevia. In
supplemental form stevioside comes as green or white powder, or
brown liquid. The sweetness of Stevia leaves
is largely due to its complex molecule called stevioside and the
second compound called Rebaudioside. A Stevia leaf has
a taste that is unique and very sweet with a slight licorice.
The sweetness of Stevia leaves is
much different from the sweetness of other natural sweeteners,
sugar, or artificial sweeteners, but it is delicious.
"A plant with leaves so sweet that a part of one would sweeten a
whole gourd full of mate."
Stevia is used
widely as a sweetener, in place of artificial sweeteners like
aspartame. It has been used for thousands of years. Stevia is about
300 times sweeter than sugar in its natural state, and much more
so when processed. Its medicinal uses include regulating blood
sugar, preventing hypertension, treatment of skin disorders, and
prevention of tooth decay. Other studies show that it is a
natural antiviral agent and antibacterial as well. Stevia is
actually "good" for you, and above all it is calorie and
carbohydrate free. Stevia is a
great sweetener choice for diabetics, those watching their
weight and want to loose their weight, and anyone interested in
the maintainance of their health. Due to its almost zero calorie
nature, Stevia is
extremely useful to bodybuilders or obese persons that are
attempting to lose body fat. Because Stevia is
sweet, it reduces cravings for sugary foods. Stevia
essentially fools the body into a state of satiation. This will
result in less food being craved and thus consumed, and in the
result reduces caloric intake. Stevia will help
with the reduction of cravings, and the suppression of the
appetite, without having to resort to products containing
stimulants.
Typical proportions, on a dry weight basis, for the four major
glycosides found in the leaves of wild Stevia plants is
0.3 % Dulcoside, 3.8 % Rebaudioside A, 0.6% Rebaudioside C and
9.1 % stevioside.
ADVANTAGES OF STEVIA
Stevia has many
favorable and exciting health benefits and it is completely
non-toxic. The Stevia herb is
nutrient rich, containing substantial amounts of Protein,
Calcium, Phosphorous, Sodium, Magnesium, Zinc, Rutin, Vitamin A,
Vitamin C, and other nutrients, yet has no caloric value. Stevia has
proven beneficial for many when used as a dietary supplement.
Studies have shown the following benefits from using Stevia in one's
diet.
Stevia is
Sugarless with no calories
Stevia Will not
affect blood sugar levels like normal sugar does.
Stevia is a 100%
Natural Sweetener
Stevia in the
form of pure extract, can be 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar
Stevia