Stevia - The Sweet Leaf
Stevia is a natural sugar alternative extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a shrub native to Paraguay. Its sweetness is more than a hundred times that of sugar, yet it is calorie-free. But Stevia is not just a sweet treat: it has health benefits which have been validated by human studies.1 Although Stevia only became popular in the U.S. health food market in the mid-1980s as a non-caloric sugar substitute, its history of use dates back to more than 1500 years. The Guarani Indians of South America have been using Stevia for hundreds of years to sweeten drinks and food for weight management and in traditional medicines.
Read on to learn more about this sweet herb and the myriad of benefits it provides...
General Information
Called ka'a Buthe'ê or "sweet herb" by the Guarani Indians, the Stevia plant thrives well in tropical conditions as well as temperate regions. Growing from 2 to 4 feet high, the Stevia plant has slender branched stems and tiny white flowers that bloom in autumn.
Although most parts of the Stevia plant taste sweet, Stevia is grown primarily for its leaves which contain the highest concentration of glycosides. Glycosides are the special compounds that make Stevia taste naturally sweet. Stevia leaves can be used fresh, dried and crushed or made into powder or extract with its natural sweetness remaining intact. Unlike sugar, Stevia extracts have a long shelf life, can withstand high temperatures, are pH stable and are non-fermentative.3
Nutrients and Benefits
The steviol glycosides, stevioside and rabaudioside A are the main active compounds found in leaves that give Stevia its natural sweetness, 250 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar. These glycosides are just two of the seven glycosides found in Stevia leaves. Glycosides have a negligible effect on blood sugar levels which makes Stevia a great alternative sweetener for individuals with carbohydrate-controlled diets.
Aside from steviosides, Stevia also contains a good concentration of phytochemicals like quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin, and chlorogenic acid, which may contribute to healthy weight management and heart health. Human studies have shown that when Stevia is taken as a supplement it may help support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and uric acid levels. Stevia extracts may help improve oral health, digestion and help maintain healthy hair and scalp. Stevia may be used as a stand-alone sugar substitute or in combination with other alternative sweeteners such as monkfruit and xylitol.
Product Specifications/Applications
NP Nutra® offers a premium quality certified organic Stevia P.E. 90% which can be used to sweeten functional foods and beverages including smoothies and juices, yogurts, salad dressings, creamy desserts, cookies, cakes and other baked goods.
Contact us for a free sample and further product information.
Reference:
1 http://research.omicsgroup.org/index.php/stevia
2 https://godshealingplants.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/stevia-benefits/
3 http://research.omicsgroup.org/index.php/stevia
