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Stevia is a small shrub native to North and South America, in which the sweetener stevia is extracted from the leaf. It is also commonly referred to as sweetleaf and/or sugarleaf. Stevia is used commercially as a sweetener, having up to 50 - 400 times the sweetness of sugar. The stevia extract possesses a unique ability to sweeten, which has been used for hundreds of years dating back to native cultures.
Today, Stevia is grown primarily in the United States, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, Israel, China, and Thailand. Stevia has gained increased attention with the rise in demand for a alternative to sugar, which is low in carbohydrates and calorie free. Medical research has also shown possible benefits in treating obesity and high blood pressure, improving digestion, increasing gastrointestinal function, and promoting minor illness recovery. Stevia is currently available in various forms, such as stevia leaves, stevia liquid extract, and as a powdered stevia extract.
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Nutrition, healthy eating, and exercise are all important factors in most weight loss programs. Stevia can also be easily integrated into any weight loss program as an alternative to sugar. Since stevia is sugarless and contains no calories, it can aide in lowering an individuals daily calorie intake. Calorie reduction and increased exercise, generally makes weight loss easier to sustain for the long term. For example, on a 2000 calorie diet, if an individual can reduce his/her calorie intake to 1500 calories per day, they can generally lose a pound per week. |
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The FDA has approved stevia as a dietary supplement, but not as a food additive in the USA or Canada. Consequently, companies are not allowed to use it as an ingredient in their products. It must be noted that, there has been no scientific evidence that stevia contributes to cancer, carcinogenic activity, and/or birth defects. Furthermore, stevia has been used in Japan since the 1970’s, with no indications of serious side effects. In the Unites States, there has been speculation that the large sugar companies have been fighting the introduction of stevia, as a means to prevent competition from a cheaper product. |
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Stevia is available commercially in various forms, including as leaves, a liquid extract and powdered extract. Recently, liquid stevia has gained increased attention and use. Dark and clear liquid stevia extract can be purchased from various online retailers, health & nutrition stores, as well as your local supermarket. Liquid stevia is commonly used in various hot and cold beverages, such as coffee, juice, smoothies, tea, cereal, baking and cooking applications. Furthermore, a wide variety of flavors are available to meet your taste bud needs; such as grape, orange, root beer, lemon, and chocolate.
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Many people are surprised when they compare the price of Stevia with other sweeteners on the market, as the price is higher. There is anticipation that the price will drop as industry continues to increase production. Though, it is important to note that a small bottle lasts a long time, as the sweetness in stevia is much more concentrated when compared to traditional sweeteners. |
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