Stevia Leaf

Stevia is a tropical herbaceous or shrubbery plant (scientific name Stevia rebaudiana, indigenous to the warm climatic conditions of America. It belongs to the sunflower family Asteraceae, and the stevia genus comprises about 240 plants. If you ever come across a herb that claims to be several times sweeter than table sugar, most likely it would be stevia. What is so special about stevia leaf is that it contains diterpene glycosides and steviosides that impart intense sweetness to the leaf.

What is Stevia Leaf Extract?

All of us have a fair understanding that refined sugar is partly responsible for many health problems. Though it is not the root cause, the highly processed table sugar exacerbates dental caries and lifestyle diseases like obesity, high blood glucose (diabetes), and heart problems. The manufacturing process of granulated sugar involves treatment of the base ingredients (e.g. sugarcane juice) with chemicals to make white colored and sweet tasting crystals that are high in calories.

As per study reports of stevia plant, the leaf is several times sweeter than the regular white, refined sugar. The sweet intensity of pure stevia extract is approximately 300 times that of table sugar. Stevia leaf extract is sold in convenient forms (liquid and powder) for cooking purposes. The best part with stevia is its low calorie count. Taking these claims into consideration, stevia is nothing less than a wonder herb for use as a sugar substitute. However, there are also health concerns related to this natural sweetener.

Stevia Leaf Benefits

The use of stevia as a natural sweetener has been known for over a century in Japan and Paraguay. Many health conscious people already know about stevia and how to use it. Stevia tablets are added in drinks, while powder form is used in place of refined sugar. Some notable health benefits of stevia leaf are as follows.

• Stevia is a healthy alternative to sugar for dieters and those who are on low carbohydrate diet. It is found that ingested stevia is not broken down inside the body, thus releasing no calories.
• Stevia extract is added in toothpaste and chewing gum. It is found that this plant derived ingredient reduces dental problems, bleeding gums and slows down growth of harmful bacteria.
• One of the most appreciated benefits of stevia is regulation of glucose level in the bloodstream. The sweet leaf is effective for stabilizing sugar level in diabetic patients, which is not so in case of table sugar.
• Another claimed advantage of consuming stevia is controlling insulin production in the body. However, there is no clear data that proves the benefit of stevia in insulin regulation.
• Stevia sweetener is a truly natural product, which benefits people with high blood pressure (hypertension). According to researches, stevia lowers blood pressure without side effects.
• Having food prepared with stevia leaves boosts the stamina level without increasing calorie intake. Stevia plant also aids in digestion, diuretic effect and improving skin health.

Stevia Leaf Side Effects

Allergies to stevia leaf are reported in rare incidences. But, it is possible to exhibit allergic responses to this sweet leaf. Hence, prior to adding it in daily food preparation and drinks, use sparingly to see tolerance level. While sensitivity to stevia can be avoided, there are certain stevia side effects that should not be overlooked for health prospects.

• Intake of stevia leaf in excess dose adversely affect the absorption rate of glucose (energy source). As a consequence, energy metabolism is greatly disturbed with stevia consumption.
• Stevia dangers include increased risk factor for growth of cancerous cells. Inside the body, the steviol from stevia gets converted to mutagenic substances, thus posing a risk for cancer.
• In an animal study, feeding large amount of stevia leaf products for a long time is associated with decrease sperm count. Thus, it is concluded that stevia may negatively affect reproductive system.

According to the proponents of stevia leaf products, they can be used in cooking goodies and sweet recipes in the same way as table sugar. However, weigh the benefits and dangers of stevia, before you include it as a sugar substitute. In case, you are still doubtful about stevia plant uses and benefits, talk to a health care specialist and take a firm decision.