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Benefits of Sweetleaf or Stevia Rebaudiana

Stevia herb or sweetleaf from the stevia rebaudiana plant species is a sweet herb and is best known just as stevia. Stevia sweetener is the extract from stevia leaf and is widely used as a natural sweetener and sugar substitute. Stevia extract is also available as a food additive and dietary supplement.

Stevia plants are native of Brazil, Columbia, Paraguay and Venezuela. Stevia leaves contain stevioside and rebaudioside A which are up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. According to stevia.net website, 1 teaspoon of stevia powder is equivalent to 1 cup of sugar. What's good about this sweet herb is that it has no calories and does not produce any side effect compared to sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Centuries ago, the natives of Paraguay used sweetleaf to sweeten their foods and beverages as well as to mask the taste of unpleasant medicines. And around the 1970s, the Japanese started using stevia sweetener to substitute for sugar in their diet.

Here are some of the health benefits of sweetleaf or stevia leaf, stevia extract and stevia sweetener.

1. Since stevia doesn't contain calories, it is beneficial for people who are keen to control or manage their weight.
   
   
   
2. A report published in 2004 on the metabolismjournal.com website stated that stevioside which is present in the leaves of stevia rebaudiana has the potential to treat type 2 diabetic patients. The test that was conducted on 12 patients showed that stevioside reduced blood glucose levels. Another report that was published on ncbi website revealed that stevia increased glucose tolerance based on a test done on 16 volunteers. What this can mean is that stevia and diabetes can go together and is safe.
   
   
   

   

   
   
   
3. Researches were also conducted to determine the effects of stevioside present in sweet honey leaf in the treatment of hypertension. The result showed that stevia herb has the potential to reduce high blood pressure.
   
   
   
4. Stevia herb benefits the heart and may help prevent the risk of heart diseases. The international journal of obesity reported that a 12 week study on old mice showed that stevioside reduced plaque buildup inside the arteries. Even though more studies are required, sweetleaf may have the potential to prevent atherosclerosis.
   
   
   
5. If you suffer from candida albicans which is a yeast infection, you should avoid or reduce your sugar intake because sugar promotes the growth of yeast. Stevia extract in the form of stevia powder or liquid stevia is the alternative to add to your food and beverages.
   
   
   
6. Drinking stevia leaf tea may help provide relief from heartburn, indigestion and other digestive issues.
   
   
   
7. Even though stevia sweetener is many times sweeter than sugar, it will not cause tooth decay.
   
   
   
8. Sweetleaf extract remains stable at high temperature. It doesn't change color or taste and so is ideal for cooking and baking.

Sweet leaf extract is available as whole dried leaf, leaf powder, stevia liquid extract, stevia leaf tea and dissolvable tablets. It is also used as an ingredient in chewing gums, baked foods, ice creams, soft drinks and skin care products.

In the early 1990s, the USA banned stevia unless it was labeled as a supplement. Many consumers were concerned on the dangers of stevia. In December 2008, the US approved the use of rebaudioside A, which is one of the compounds in sweetleaf, as a food additive and classified it as generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Stevia sweetener is still banned in some countries.

The Japanese have been taking sweet leaf extract for decades and have not reported any stevia side effects. And South Americans who have been using this sweet herb for ages have also not experienced any health issues.