Stevia – sweet and... healthy!

A green, pretty, inconspicuous leaf. Experience would suggest that it is bitter and odd tasting like most pretty, green, inconspicuous leaves. Nothing could be further from the truth! Stevia is a low-calorie, natural sweetener that lowers blood pressure. It is a very good alternative to traditional sugar and other sweeteners. Stevia is taking over the world thanks to its remarkable properties. Get to know them in today's blog post!

Summary:

1. A mysterious plant from South America. Stevia – what is it?
2. The sweet secret of stevia. What's in it?
3. A sweet ally of health. What are the properties of stevia?
4. Stevia – is it healthy? Is it safe to consume?
5. Stevia in yerba mate – sweet pleasure without remorse

A mysterious plant from South America. Stevia – what is it?

There are around 270 plant species under the single common name “stevia”, but only one of them is unique. Stevia rebaudiana – that is its botanical name. Stevia – a small and inconspicuous plant, but one with a powerful force! It is like a treasure hidden in the heart of South America. Nowadays, it is grown in many places all over the world, but originally came from Paraguay and Brazil. From there, it spread across the continent and then made its way overseas, winning the hearts and palates of health food lovers. But first, hundreds of years earlier, it was discovered by the Guarani Indians, who – because of its unique taste – called it “sweet herb”, which in their language sounded ka'a he'ẽ. Stevia quickly became a valued addition to herbal infusions, not only for the hint of sweetness it introduced to them, but also for its very interesting medicinal properties.

The name of stevia commemorates the Spanish botanist and physician Pedro Jaime Esteve, who was the first to describe the plant in the 16th century. 400 years later, the first chemical analysis of stevia was carried out and published by the Paraguayan chemist Ovidio Rebaudi. He discovered that the green leaves contained a hitherto unknown steviol glycoside, which is responsible for its sweet aftertaste. In honour of Rebaudi, stevia was given the official botanical name Stevia rebaudiana. Interestingly, stevia, used almost daily by the Guarani Indians, did not initially interest the colonisers who arrived in South America in the 17th century. It only became more widely known in the 1970s, when the Japanese took a closer look at it. They literally fell in love with the plant! Japanese developed ways of cultivating and extracting stevia leaves, and were the first in the world to produce a sweetener based on it – a healthier alternative to sugar. Today, Japan is one of the largest markets for this product and China is the main exporter of stevia.

The sweet secret of stevia. What's in it?

Although stevia, this small bush from the Asteraceae family, may seem inconspicuous, it hides an incredible power. Its sweet secret lies in its leaves, which contain the aforementioned steviol glycosides that make it up to 300 times sweeter than traditional sugar. What's more, the glycosides are not metabolised by our body, which means that stevia provides almost no calories! It is therefore the ideal choice for anyone who wants to reduce their sugar intake without sacrificing the sweet taste of their favourite foods and drinks.

Stevia is not only a healthier alternative to sugar. It is a real treasure trove of health, abounding in a range of nutritional values. In its composition you will find a wealth of vitamins such as B2, B9, C, which are essential for the proper functioning of our body. Minerals? Of course there are! Potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc – to name but a few. These nutrients support our heart, bones and overall immunity. And we can't forget the antioxidants, which stevia is also not lacking. Thanks to them, stevia can help fight free radicals, slowing down the ageing process and protecting cells from damage. Stevia is widely used in the kitchen as a natural sweetener. Fresh or dried stevia leaves, powder or pastilles can be added to coffee, tea, desserts and even used to bake cakes. It is a valuable and healthy addition to your diet!

A sweet ally of health. What are the properties of stevia?

Studies confirm that stevia has impressive properties, especially in the context of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. It is like a balm for people struggling with diabetes. Thanks to its natural ingredients, it helps regulate blood sugar levels, which is crucial for diabetics. By consuming stevia instead of traditional sugar, you can control your glycaemia, which can be helpful in preventing sudden spikes in blood sugar. That's not all. Stevia also has positive effects on the cardiovascular system. Thanks to its hypotensive properties, it can help reduce high blood pressure, which is important for people suffering from hypertension. Regular consumption of stevia can help improve blood vessel health, which in turn reduces the risk of heart disease. Obesity is another problem that the South American plant tackles. As a natural sweetener with no calories, stevia is a great sugar alternative for people who want to reduce weight or simply look after the slim figure. Instead of the empty calories from sugar, stevia provides sweetness without the extra calories, which can be helpful in maintaining a healthy body weight.

Stevia – is it healthy? Is it safe to consume?

The answer is yes! Although stevia initially aroused distrust in Europe and the USA, with the first studies conducted in the last century suggesting that it could be harmful, subsequent, more in-depth studies disproved these theories and revealed the plant's numerous benefits. Finally, in 2011 stevia fully conquered Europe. The European Union declared it safe, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) set an acceptable daily dose of 4 mg per 1 kg of body weight. Today, it is known that steviol glycosides, the sweet components of the plant, have no side effects, no allergies and are not even carcinogenic! Stevia has no contraindications for use. It is safe for everyone – children, adults and seniors. It is a sweet story with a hint of bitterness that shows that it is sometimes worth giving nature a chance!

Stevia in yerba mate – sweet pleasure without remorse

Stevia can be purchased in various forms – leafy, powdered or in pastille form. It finds use wherever sugar can be used. How about sweet yerba mate? Sounds strange? You can drop stevia into your mate cup to give your brew a slightly sweet aftertaste, or simply buy a ready-made product with stevia. Try CBSé Endulife con Stevia from Argentina or Colón Compuesta con Stevia from Paraguay. It's the perfect way to sweeten a bitter brew without remorse.

Everything sweet is unhealthy, high-calorie and fattening? With stevia – never again!

Source of information:

1. Wikipedia: Stevia rebaudiana.
2. S. K. Goyal, Samsher, R. K. Goyal, Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) a bio-sweetener: a review, International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2010.
3. S. D. Singh, G. P. Rao, Stevia: The Herbal Sugar of 21 st Century, Sugar Tech, 2005.