Stevia - what is it and what is the use of it?

Stevia is a unique food product of plant origin. A number of useful properties of this plant are in great demand in folk medicine. And for athletes and adherents of a healthy lifestyle, stevia has become an excellent sugar substitute.

Stevia is a great sweetener

Stevia is a plant of the Astrov family, which is a low-growing shrub. Its stems reach a height of 80 cm. In the wild, it can be found both in mountainous and semi-arid plains. It grows mainly in Central and South America (Brazil). Stevia was first described by the Swiss botanist Santiago Bertoni in the late 19th century. This plant was brought to the Soviet Union by the Russian scientist Nikolai Vavilov from Latin America in 1934.

Another name for stevia is honey herb. It got this name due to the sweet taste of its leaves. Stevia is a natural sweetener. It is actively used in the food industry. Today it is in demand all over the world, it is produced in powder form, in the form of herbal tea or extract. Thanks to the use of this plant, the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases is reduced, the activity of the reproductive system improves, and the immune system is strengthened.

Composition and calorie content

Stevia leaves contain a large amount of minerals, vitamins, macronutrients and other beneficial substances. It includes the following components:

100 g of the plant contains 18 kcal, 0 g of protein and 0 g of fat. One standard tablet weighing 0.25 g contains only 0.7 kcal.

Useful properties and harm

The plant has a number of beneficial properties for the human body, in particular, it has a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect. These properties allow the herb to be used for various diseases.

The use of stevia is advisable for the following indications:

• deviations from the endocrine system (in particular, obesity and diabetes);
• hypertonic disease;
• degenerative-dystrophic diseases (for example, osteochondrosis of the spinal column);
• metabolic disorders;
• chronic arterial disease;
• fungal infections;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Important! The use of honey herb is useful in the prevention of hyper- and hypoglycemic conditions.

There were many rumors and speculations about the dangers of stevia. In 2006, the WHO declared that stevia extract is harmless to the human body (source - https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia). Numerous studies have confirmed that all components of the plant are non-toxic.

Is stevia good for diabetes?

Due to the high sweetness of glycosides, stevia is actively used in the manufacture of sugar substitutes for diabetics. It lowers blood sugar. Numerous studies have confirmed that consumption of this herb leads to a decrease in insulin resistance.

Important! It is not recommended to abuse honey grass, its uncontrolled use can harm the body.

Is stevia good for weight loss and exercise?

Honey herb is often used for weight loss. Unlike many synthetic sugar substitutes, this natural product does not harm the body. At the same time, experts note that the plant reduces appetite and dulls the feeling of hunger. According to statistics, thanks to the use of stevia, you can lose up to 3 kg per month (without rigid diets). If you combine honey grass and sports, the amount of lost kg will be much higher. In general, the calorie content of the diet when replacing sugar is reduced to 12-16%.

There are several ways to consume the plant for weight loss. Tea is brewed from its leaves, and stevia infusion or syrup is added to food. To prepare the sweetener, you need 300 ml of boiled water and 1 tablespoon of chopped leaves. Raw materials are poured into 200 ml of water and boiled for 4-6 minutes. The resulting product is insisted for 12 hours in a dark place, and then filtered. 100 ml of water is added to the leaves and insisted for 6 hours, after which both infusions are mixed with each other. The resulting product can be added to various drinks and food (for example, compote or salad).

Comparison with sugar

Many people use stevia instead of sugar. It has significantly fewer calories and a rich chemical composition. Moreover, its leaves are 30-35 times sweeter than sugar, and the extract is almost 300 times sweeter. Replacing sugar with stevia has a beneficial effect on health. (here is more about the benefits and dangers of sugar).

How is stevia obtained?

The herb is grown in greenhouses or at home (in a pot). Moreover, it must be sprayed once every 14 days. When the size of the plant exceeds 10 cm, they are planted in the ground. After the appearance of small white flowers, they begin to harvest. The collected leaves are soaked in boiled water, filtered and dried, resulting in a crystallized extract. The sweet components of the plant are subsequently processed into the desired state.

How and how much is stored?

The shelf life of stevia directly depends on the form in which it is released (liquid, powder or tablet state). The drug is stored in a place protected from direct sunlight at room temperature (not higher than 25 ° C). Each brand that produces the product sets its own expiration date (detailed information can be found on the packaging). On average, stevia has a shelf life of 24-36 months.

For long-term storage, you can make your own powder from dried grass leaves. They are washed with water, dried in a natural way, and then rubbed with a rolling pin to a powdery state. Such a product can be stored for a long time in a glass container (from 3 to 5 years). Decoctions prepared from the leaves should be consumed within 24 hours, and the tinctures are stored in the refrigerator for a week.

Contraindications - who should not be used?

The beneficial properties of stevia for human health are truly endless, they are used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Numerous studies of scientists have confirmed that the use of the plant in reasonable quantities is not capable of harming the body. However, side effects are possible, which are caused by individual intolerance to the components contained in the herb.

Important! In order not to harm the body, monitor its reaction to the use of the plant. If negative symptoms appear, it is recommended to stop taking it and seek help from a specialist.

There are no absolute contraindications to taking the drug, but experts do not recommend using stevia for pregnant and lactating women. With hypotonic illness, taking large doses of herb is dangerous, since it lowers blood pressure. Without consulting a doctor, it is undesirable to use the remedy in the presence of serious hormonal disruptions, psychological disorders and problems with the digestive system. Some liquid forms of the herb contain a small amount of alcohol, and people who are sensitive to it often have diarrhea and vomiting. Stevia should be used with caution for people prone to allergic reactions.

Watch the video: The Problem with Stevia (November 2024).