Stevia Rebaudiana

Are you trying to break the sugar habit? Maybe you’re concerned about the possible side effects of the common sugar alternatives? If so, you may want to consider stevia rebaudiana.

Stevia rebaudiana is a shrub native to some South American countries, especially Paraguay and Brazil. The stevia leaves have been used, safely, for hundreds of years by the people of these regions as a sweetener and for certain medicinal purposes.

Stevia has only recently been approved as a dietary supplement in the United States and Europe, but it is widely used in Japan, China and other countries in Asia as well as many South American countries

Japan began cultivating stevia in the 1970s and it is now commonly used as a food additive and sweetening agent by many large companies, including Coca Cola.

Besides being used as a sweetener, research has shown that stevia is beneficial to help combat diabetes and heart disease. Stevia rebaudiana has been proven to be an excellent sweetener for someone with diabetes because it doesn’t cause fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Stevia is also heart friendly and has properties that actually strengthen the heart. It is antimicrobial, as well, and has been used for hundreds of years for healing wounds. It can be a valuable aid in weight loss, too. Research is showing that it may even have antioxidant properties.

So, how can you use stevia? You can use it just about any way that you use regular sugar. In the granular form, it is very heat tolerant and good for baking and cooking. Keep in mind that the granular form is about 10 to 15 times sweeter than sugar, so start with a very small amount and add it a little at a time until it reaches desired sweetness. The tincture can be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar.

The more you learn about the advantages of stevia, the more you will be encouraged to find uses for it on a daily basis. As knowledge and demand continue to increase, it may soon be regarded as one of the super-foods.