What is Stevia?

Consuming refined sugar has been associated with several medical problems, such as high blood sugar level, cardiac problems and obesity. To minimize these effects, many people are switching on to low calorie, plant derived sweetening agents. The most popularly consumed sugar substitutes are stevia, sucralose, saccharin and aspartame amongst others. But, what is so special about stevia sweetener? Let's discuss what is stevia, its safety concerns, production and most importantly stevia plant uses.

What is Stevia?

Stevia refers to both the sweetening agent sold in health food centers, and the plant from which this sweetener is derived. While the leaves are 15 times sweeter than table sugar, the extract is claimed to be 300 times sweeter than white sugar. The ill effects of table sugar are linked with the processing steps that involve treatment of molasses with various chemicals to produce refined, white colored sugar crystals. Considering this, natural sweeteners based on plants are produced for the health interests of consumers. Stevia is one of such products, available in the form of extract and powder.

What is Stevia Made of?

As aforementioned, stevia is made from the leaves of a plant. It shares taxonomic family Asteraceae with the sunflower, and is indigenous to tropical and subtropical regions of America. Represented by the scientific name Stevia rebaudiana, stevia plant is known by varied common names (sweetleaf, sugarleaf and sweet leaf). It usually grows as a herb in cultivation. However, stevia grows luxuriantly as shrubs and bushes in the natural habitat.

The glycosides present in stevia leaves give them intense sweetness. In the extraction process of these sweet compounds, the leaves are dried first under controlled conditions. After drying, water extraction procedure is conducted to produce stevia extract. Further purification steps are done to remove unwanted glycoside substances, and at the same time, increase the sweetness intensity of the extract. Different manufacturers adopt varied techniques to produce quality stevia products.

Is Stevia Safe for Consumption?

People who are currently on a low carbohydrate diet may already be aware of what is stevia. But, is it safe? Or are there any stevia dangers? As far as the safety of stevia is concerned, there is no clear data about the health benefits and side effects of this natural sweetener. According to the proponents of stevia extracts and other stevia products, they yield low calories, as the glycosides are not broken down inside the body. Hence, they are publicized as herb formulations for treating obesity.

Another claimed benefit of stevia is its use in controlling blood glucose level in diabetics. However, there is no scientific data that supports the purported health benefits of stevia. In fact, the FDA has not approved the use of any stevia plant products. Some scientists even suggest that stevia can act as a potent mutagen, thus increasing the risk of cancer. Other stevia side effects that should not be overlooked are that it slows down metabolic processes in the long run, and reproduction abnormalities.

What is Stevia Used for?

Stevia uses need no introduction for health conscious people, and those who have been asked to reduce intake of table sugar and carbohydrate. This sweetening agent is used to replace table sugar in any of the food recipes that call for regular sugar and artificial sweeteners. In addition, stevia is added in several commercial products. The amount of stevia sweetener to be added depends on which product form you are using. Crude stevia leaves are required in larger amounts, as compared to the quantity of stevia extract and powder added in recipes.

With this brief info, I hope you got your answer for what is stevia and its related queries. In a nutshell, it is claimed that stevia is as a safer sweetener as that of table sugar. However, there have been controversies about the irreversible dangers of stevia resulted after prolonged use. Hence, before using stevia in any form of food preparation, consult a doctor and take his/her advice.