Stevia The Best Sugar Substitutes
INFO: Stevia
Stevia require sunlight and sufficient water and should be watered twice a day in hot weather.
This tree will quickly dry up and die if the water shortage.
The usual dose is used and intended to use stevia is 1/4 tablespoons.
The crushed leaves are used to replace 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Local Name: Stevia
Scientific Name: Stevia rebaudiana
Other names: sweet tea, sweet leaf of Paraguay, CAA-O-EE, kaa jheéé, ca-a-jhei, ca-a-yupi, azucacaa, eira-CAA,
Synonyms: Eupatorium rebaudianum Capim doce, erva doce, sweet-herb, honey yerba, honeyleaf, yes waan, candy leaf, sugarleaf.
Family: Astereacea
Origin: Paraguay
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The stevia or "sweet honey leaf" is not yet recommended for commercial cultivation in the country even though it produces healthier than sugar. The plant was also identified no calories, fat, carbohydrates and toxins makes it most suitable as a natural sweetener to replace sugar and other artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucrose.
Stevia rebaudiana is a herb shrub native to Paraguay. Sweet taste resulting from the leaves of the plant are said to be used by the natives of Paraguay and Brazil as a sweetener beverage, food and medicine for hundreds of years although the first recorded use of scientists, Antonio Bertoni, in Paraguay in 1887. Stevia has no calories even 300 times sweeter than sugar.
Stevia is a plant with soft-stemmed herbs. For planting, the medium used is porous so that no water will stagnate after being watered. These plants need more water and should be watered 2 times a day in hot weather. It will quickly dry up and die if the water shortage. The leaves are oval-shaped. The bark is smooth and bergerutu. Under optimum conditions, stevia can grow up to 1 meter or more. It produces small white flowers. Form flowers resemble daisies others, but their small size. These flowers will produce seeds when ripe. Breeding usually use stem cuttings. Stem cuttings root. Although it can also reproduce by seed, but the seeds germination rate is very low so it rarely propagated by seed.
The active ingredients responsible for the sweet taste of stevia leaves called steviol glycosides containing stevioside and rebaudioside. It is stable at high temperatures, pH stable and not excite reaction glycemic, making it more and more popular especially for people who want to limit their intake of carbohydrates and avoid diabetes. In addition, stevia has been found to treat high blood pressure, reduce uric acid levels and obesity.
Stevia has been used as a natural sweetener by society in Brazil and Paraguay since hundreds of years ago. It was first used by the Red Indian Guarani in Paraguay since 1500 years ago. It is used primarily to sweeten their herbal tea. Apart from that it is also used to sweeten their food. They also used stevia as a panacea primarily to lower high blood pressure, urination and treat burns.
The use of stevia as a sweetener was discovered by Europeans in the 16th century. Since then, it was used widely in Europe until brought to Asia. However, studies on Stevia only started in the early 19th century when researchers in Brazil heard the story of a stevia leaf can sweeten the bitter fruit and a cup of herbal tea.
The most unique feature is that it's about Stevia is a natural sweetener with no calories. It is believed the traditional stevia has zero calories, fat, cholesterol, sugar and carbohydrates. Stevia extract is said to be 300 times sweeter than regular sugar. This feature has attracted the researchers to carry out research.
Studies on Toxic content, found that the main cause steviosid sweet it and it is not toxic. It also did not cause cell mutations and does not give any effect on fertility. However there is a conflict of fertility studies associated with stevia. One study found it did not give any effect on fertility, while another study found that water is extracted from the leaves of stevia lowers levels of testosterone and sperm count in male rats when tested.
Brazilian scientists study in 1991 found steviosid ability to lower blood pressure in rats. From these findings, another test was carried out in 2000. This time the subject is the 106 Chinese (men and women) who suffer from high blood pressure. 60 subjects were given capsules containing 250 mg 3 times daily steviosid.
The examination of the subject is done once a month for one year. After 3 months, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly and lasting impact throughout the year. The results of this study, scientists concluded that steviosid taken orally is effective in lowering blood pressure and it may be considered as an alternative or supplement to high blood pressure.
A group of scientists tested the hypoglycemic effects of glycoside in the stevia. They also studied the effect on glucose production to the glycosides steviol, isosteviol and glukosilsteviol. Steviol found not to produce glucose. In 2000, researchers in Denmark has conducted a study which showed that in vitro hypoglycemic actions undertaken by steviosid and steviol are the result of the ability to both produce insulin through direct action on beta cells. They concluded that the study found that these compounds may have the potential to be anti-hypoglycemic agents in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2.
Stevia is not very popular among Malaysians who still prefer sweet foods and drinks excessive. There are states in which all sugary sweet bake. There are still many interests bread rolled dipped in sugar. There are still complaining about its lack of sweet tea. More people with diabetes and more people are suffering from it, however, it was not able to reduce our dependence on sugar cane @ candy from this.
Stevia can be an alternative to sugar cane, but until now, numerous studies continue to be conducted to determine whether stevia is capable and able to be a substitute for sugar or not.
If you meet with a study stating instead that stevia can also be harmful - certainly this information comes from campaigns leading operators worldwide to make sugar cane as the basis of their products.
Stevia is not only beautiful but unique because of the name of the resulting benefits could replace gula.Ia said leaves can replace sugar for diabetics, which are also classified as an ornamental shrub suitable as ground cover.
The leaves are oval-shaped, while the stem is soft, smooth and bergerutu. It can grow up to one meter and a small white flower resembling a daisy, only smaller size.
Stevia is one of 240 species of herbs from the sunflower family (Astereacea). Thus, stevia seeds when ripe.
This tree can also reproduce by seed, but the seeds germination rate is very low so rarely bred that way. Therefore, breeding often using stem cuttings.
Stevia is derived from tropical and sub-tropical South America and Central America, some said they came from Paraguay.
In addition to the landscape, stevia is widely used as a sweetener. However, commonly used stevia as a sweetener is rebaudiana species.
It was first used by the Red Indian Guarani in Paraguay since 1500 years ago as a sweetener herbal tea and food. They also use Stevia as a remedy to lower high blood pressure, urination and treat burns.
In Europe, the use of stevia as a sweetener was discovered in the 16th century and it was brought to Europe. The study of the plant began in the early 19th century when researchers in Brazil heard the story of a stevia leaf can sweeten the bitter fruit and a cup of herbal tea.
Paraguay botanist, Moises S Bertoni has written extensively on these plants so that people know the uniqueness and advantages.
Interestingly, stevia is a natural sweetener that has no calories and is said to extract 300 times sweeter than regular sugar. The study found that the main cause steviosid sweet it does not contain toxic.
It also did not cause cell mutations and does not affect fertility, but there is a conflict of fertility studies of stevia.
One study found it did not give any effect on fertility, while another study found that water is extracted from the leaves of stevia lowers levels of testosterone and sperm count in male rats when tested.
The results of this study, scientists concluded that steviosid taken orally is effective in lowering blood pressure and it may be considered as an alternative or in addition to high blood pressure.
There is an opinion stating stevia was also used as a tonic for the heart and serves to stabilize blood pressure and heart rate.
Today, millions of people in Brazil and Japan uses stevia as a food flavor and natural sweeteners, flavors and even a food approved 20 years ago.
Japan's population is the biggest consumer of stevia to sweeten almost all food products including pickles, soft drinks and chocolate.
In fact, the company reported beverage manufacturers such as Coca Cola stevia extracts as a replacement for NutraSweet and saccharin for their products sold in Japan, Brazil and Canada.
In the US, stevia is a banned substance that can not be used on food products. This may be because of the monopoly producer of synthetic sweetener without calories that are in there.
The Benefits Of Stevia Sugar
1. Stevia is a natural sweetener that has no calories and the extract is said to be 300-450 times sweeter than regular sugar.
- The active ingredients responsible for the sweet taste of stevia leaves called "steviol glycosides" containing Stevioside and Rebaudioside.
- The active ingredient is stable at high temperatures so that the 2000 degree C, the pH value is stable and does not stimulate reprisals glycamic (earnings sugar) in the body.
- It is suitable for people who have diabetes, obesity or want to limit their intake of carbohydrates
2. Non-fermentative an active ingredient which is stable and will not be stale
3. Non-toxic, non-mutagenic, non-teratogenic, non-carcinogenic ( no harmful effects ) - proven scientific research, it is safe to use on all ages.
Stevia has a medical therapeutic function
4. Anti-hyperglycaemic - Can reduce and balance your blood sugar levels .
Suitable for diabetics and hypoglycemia. Studies and researches show that Stevia may stabilize blood sugar levels, increase insulin resistance, may even promote insulin production by promoting the pancreas health, discourage glucose absorption in the blood, and inhibit candidiasis - a yeast infection that flourish with sugar. Stevia is a great low carb, low sugar and low calorie sugar alternative and the steviol glycosides are not metabolized by the body and are excreted in the urine without getting accumulated in the body. A Study also suggests that Stevia may inhibit the craving for sweet and oily or fatty foods.
5. Anti-hypertensive - Lower blood pressure. A few longer term studies done over a period of 1 and 2 years show that stevia may lower elevated blood pressure levels. Simply drinking Stevia tea twice daily may help stabilize the blood pressure levels.
6. Anti-inflammatory - Reduces inflammation effect. Study shows that antibacterial properties of Stevia may help with gingivitis, cavities, tooth decay and mouth sores. It may suppress the development and reproduction of infectious organisms in the gums and teeth, inhibit the growth of plaque and may improve overall oral health. People who have used Stevia as a mouthwash has reported significant decrease in gingivitis and other mouth infections. Simply gargling with Stevia mouthwash and brushing with Stevia added toothpaste may be beneficial.
7. Anti-tumor- anti oxidant effect can reduce cancer risk.
8. Anti-diarrheal - Treat diarrhea
9. Diuretic - Controlling the water content in the body
10. Immunomodulatary effect - strengthens the immune system to germs
11. Stevia concentrate is believed to be beneficial for dandruff, dry scalp, and dull, dry and thin hair.
12. Osteoporosis treatment - A study performed on chickens shows that by adding Stevia leaf powder to chicken feed it significantly increased calcium metabolism in the chickens and had 75% decreased eggshell breakage. A patent application for possible Osteoporosis treatment with Stevia suggests that stevia may help promote absorption of calcium in the body and help improve bone density. Suggested remedy is to make Alfalfa and stevia tea by steeping Alfalfa herb and Stevia half teaspoon each for 5-7 minutes. Drink it two to three times daily.
13. Weight loss with stevia - Recent medical research suggests that low at carbohydrates, calories and sugar Stevia may be beneficial in weight management. One preliminary research suggests that Stevia may interfere with the functions of hypothalamus and may aid weight loss by curbing the hunger sensation. Hypothalamus is a part of the brain which controls hunger, thirst and fatigue along with its other functions. Anti-glycemic activity of Stevia may also control blood glucose levels which is one of the major causes of weight gain. Stevia works as a tonic to increase energy levels in people battling for weight loss. Suggested remedy is to drink one cup of Stevia tea or mix 10-15 drops of Stevia concentrate in one cup of cold or warm water. Drink it 15 minutes before every meal.
Read also Weight Loss Through Natural Process
14. Treat wrinkles skin - Stevia is believed to be a remarkable healing agent for
skin disorders. Its antioxidant, antibacterial and antiseptic activity may help with wrinkles, skin blemishes, dermatitis, eczema, acne outbreaks, scarring, rashes, itchiness and chapped lips.
A small amount of Stevia concentrate applied directly onto the affected skin may promote the healing process. To smooth out the wrinkles, before going to bed, apply a paste made by crushed Stevia leaves or its liquid concentrate evenly all over the face and let it dry for fifteen to twenty minutes. Wash and pat dry your face and apply a few drops of extra virgin coconut oil on the face and leave it on over night to benefit from its antioxidant effects.
