Stevia leaf - cut

Stevia is naturally 30 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. It is an alternative to artificial sweeteners with no added calories, no side effects, and very little aftertaste. Stevia is a widely available tabletop sweetener in Asian countries. It has been used to treat digestion, liver, and intestinal problems.

Stevia leaves have been used for 1500 years by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay as a soothing tonic for the stomach and as a healing concentrate when cooked in water. It was first discovered and introduced to Europe in 1899 by M. S. Bertoni. Since then, hundreds of scientific tests have been performed on these sweet leaves, which have been found to contain, among other elements, Vitamin C, calcium, beta-carotene, chromium, fiber, iron, magnesium, niacin, potassium, protein, and silicon. It is the intensely sweet glycosides, referred to as steviosides (produced within the leaves), which make stevia so sweet. Research has shown that the body does not digest or metabolize these intensely sweet glycosides. They are not converted into glucose in the body and, therefore have a glycemic index of 0. This makes stevia a most valuable sweetening source for those with sugar restrictions, such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, or weight control.

• Scientific research indicates that stevia effectively regulates blood sugar in people with diabetes and hypoglycemia, bringing it toward more normal levels.

• Studies have indicated that stevia tends to lower elevated blood pressure while not affecting people with normal blood pressure.

• Stevia inhibits the growth and reproduction of oral bacteria and other infectious organisms. Regular users of stevia as a mouthwash or for brushing teeth (added to toothpaste) have reported an improvement to bleeding gum problems. This inhibition of oral bacteria may explain why users of stevia-enhanced products report a lower incidence of colds and flu. Subsequently, an increasing number of toothpaste manufacturers are now using stevia in their products.

• When applied externally stevia poultices and extracts have been observed to have therapeutic effect on acne, seborrhea, dermatitis and eczema. Extracts placed
  directly in cuts and wounds, have demonstrated rapidly healing without scarring.

• Other benefits of adding stevia to the daily diet include improved digestion and soothed upset stomachs.

• Stevia is also an exceptional aid in weight loss management because it contains no calories and reduces the craving for sweets and fatty foods. Steviosides, the principle sugar molecule component of stevia, pass through the human alimentary canal without being altered by digestive processes, demonstrating remarkable stability. They simply cannot be broken down into their metabolites under normal gastric conditions. As a result, the sugar molecules pass unchanged through the human gastrointestinal tract and are not absorbed into the blood, producing no calories. Preliminary research indicates that stevia may actually reset the hunger mechanism in people where the pathway between the hypothalamus and the stomach has become obstructed. In other words, it clears the communication pathway between the stomach and the brain, reducing hunger sensations faster.

Patricia
June 4, 2012 at 8:51 pm

I just received my first package of stevia leaves and brewed a cup of peach rooibus tea and included stevia leaves. The result was sweet and delicious! I am very happy with what I received and how quickly I received it! Does anyone know if you can put these leaves into a smoothie to make it sweet - or will it leave hard little leaves in my smoothie drink?

Rosella
August 3, 2012 at 12:51 pm

I would recommend using powdered stevia, rather than cut leaves, in smoothies. Another good option is to brew some leaves as tea and use the sweetened water as liquid in the smoothie. The result may have a less strongly herbal aftertaste than if using powder.