What Is Stevia?
Stevia is the name given to a green leafy herbal plant, which is native to South America and has been used for hundreds of years because of its extremely sweet leaves. Stevia glycosides, mainly stevioside and rebaudioside are the active compounds responsible for its sweetness. Stevia has received its recent fame as being an artificial sweetener that is more than 40x sweeter than sugar but does not affect blood sugar levels. It also does not have the negative side effects on the body, unlike normal sugar and is useful especially for diabetics.
Types Of Stevia
Depending on the level of processing, stevia can be found in three forms.
Green Leaf Stevia: This is the least processed form of stevia. It is 30-40 times sweeter than sugar and is also slightly bitter to taste.
Stevia Extracts: Its extracts are 200 times sweeter than sugar and comparatively less bitter to green leaf stevia.
Altered Stevia: This is the highly processed form of stevia which contains GMO ingredients. It is 200-400 times sweeter than sugar and is often termed as the worst form of stevia.
Nutritional Value Of Stevia
Stevia is valued most for the sweet taste, which makes it capable of replacing sugar in a diet. Importantly, stevia also has a very low calorific count pushing it in the ‘no-calorie’ food zone.There hasn’t been enough research done on the nutritional value of stevia. Currently, stevia leaf is not known to have any nutrients present in it other than carbohydrates and the earlier mentioned stevia glycosides.
Health Benefits Of Stevia
The health benefits of Stevia include diabetes management,weight loss, skin care and much more.
Controls Diabetes
The most important or widely praised aspect of stevia for human health concerns its ability to regulate blood sugar levels in the body. Opposed to sucrose, which is what normal table sugar consists of, stevia sweetens food in a similar way as sugar, but it contains stevioside, which is a non-carbohydrate glycoside compound. As explained above, when stevioside breaks down, the glucose-containing particles are absorbed by the bacteria in the colon, rather than being absorbed into the bloodstream and affecting glucose levels in the body. This is an ideal replacement for normal sugar for diabetics or people on carbohydrate-controlled diets because they can eat sweet foods without having to worry about diabetic complications.
Weight Loss
Stevia is very low in calories and is anywhere from 40-300x sweeter than sugar, depending on the prevalence of certain extracts in the species variety. This means that people can eat foods like cakes, cookies, and candies made with stevia without worrying about gaining plenty of calories from sugars, so they won’t hurt their chances of successfully losing weight.
Regulates Blood Pressure
Stevioside is a type of glycoside, but there are other glycosides in stevia that can actually relax the blood vessels, increase urination, and facilitate the elimination of sodium from the body. This means that less stress is put on the cardiovascular system and there can be a drop in blood pressure, which protects heart health and prevents certain conditions such as atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.
Oral Health
Stevia has been found to reduce bacterial formation in the mouth, making it a popular additive for toothpastes and mouthwashes. It also prevents cavities and gingivitis, which sucrose certainly doesn’t do!
Skin Care
In a similar antibacterial function, as it plays in the mouth, stevia has been found to be a useful topical application for skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. It inhibits the spread of bacteria and acts as a steroid in these situations, making it a popular option for many people who can’t get relief from these conditions.
Prevents Cancer
The wide range of antioxidant compounds found in stevia makes it an ideal dietary supplement for cancer prevention. Glycoside compounds in stevia help to eliminate free radicals in the body, thereby preventing them from mutating healthy cells into cancer cells. Antioxidants also help to prevent premature aging, cognitive malfunction, and various other serious conditions like heart disease.
Side Effects Of Stevia
Although there aren’t any major side effects of stevia. May do worry if it’s safe to consume. So, here is the list of the possible issues that may be caused by stevia.
Unsafe variety:
It is important to note that the highly refined varieties of stevia such as Truvia are recognized as unsafe for consumption by Food and Drug Administration. Although the leaf and extract form of stevia is safe their effects on health are not quite known and more research is needed. However, research continues to support its use as a sweetener and as a food additive.
Diabetes and low blood pressure:
Diabetics and low blood pressure patients are advised to monitor blood sugar levels and blood pressure, respectively, after consuming stevia. There have been cases of worsening conditions.
It is highly recommended that you consult your doctor before adding this to your diet, especially if you suffer from either condition.
Allergic reactions:
People who are allergic to ragweed, marigolds, daisies, and related plants may experience allergy symptoms. Also, some people have complained of bloating, cramping as well as occasional dizziness or headaches after eating stevia. These cases are rare, and stevia remains a safe and beneficial sweetener and plant additive for people around the world
