Stevia - Healthy and Sweet
By Jane Sheppard
Wouldn’t it be great to have a completely non-toxic sweetener that
does not raise blood sugar levels, has no calories, may help prevent
cavities, and is much sweeter than sugar so you need less? Well,
we do have such a substance, and it’s available from herbalists
and at health food stores. This wonderful, little known herb is
called stevia.
Stevia Rebaudiana is an herb that grows wild in Paraguay and Brazil.
It is much sweeter than sugar (10-15 times sweeter) and does not
have the unhealthy disadvantages that you get with sugar. The refined
extracts of Stevia (steviosides) may be 200-300 times sweeter than
refined sugar. It has been thoroughly tested around the world and
found to be completely non-toxic. It has been used to sweeten foods
and beverages for centuries. Stevia is a safe, all-natural alternative
to sugar and artificial sweeteners.
When tested by Purdue University’s Dental Science Research Group,
they concluded that “stevioside is both fluoride compatible and
significantly inhibits the development of plaque, thus stevia may
actually help to prevent cavities”.
Raw stevia contains a wealth of phytonutrients and volatile oils.
However, the nutritional benefits are minimal considering the quantity
that is typically consumed. Since the extracts are more refined,
they will contain even less. So you can’t expect to get nutritional
benefit from stevia, but unlike refined sugar, stevia won’t drain
the body of important nutrients.
Stevia can be used to replace sugar in drinks, baking and cooking.
It is a good idea to experiment with different quantities. Keep
in mind that the high stevioside extracts (200-300 times sweeter)
should be used real sparingly. The herbal powder is 10 to 15 times
sweeter.
Actually, this wonder herb does have one drawback. It does not
caramelize like sugar does, so if you need to have this effect,
don’t use stevia. But if this is the only problem with stevia, it
may be worthwhile to try it as a replacement to the sugar in your
kids’ food. Shop for it at your local natural foods store.
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Use the information provided on this site as an educational resource for determining your options and making your own informed choices. It is not intended as medical advice or to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any specific illness.