Stevia health benefits
Steviol glycosides have
zero calories. Stevia-based tabletop sweeteners can have zero or minimal
calories per serving, depending upon the other food ingredients with which they
are combined. These factors could have a positive effect on those looking to
control weight or manage diabetes .
Stevia also contains
certain vitamins (A, B, C), minerals (iron, zinc, calcium ), electrolytes (sodium, potassium), proteins,
and other elements.21
Below, we take a look at
the possible health benefits of stevia.
Diabetes
Research
has shown that stevia sweeteners do not contribute calories or carbohydrates to the diet and do not affect blood glucose or
insulin response, which allows people with diabetes to consume a wider variety
of foods and comply with a healthful meal plan.
A randomized controlled trial over 16 weeks had 122 participants
take four doses of approximately 330 mg of steviol equivalents over the course
of a day. Compared to placebo, there was no impact on blood sugar levels. For
this study, >97% rebaudioside A was used.
Additionally, a position
paper on nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners from the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics reviewed five randomized controlled trials examining the effects
of stevia compared with placebos on metabolic outcomes.
The studies reported
minimal to no effects on blood glucose, insulin levels, hypertension and body weight . In one study showing minimal effects,
subjects with type 2 diabetes reported reduced postprandial blood glucose and
glucagon response after a test meal of stevia versus placebo.
Weight control
The causes of overweight
and obesity
around the globe are quite complex and include factors such as an increase in
physical inactivity due to increased sedentary time and increased intake of
energy-dense foods that are high in fat and added sugars.
The intake of added sugars
has been shown to contribute an average of 16% of the total calories in the
American diet, and has been linked to weight gain and adverse effects on
glycemic control.
Plant-based, zero calorie
stevia can be part of a well-balanced diet to help reduce energy intake without
sacrificing taste.
Replacing just 25g (about 6
teaspoons) of nutritive sweeteners in foods and beverages can provide a
100-kilocalorie reduction.
Metabolism
Steviol glycosides are
poorly absorbed in the body and pass through the upper gastrointestinal tract,
including the stomach and small intestines, fully intact.
Once steviol glycosides
reach the colon, gut bacteria hydrolyze steviol glycosides into steviol by
snipping off their glucose units. Steviol is then absorbed via the portal vein
and primarily metabolized by the liver, forming steviol glucuronide, before
being excreted in the urine.
Research has shown that
there is no accumulation of stevia (or any byproduct of stevia) in the body
during metabolism. It is a result of this essentially poor absorption in the
digestive tract which ultimately contributes to the fact that stevia has zero
calories and does not raise blood glucose or insulin levels when digested.
Pancreatic cancer
Stevia plant has many
sterols and antioxidant compounds like triterpenes, flavonoids, and tannins.
Some of flavonoid polyphenolic anti-oxidant phytochemicals present in stevia
are kaempferol, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, isoquercitrin, and
isosteviol. Studies have found that kaempferol can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer by 23% (American Journal of Epidemiology).
Blood pressure
Certain glycosides in
stevia extract have been found to dilate blood vessels, increase sodium
excretion, and urine output. In effect at slightly higher doses than as a
sweetener, stevia can potentially help lower blood pressure .
The plant may have cardiotonic
actions, which normalize blood pressure and regulate heartbeat. The plant
displayed vasodilatory actions in both normotensive and hypertensive animals.
Special populations
Regulatory health agencies
around the world have approved high purity stevia leaf extract for safe use.
This includes special populations such as pregnant and nursing women, children
and people with allergies or diabetes.
Children
Foods and beverages
containing stevia can play an important role in decreasing calories from
unwanted sweeteners in children's diets. There are now thousands of products
containing naturally-sourced stevia on the market, ranging from salad dressing
to snack bars, that allow children to consume foods and beverages that taste
great without added calories.
Multiple global regulatory
organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
and World Health Organization's (WHO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives
(JECFA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the Food & Drug Administration
(FDA) have determined that high purity stevia extract is safe for consumption
by the general population including children, when consumed within the
recommended levels.
Allergies
In 2010, the EFSA reviewed
literature to determine if there was any cause for concern regarding the
potential for allergenicity of the stevia plant. The reviewers concluded that
"steviol glycosides are not reactive and are not metabolized to reactive
compounds, therefore, it is unlikely that the steviol glycosides under
evaluation should cause by themselves allergic reactions when consumed in
foods."
Additionally, while there
is no scientific reason to suggest genetically modified crops or
"GMOs" cause allergies, it is worth pointing out that stevia plants
are not genetically modified, and therefore there should be no concerns
regarding potential for allergenicity.
Other uses
Stevia extract has
exhibited strong bactericidal activity against a wide range of pathogenic
bacteria, including certain Escherichia coli strains. Steviol was
observed to be mutagenic toward Salmonella and other bacterial strains
under various conditions and toward certain cell lines.
Stevia may also be
effective against Candida albicans and has shown some anti rotavirus
activity. Stevioside has shown promising immunomodulating effects in rats and
cell lines. In addition, stevia may have
antiproliferative/antimutagenic/antioxidant properties. One report addresses
stevia's role in reducing dental plaque.
Process
time takes between 2-5 days .
We use simple mail postage for
1 item to maintain prices as low as possible. Simple mail cant be traced.
Shipping time with simple mail
usually takes about 30 days to arrive U.S and Europe . To other countries it
may take about 45 or even 60 days.
We only accept
payment with Paypal.
Any duties or import taxes and
charges are buyers responsibility.
Feedback is very important to
us . If you are unhappy with your product or our services please get in
touch with us before leaving a negative feedback so we can have the chance
to offer a solution.