Health Effects Of Stevia

Health on Monday: Stevia – the natural alternative to artificial sweeteners

People now can get their calorie-free sugar fix from an all-natural alternative to artificial sweeteners.

Once limited to the health-food market as an unapproved herb, the plant-derived sweetener known as stevia is now widely available and rapidly replacing artificial sweeteners in consumer products. Thirty times sweeter than sugar and with no effect on blood sugar and little aftertaste, stevia sales are predicted to reach about $700 million in the next few years, according to the agribusiness finance giant Rabobank.

Stevia’s history goes back to ancient times. Grown naturally in tropical climates, stevia is a herb in the chrysanthemum family that grows wild as a small shrub in Paraguay and Brazil, though it can easily be cultivated elsewhere. Paraguayans have used stevia as a food sweetener for centuries while other countries, including Brazil, Korea, Japan, China and much of South America, have a shorter, though still long-standing, record of stevia use.

Stevia’s rocky

history with the FDA

Though widely available throughout the world, in 1991 stevia was banned in the U.S. due to early studies that suggested the sweetener may cause cancer. A follow-up study refuted the initial study and in 1995, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed stevia to be imported and sold as a food supplement, but not as a sweetener. Several companies argued to the FDA that stevia should be categorized similarly to its artificial-sweetener cousins as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS). Substances that are considered GRAS have been determined to be safe through expert consensus, scientific review or widespread use without negative complications. They are exempt from the rigorous approval process required for food additives. If designated as GRAS, stevia could be used as a sweetener in a wide variety of food products and beverages. In December 2008, the FDA accepted this argument, declared stevia GRAS, and allowed its use in mainstream U.S. food production. It has taken food manufacturers a couple of years to work out the right formulations, but stevia is now present in a number of foods and beverages in the U.S., including Gatorade’s G2, VitaminWater Zero, SoBe Lifewater Zero, Crystal Light and Sprite Green. Around the world it has been used in soft drinks, chewing gums, wines, yogurts, candies and many other products. Stevia powder can also be used for cooking and baking (in markedly decreased amounts compared to table sugar due to its high sweetness potency).

Benefit from Stevia – blood sugar levels, toxic side effects

Stevia leaves hail from the South American country of Paraguay and is widely popular today for its extremely sweetening properties minus the toxic side effects.  Stevia is believed to be around twenty to thirty times sweeter than sugar, and is popularly used as a sweetener because it doesn’t increase blood sugar levels and practically have no calories that are harmful to the body.  Aside from being a very popular substitute to your common table sugar, here are the other health benefits of stevia:

Medicine.   If applied on wounds and cuts, stevia aids in pain-reduction and quickly heals the wounded body part with practically no scarring.  Stevia has antibacterial properties that quickly eliminate harmful bacteria from entering your system. Clean and plaque-free teeth.   Stevia is also said to inhibit the growth of oral bacteria which often cause plaque and cavities within the teeth.  More and more toothpaste manufacturing companies are actually introducing stevia in their products due to this inhibitory property. Enhances mood.   If you’re feeling down, a small dose of stevia can be a good pick me-upper.  Its therapeutic and soothing effect is felt almost instantly. Increases energy levels and mental alertness.   Just like chocolate, a diet which includes stevia can increase your energy and mental alertness over time.  Think of it as a quick shot of espresso without all the harmful caffeine entering your bloodstream. Skin.   Whole-leaf stevia is often used as a facial mask by a number of people, effectively tightening the skin and smoothing out those ghastly wrinkles on your forehead.  What’s more, it is also said to heal blemishes and other impurities often fond in your face, and is reported to be very effective in combating other skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema. Healthy hair and scalp.