Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a plant native to Paraguay used as a substitute for sugar. Although it was not until the 19th century when scientists began to investigate stevia in more detail, the indigenous people of Paraguay were already using this plant in the 16th century to sweeten drinks and medicines. It is currently grown in Brazil and Paraguay and China is the main exporter of stevia products.
This sweetener is even sweeter than sugar itself: stevia extract can be up to 300 times sweeter than table sugar. It also has no calories. However, this does not mean that just swapping sugar for stevia will make us lose weight miraculously. Stevia is simply an alternative to sugar.
Stevia and other approved artificial sweeteners do not appear to pose any health risks when used in moderation.
Its cultivation is interesting because it requires very little amount of land to be cultivated, allowing farmers to diversify their crops.
Since stevia is incredibly sweet, it typically requires only one-fifth of the earth and much less water to provide the same amount of sweetness as other sweeteners we can find on the market.
Why is it so sweet? Because the plant has eight glycosides: stevioside, rebaudioside A, C, D, E and F, steviolbioside and dulcoside A. Stevioside is the most abundant extract of all, as some leaves of certain stevia crops contain up to 18 % stevioside.
Stevia extract has zero calories, as we have discussed. Stevia-based tabletop sweeteners may have zero or minimal calories per serving, depending on the other food ingredients it has been combined with.
Curiously, the United States banned this natural sweetener in the 1990s unless it was labeled as a dietary supplement; however, since 2008, various glycoside extracts have already been accepted as they have been accepted as a safe supplement as a food additive. In the European Union, stevia has been available for consumption since December 2, 2011.
No major contraindications, warnings, or adverse reactions have been documented.
In some countries, raw stevia extracts or whole stevia plant leaves are often sold as dietary supplements, but it is important to note that only high-purity stevia leaf extract has been evaluated and approved for consumption as an ingredient. in food and beverages around the world.
Next, we take a look at the potential health benefits of stevia.
