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Stevia comes from the leaves of a plant native to Paraguay, where it’s been used as medicine and in cooking for centuries. While it may seem like an unassuming plant, stevia offers numerous benefits that make it worth learning more about.
What follows are just five of the many reasons you might consider using stevia in your daily routine—either as an alternative to traditional sweeteners or as part of your exercise or diet routine.
What is Stevia?
While a lot of sweeteners are chemically created to taste great, stevia is a natural product. It's made from an extract taken from leaves related to chrysanthemums and ragweed. In Japan, it's been used as a sweetener for nearly 1,000 years and has recently gained popularity in North America, with some reviewers claiming it has zero calories.
However, there are several other benefits associated with stevia consumption that make it worth exploring further. Let's take a look at five health benefits of stevia.
1. May aid in preveting Diabetes
There is some evidence that stevia can help control blood sugar levels and may even have an effect on lowering blood pressure.
In a study published in Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, a group of researchers examined 12 people with type 2 diabetes who had never been treated with stevia. After 40 days, those who took 1 gram (g) per kilogram (kg) of body weight had more than a 10 percent reduction in their fasting glucose levels (how much sugar is in your bloodstream when you wake up).
The same amount also lowered hemoglobin A1c by about 0.4 percent—and it did so without any major side effects or adverse events reported. On top of these benefits, 1 g/kg also reduced blood pressure and insulin resistance over time.
2. May Regulate Blood Pressure
A study published in Phytotherapy Research revealed that stevioside, a natural sweetener found in stevia leaves, may help regulate blood pressure.
Experts say stevioside reduces inflammation and swelling by blocking cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme responsible for creating a number of chemicals that contribute to inflammation. In addition to lowering inflammation levels and improving cardiovascular health, COX-2 inhibitors are used as painkillers and in anti-inflammatory drugs.
This is where some cautionary news regarding stevioside comes into play: More research is needed before experts can fully recommend using it as a treatment for high blood pressure.
3. May Help Prevent Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is characterized by loss of bone tissue, and occurs in one out of every three women over 50 years old.
Research suggests that people who use stevia may lose their appetite for sugar, which can help reduce their risk for developing osteoporosis. According to a study published in Nutrition Research, a natural sweetener like stevia can decrease blood sugar levels and lead to weight loss, which are both important factors in preventing osteoporosis.
4. May Aid in Weight Loss
All sweeteners have roughly 4 calories per gram. Since stevia is 600 times sweeter than sugar, you only need a small amount. Just 2 drops of liquid stevia is equivalent to one teaspoon of sugar, which has about 16 calories. This means it's easy to swap out your high-calorie alternatives for something that is both lower in calories and better for your health.
The fact that stevia has also been shown to have a small effect on blood sugar level also suggests that stevia could help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight if used as part of a healthy diet. A study in rats found that stevia had more benefits than other common sweeteners, such as saccharin and sucralose. The sweetener was associated with lower body weight gain, total cholesterol and blood pressure in rats when compared to high-fructose corn syrup and table sugar.
5. Can Boost Metabolism
Stevia has been shown to increase basal metabolic rate, which is essentially your base metabolic rate before food or exercise.
In short, stevia helps you burn more calories on a daily basis. When you burn more calories throughout your day, even at rest, it's easier to lose weight. Most people can fit stevia in their diets easily because unlike other calorie-free sweeteners, it's not artificial. It's completely natural.
Sunrider product: Suncare® - Pure Stevia extract
Suncare® - Pure Stevia extract
Sunrider’s stevia is grown without pesticides, has not been hybridized, or genetically engineered. No preservatives or alcohol are used in the formulation. The natural herb (Stevia) has tannic acid naturally occurring in the stem of the plant. Dr. Chen, with his enhancement and concentration process, is able to eliminate this and any other negative ingredient that naturally occurs in the Stevia herb.
It takes 2500 gallons of herbal liquid to make 20 gallons of Suncare. Suncare and SuncarePlus are, by far, the most concentrated Stevia products anywhere.
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