Stevia: A Better Alternative to Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners

Most medical experts would agree that one of the best ways to improve your health is to reduce your sugar intake. Doing this can help decrease your chances of getting diabetes and being overweight or obese—both epidemics in this country with adults and children alike. Consider these facts:

* Since 1985, childhood diabetes has increased tenfold. The Centers for Disease Control predict that if this trend continues, one out of every three children born beginning in 2000 will develop diabetes in his lifetime.

* About two thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, while up to 30 percent of children are overweight, compared to 4 percent in 1982. In the past twenty-five years, obesity in children has more than doubled, affecting at least 15 percent of school-aged children!1

* The average American ingests over 150 pounds of sugar annually! That represents a whopping thirty five-pound bags of sugar each year! In reality, much of this sugar is in the form of high fructose corn syrup prevalent in foods because it’s much cheaper than sucrose, common table sugar.

While some might think that artificial sweeteners are the best solution to curb our love affair with sugar, others disagree. Artificial sweeteners do eliminate the high calories and carbohydrates associated with sugar; however, many believe that these alternatives are unsafe and are actually worse than sugar. So is there yet another alternative available?

If there were an all-natural sweetening ingredient that’s been used safely for over thirty years in other parts of the world for food applications and diabetes management with no ill effects, would you be interested? Well, such a substance does exist, and it’s called stevia.

The use of stevia, an all-natural alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners, is gaining increasing popularity worldwide. Stevia rebaudiana, its botanical name, is derived from a plant in the chrysanthemum family grown primarily in South America and Asia. The plant’s intense sweetening qualities are derived from a complex molecule called stevioside that is a glycoside made of glucose, sophorose, and steviol. This, and a number of other related compounds, is what makes stevia up to three hundred times sweeter than sugar and noncaloric. These glycosides do not get absorbed into the body; rather, they simply pass through, leaving no calories. The Japanese have used stevia in food applications from soft drinks to soy sauce since the 1970s, and recent reports indicate that stevia commands up to an incredible 50 percent share of Japan’s commercial sweetener market. Moreover, countries like Brazil use stevia for the treatment of diabetes.2

The advantages to stevia are numerous, so the following are the most frequently cited. In its pure form, it’s noncaloric and doesn’t affect glucose levels, an advantage for diabetics and hypoglycemics. Also, it has no carbohydrates or fat, so it’s great for dieters, especially those watching carb intake. Unlike artificial sweeteners, high-quality stevia has little aftertaste when measured properly. It has no known side effects like some chemical sweeteners and has been safely consumed around the world for decades. Actually, stevia’s original medicinal uses date back centuries ago to the Paraguan Indians, who mixed the herb in teas for its healing properties. Since stevia is sugar-free, candida sufferers can use it. Health-conscious consumers take advantage of stevia to avoid sugar and help prevent diabetes and obesity. The Web site http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, under the direction of the National Institutes of Health, the National Library of Medicine, and the National Center of Biotechnology Information, offers abstracts from stevia studies which indicate that it may also aid in lowering blood pressure, controlling the development of plaque and cavities, and regulating glucose levels.

The average consumer may not have heard about stevia until recently because of its current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a dietary supplement, not as a sweetener or food additive. Numerous studies worldwide tout its overall safety and health benefits. As of this writing, twelve countries, including Japan, Paraguay, and Brazil, have approved stevia as a sweetener and/or food additive. The FDA approved the use of stevia only as a dietary supplement since 1995. This means that stevia companies must maintain a fairly low profile, thereby limiting its distribution and marketing potential. For instance, health food stores and natural grocers must place stevia in the supplements section, not with the natural sweeteners, for fear of the FDA mandate. The stores cannot promote the sweetening qualities of stevia, even though that’s why it is purchased.

Interestingly enough, the most exciting recent news about stevia came in May 2007, when Coca-Cola and Cargill announced their partnership to develop food and beverage products using “rebiana,” a derivative of stevia. In addition, Coca-Cola has filed 24 patent applications related to using, formulating and processing high potency sweeteners, including “rebiana.” In an effort to build support for a petition requesting FDA permission to use “rebiana” as a food additive in the USA, Cargill is conducting clinical trials using the sweetener. Although the newly developed products will be sold in other countries initially, their hope is to eventually sell them in the USA once “rebiana” is FDA approved3. While the possibility of enjoying commercial food products using stevia is very encouraging, keep in mind that it may take years before it becomes reality in the USA.

Stevia can be used as a healthy substitute in most sugar applications, including baking and cooking, since it is heat stable. The average conversion rate of sugar to stevia is one cup of sugar per one teaspoonful of pure stevia extract. Clearly very little stevia is needed to replace sugar. When used in beverages, stevia dissolves quickly and easily and, depending on your taste preference, only a pinch is needed. The real challenge to using stevia effectively is knowing what ingredients to use in a recipe to make up for the volume and consistency lost with the elimination of sugar, especially in baked goods. That’s why it’s a good idea to find stevia cookbooks with proven recipes when you’re starting out. You can also find some free recipes online. Finally, stevia is not appropriate in recipes that require sugar caramelizing or browning such as meringues.

Stevia is available in many forms, including liquid, teas, plants/leaves, pure white and green powdered extract, and powdered blends with different fillers. In baking, the pure extract is used primarily, and in some cases, the liquid variety is used. Stevia can be purchased at health food stores, natural grocers, food coops, and online. Currently, a big push is under way to expand distribution into grocery stores, vitamin shops, and drugstores.

Since there are a number of factors that can influence your stevia purchase experience, the following guidelines provide some good advice:

* You often do get what you pay for; don’t buy based solely on price—taste and quality matter.

* A higher percentage of stevioside doesn’t necessarily make the stevia better; you can find excellent tasting pure stevia extract powder with key plant concentrations of even 80 percent.

* If you purchase the green powder for its slightly higher health benefits, it will usually have more aftertaste than the white powder.

* The product’s country of origin doesn’t matter; it’s farming, manufacturing, and processing experience and techniques do.

* At this time, stevia production is not standardized, so taste and strength do differ depending on brand.

* Use a minimal amount; it can be overwhelming if you add too much initially, so add more later if needed.

The widespread use of sugar and artificial sweeteners is at dangerous levels. The negative side effects and controversial studies regarding their proposed safety suggest that another alternative is desirable and necessary. Stevia may be a welcome option for those who want to ingest more natural ingredients with no known side effects, no calories, no carbs, no fat, no effect on glucose levels, and no sugar or artificial sweeteners. Stevia may also be advantageous in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, obesity, and other health conditions. Check with your doctor before including stevia in your diet. If he or she doesn’t recommend it, politely ask why to see if the reason is satisfactory to you.

** This article is one of 101 great articles that were published in 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Health. To get complete details on “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Health”, visit http://selfgrowth.com/healthbook3.html