Stevia

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Stevia is (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is the sweetest gift from nature that exists. It is a perennial plant of the Astrovi family. About 80 species of plants of this genus are known in nature, but only Stevia Rebaudiana and two others (already extinct species) have the properties of a natural sweetener.

Stevia is a branched shrub, often called a honey herb because of its sweet pleasant and completely natural taste. Stevia leaves are characterized by a pleasant and refreshing taste, which can be 30 times sweeter than sugar. Honey herb does not contain food calories and has no side effects.

The origin of stevia is from Paraguay and Brazil, where they appreciate the potential of the honey herb for 1.5 thousand years, but for us Europeans, stevia became known and known relatively late. In nature, the shrub reaches 60-70 cm in height, with simple leaves, white small flowers and a well-developed root system.

Stevia has been grown artificially in Bulgaria for more than 30 years. The cultivation of natural sweetener is most active mainly in Paraguay, Brazil, Japan and China, but it is also cultivated in Southern Ontario, Mexico, California and the South of England.

The cultivation of this natural sweetener is very successful in countries with warm climates, because it does not tolerate the cold. The reproduction of stevia it is done by seeds and by rooting cuttings, but seed propagation is cheaper when creating larger plantations. Most of the sweet substances in this natural gift accumulate before the beginning of flowering and that is why this is the moment. After harvesting, the stevia should be dried as quickly as possible.

The raw material for the products we use today under the name stevia comes from his homeland - Paraguay. This plant has a unique, pleasant and strong sweet taste and specific aroma. Stevia has countless advantages over all other artificial and natural sweeteners, but in addition the plant has a wide range of health benefits. Stevia is a powerful adaptogen, antioxidant and bioprotector with an extremely wide prophylactic and therapeutic spectrum. The sweet herb can be used daily by people of all ages.

History of stevia

Although known for thousands of years, on the Old Continent stevia appeared only in the 19th century. In 1887, he learned about the sweet herb from the Paraguayan Guarani Indians from the South American scientist Antonio Bertoni. From time immemorial, Indians have used stevia to impart a sweet taste to their traditional bitter drinks. They called it "ka-a-he-e", which means "sweet grass" or "honey leaves".

Research on stevia began even later - in 1931, when the two French chemists Bridel and Laviel began to study the extraction of the leaves of the magical plant. As a result of these developments, a pure and white transparent compound called "stevioside" was obtained, which is also responsible for the taste of stevia.

Composition of stevia

Stevia is a sweetener and healer with a completely natural origin. The leaves of the herb contain glucosides, pectins, vitamins, 17 different amino acids, trace elements, antioxidants, essential oils. Stevia contains primarily glycosides. They participate in the metabolic process of the human body without insulin, normalizing the level of glucose in the blood.

Immediately after glycosides comes the huge range of important substances for human health - cellulose, pectin, plant lipids, polysaccharides, vitamins (mainly A, C, B1, B2), and the microelements are dominated by potassium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, calcium, sodium, antioxidants, amino acids, mineral compounds, etc. The feeling of sweetness that creates the consumption of stevia is quite important for the metabolic processes in our body.

Application of stevia

Stevia is a unique product of nature, which is both a natural sweetener, healer and a product that can be used successfully in cooking because it withstands heat treatment. A Japanese study confirms that stevia and its extracts are extremely resistant to various cooking methods, such as baking, cooking, etc.

In fact, the Japanese themselves are the largest consumers of stevia worldwide. They have been using the honey herb as a sweetener since 1954. In Japan, the export of stevia is banned, and its use in more and more different products as a substitute for sugar is growing. It is no coincidence that the Japanese have the highest life expectancy in the world.

As a healer stevia helps clear the body of toxins and toxins and although it is very sweet, it does not contain any calories. It is important to note that the substances in stevia do not ferment in the oral cavity and do not increase appetite. At the same time, stevia improves digestion and metabolism.

Its antioxidant properties have been confirmed, with stevia successfully fighting free radicals. Stevia can be used daily as a substitute for sugar, as a sweetener, which, unlike other sweeteners, is completely harmless and brings only benefits to the body.

Benefits of stevia

The health benefits of stevia are huge and are especially important for people who suffer from diabetes. It heals through a pronounced homeopathic way and helps many of the diseases of our time. It regulates the blood sugar content, as in diabetics it lowers it in diabetics and lowers the level of the hormone insulin in the blood.

In addition, stevia reduces high blood pressure without affecting its normal level. Honey herb has a tonic effect on the heart, strengthening the cardiovascular system. Reduces the level of radionuclides and cholesterol in the body, improves cell regeneration and blood coagulation, strengthening blood vessels.

Regular consumption of stevia improves the work of the stomach and intestines, enhancing the enzymatic activity of the digestive system. As a result, stevia is particularly effective in acute and chronic gastritis. People who are accustomed to sweetening their food and drink with stevia have been shown to be less likely to suffer from colds, flu and viral infections.

The sweet herb has bactericidal properties, which are manifested in wound healing, treatment of ulcers of various origins, eczema, dermatitis and various skin allergies. Stevia also manages to normalize the liver microflora after prolonged use of antibiotics.

Rinsing the oral cavity with a solution of stevia protects teeth from caries, and gums from periodontitis and strengthens tooth enamel. At the same time it does not cause active salivation and hunger for carbohydrates. Stevia has a calming effect on the nervous system, has a good effect on stress and increased mental work. It successfully relieves rheumatic pain. The plant is quite effective in various insect bites and stings, as well as burns.

This sweet natural gift manages to regulate weight and metabolism, because it contains virtually no calories. Stevia is a powerful antioxidant that reduces the action of harmful free radicals, making us more resilient and has a huge therapeutic, prophylactic and healing effect when used by healthy people. Another plus is that regular consumption of stevia can dull your cravings for bad habits such as smoking and alcohol.

Harm from stevia

Stevia has long been banned as a dietary supplement in many countries in Europe because it has not been sufficiently studied. Since 2009, however, the plant is allowed and more. It is now quite clear that stevia has no side effects and is a completely pure, useful and effective gift from nature.

There are only concerns that higher doses of stevia consumption may lead to lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Therefore, people with similar problems should consume stevia in moderate doses without overdoing it.