This natural sweetener is about
300 times sweeter than sugar,
and it doesn't contribute to tooth decay.
Great for diabetics or others who want to control
their blood sugar levels.
Stevia is derived from the herbaceous perennial
Stevia rebaudiana which is native to rainforest areas of Brazil,
Venezuela, Colombia, and Paraguay. The indigenous Guarani people of
Paraguay have used the leaf for almost two thousand years as a natural
sweetener and also as a way of disguising the taste of unpalatable
medicines. This practice was followed by European colonists as they
progressively settled throughout South America in the 1700s and 1800s.
Two compounds, stevioside and rebaudioside, are
responsible for the intense sweetness of Stevia, which is up to three
hundred times sweeter than sugar. For this reason Stevia is a valuable
alternative, not only to sugar, but also to artificial sweeteners such
as aspartame (Nutrasweet) and saccharin.
Stevia has been used extensively in Japan since the
1970s where consumers embrace the compound as a way of avoiding
introduced chemicals into their diet. So successful has Stevia become
in the Asian market that in Japan alone it represents 40% of the
non-sugar sweetener market and is now used extensively in Israel,
Korea, Thailand, and China, as well as in its traditional South
American environment.
Apart from its obvious use as a means of weight
control, Stevia may be a useful aid in controlling blood sugar levels,
a property beneficial to diabetics, hypoglycemics, and dieters alike.
It contains no calories, nor does the body respond to it as it does to
a carbohydrate such as sugar; hence Stevia is of immense value in
assisting with weight management.
It also remains stable when exposed to heat and is
therefore suitable for use in cooking. In addition, Stevia does not
cause tooth decay, a well known and unwanted side effect of sugar.
Some studies indicate that Stevia can dilate blood
vessels, thus improving blood flow and reducing blood pressure. There
is also evidence that it possesses antibacterial and antiviral
properties. There are no known side effects associated with the intake
of Stevia, either historically in South American countries, or, more
recently, from Asian consumers. Interestingly, artificial sugar
substitutes, such as aspartame, account for substantial numbers of food
additive-related complaints in the US alone.
Stevia comes in several forms, including
concentrated powder and liquid extracts, and is commonly added to many
foods such as ice cream, chewing gum, cookies, tea, and even skincare
products.
As a dietary supplement, adults use five (5) drops
or as needed.
Ingredients
Serving
Size:
0.15 ml
- Stevia
Leaf Extract (Stevia rebaudiana)(Standardized to 90%(38.7mg)
steviosides) 43 mg *
* Daily Value Not Established
De-ionized water and vegetable glycerin.
Keep out of reach of children.
2 fl. oz.
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