Stevia FAQ

There is much information on the internet regarding Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.
Here is a good technical site without the politics.
Click on link below:
http://res2.agr.ca/london/faq/stevia_rev_e.htm

More Stevia data

Stevia is completely natural and doesn’t affect blood sugar levels like sugar does, or pollute our bodies like artificial sweeteners do. Plus, you don’t need to use much, since it is very concentrated. You most likely won’t find Stevia on your grocer’s shelves yet, but it is available at whole food and natural food stores everywhere. It generally comes in liquid or powdered form. For those concerned with sugar intake, Stevia is a wonderful alternative.
Read more here

Stevia: Inexpense and non-patentable

"The principal importance of Ka he'e (stevia) is due to the possibility of
substituting it for saccharine. It presents these great advantages over
saccharine:

1. It is not toxic but, on the contrary, it is healthful, as shown by
long experience and according to the studies of Dr. Rebaudi.
2. It is a sweetening agent of great power.
3. It can be employed directly in its natural state, (pulverized leaves).
4. It is much cheaper than saccharine."

Unfortunately, this last point may have been the undoing of stevia.
Noncaloric sweeteners are a big business in the U.S., as are caloric
sweeteners like sugar and the sugar-alcohols, sorbitol, mannitol and
xylitol. It is small wonder that the powerful sweetener interests here, do
not want the natural, inexpensive, and non-patentable stevia approved in
the U.S.

Full Article here

Are the sugar moieties of stevioside safe for diabetics?

Stevioside, the main sweet component of Stevia, is about 300 times sweeter than table sugar. Therefore, only small amounts need to be used for sweetening purposes. It is not taken up by the intestines and is not metabolised by enzymes of the gastro-intestinal tract as the sugar bonds in stevioside are beta-glucosidic bonds. However, it is degraded to steviol and sugar moieties by bacteria of the human colon. To substitute for the total amount of added sugar in the food (± 131 g per person per day in Belgium) less than 400 mg stevioside are required per day. This means that in the colon only about 240 mg of glucose is released from the 400 mg stevioside. It can be estimated that about 1/3 of this glucose is metabolised by the bacteria of the colon, 1/3 is excreted and about 1/3 is taken up (± 80 mg) which of course is a neglectible amount of glucose. Extracted from here

Stevia and Body Building

Due to its almost zero calorie nature, Stevia is extremely useful to bodybuilders or obese persons that are attempting to lose body fat. Because it is sweet, it reduces cravings for sugary foods. Stevia essentially fools the body into a state of satiation. This will result in less food being craved [and thus consumed], and reduce caloric intake. Stevia will help with the reduction of cravings, and the suppression of the appetite, without having to resort to products containing stimulants. Extracted from here

Stevia and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has a large research effort aimed at developing an agricultural production system for stevia and, through breeding, to optimize its sensory characteristics. Stevia is a plant that produces a variety of high-potency low-calorie sweeteners in its' leaf tissue. Stevia sweeteners are in used in food products a number of countries including Japan, Brazil and China. Here in North America, the movement of society towards more natural foods has created a great deal of public interest in stevia. Complete article

Tidbit from Agriculture Canada

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is one of 154 members of the genus Stevia. It is a member of the Compositae family and as such is related to sunflower, marigolds etc. Stevia has an alternate leaf arrangement and herbacious growth habit with flowers arranged in indeterminate heads. The flowers are small and white with a pale purple throat. The pollen can be highly allergenic. Stevia is self-incompatible and probably insect pollinated, the seeds are small, have very little endosperm and are dispersed in the wind via a hairy pappus.

Common Names used for Stevia

Stevia, sweet leaf of Paraguay, caa-he-éé, kaa jheéé, ca-a-jhei, ca-a-yupi, azucacaa, eira-caa, capim doce, erva doce, sweet-herb, honey yerba, honeyleaf, yaa waan, candy leaf

Stevia Properties

The dried leaf of Stevia was described as having sweet properties as early as 1899. It contains Stevisoid, a natural sweetener, which is 300 times as sweet as sugar, yet is not absorbed by the body and contains practically no calories. These properties make it useful in weight loss programs. Despite Stevia's sweetness, it does not produce tooth cavities. This may be due to its high fluoride or other high mineral content. It is frequently used by Rainforest Indians to sweeten foods and herbal teas. They also speak of the wonders of Stevia to treat diabetes, hypertension, and infections. It has been frequently reported that Stevia exhibits a hypoglycemic (lowers blood sugar) action. In one double blind study of 25 hospitalized patients, mean blood sugar dropped 35.2% six to eight hours after ingestion of Stevia. Other research reports suggest that it has hypotensive (lowers blood pressure) activity. One study found that a single oral dose of aqueous extract resulted in a decrease in systolic blood pressure of 9.5 %. Another study found that the use of Stevia for 30 days resulted in a decrease of both systolic and diastolic pressures. Stevia may also be effective against Candida albicans (yeast infection).

Extracted from here
Reference: HERBS OF THE AMAZON Traditional and Common Uses , Dr. Donna Schwontkowski, Science Student BrainTrust Publishing, 1993

Stevia Alternative Medical Info

ACTIONS: Sweetening agent, Satisfies sweet cravings, Adjunct for diabetes and hypertension treatment.

TRADITIONAL USE: Long used by the Guarani Indian tribe to sweeten many foods. Recognized for its incredible sweetening power, helpful when used as auxiliary to weight loss programs because it is low in calories. Stevia, a well know sweetener to Brazil, is believed to produce positive results in the treatment of diabetes and hypertension. Has been used in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension and infections.

MERIDIAN INDICATIONS: Benefits digestion, Increases Stomach Yang.

EAV POINTS: Pancreas, Circulation, Triple Warmer

Extract from here
Reference: Traditional Uses of Rainforest Botanicals, John Easterling

Forms of Stevia

Stevia is commercially available in four forms: Dried leaves, powdered extract, liquid extract, and white powder.

Stevia and Health Problems

For people with blood sugar, blood pressure or weight problems, stevia is the most desirable sweetener.

Stevia and Calories

Because the human body does not metabolize the sweet glycosides - they pass right through the normal elimination channels - the body obtains no calories from stevia; therefore it is safe for diabetics and hypoglycemics in its pure, unadulterated form.