People in South America have used the stevia plant for hundreds of years, both as a sweetener and as a remedy for burns, stomach troubles and other problems.
Sugar is as healthy sugar substitute that can sweeten up foods without the negative health effects linked to refined sugar.
Stevia products such as Truvia and Stevia in the Raw, don’t contain whole stevia leaf. They’re made from a highly refined stevia leaf extract called rebaudioside A (Reb-A). During processing, the leaves are soaked in water and passed through a filter with alcohol to isolate Reb A. Later, the extract is dried, crystallized, and combined with other sweeteners and fillers. Reb-A is about 200 times sweeter than table sugar.
Stevia is associated with several impressive health benefits, such as reduced calorie intake, blood sugar levels, and risk of cavities. Stevia leaf powder also may help manage cholesterol level.
Stevia contains eight glycosides. These are the sweet components isolated and purified from the leaves of stevia. These glycosides include: Stevioside, rebaudiosides A, C, D, E, and F, steviolbioside, dulcoside A
The World Health Organization defines the acceptable daily intake (ADI) as 4 mg of stevia per kilogram of body weight.
Stevia – non-nutritive sweetener
