Stevia Glycosides are the chemical compounds for the leaves of the plant Stevia rebandiana in South America that is responsible for the sweet taste. Stevia is a plant that has been used since the 16th century. It is used in beverages and tea due to its sweetness. This plant has basic roots in Paraguay and Brazil but Japan and China are also known for the growth of this plant. It is part of the sunflower family with 150 species.
Sweeteners that contain zero calories are called non-nutritive sweeteners. Stevia works as a healthful alternative to the sugar in food and beverages. However, its marketing was banned by the United States Drug and Food Administration in 1987. But latterly this plant has again grown its popularity in 1995 due to its qualities.
Here given are the details about the stevia.
Facts on stevia
- Stevia has its primary roots In Brazil Japan, Paraguay, and China.
- Its naturally sweet taste is 200 to 300 times much sweeter than the table sugar.
- Stevia is considered the Zero calories because it has very few calories with every serving.
- This fruit comes with several other health benefits, replacing the normal sugar and helping people suffering from Diabetes.
- Stevia is rich in sweetness, and if compared with other sweeteners, it requires very little land or water to grow and provides 200 to 300 times more sweetness.
- Due to the less harmful effects, Stevia and erythritol both are approved products from the United States.
If we just focus on the export of Stevia currently China exports the products of Stevia. One can purchase this plant in the home growing. Stevia is made up of eight glycosides, these all are extracted from the leaves of stevia, and are as follows;
- stevioside
- rebaudiosides A, C, D, E, and F
- glucoside A
- steviolbioside
Among all these Stevioside and rebaudioside A (Reb-A) are the most plentiful. Extraction of the glycosides includes harvesting, drying purification, and water extraction. One of its products, Crude stevia, is processed happen before it gets purified. It carries a little, bitter taste and has signs of foul smell, but once it is bleached or discolored it leaves a bitter taste and smell. The extraction of the stevia includes 40 steps. Concentrations of the stevioside in the stevia leaves are 18%. Stevia is traded with the names like Enliten, PureVia, Stevia, and Rebiana.
Health benefits
Stevia is taken as an alternative for the sugar thus reducing the potential effects on the health and stabilizing the sugar level.
Diabetes
Stevia has zero calories, which shows its valuable quality, and has fewer grams of carbohydrates. It can easily be mixed with other ingredients. It has calories but in very few amounts.
Sweet tasting component in stevia is natural. Due to this characteristic stevia benefits most of the population. it is mostly used in beverages or other foods. People with diabetes and heavyweight use stevia as a replacement agent for sugar. Studies have demonstrated that stevia does not cause the elevation of blood sugar and glucose. This allows its use in people with diabetes. These stabilize the level of Glucagon when blood glucose climbs.
Obesity control
Being overweight has many causes, such as a sedentary lifestyle, or lack of physical activity. Due to the consumption of a high-calorie diet, linked to weight gain, due to the overweight body starts losing control over the glucose levels. Due to the stevia’s low calories, it can be added to the normal diet, it will produce a good effect without compromising the taste
Pancreatic cancer
Most of the sterols and antioxidants with Kaempferol are present in Stevia, thus making it effective in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Blood pressure
Some of the Glycosides in stevia are known for dilating the blood vessels. They can also affect sodium and water excretion. Due to these potential effects, stevia helps reduce blood pressure. Most of the studies have shown that stevia leaves might have cardiotonic activities, thus regulating the heartbeat by lowering the blood pressure. The plant is undergoing medical studies and research. Because most of the facts are certain.
