Transcript The Stevia Plant

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Scientific name: Stevia rebaudiana
Genus: Asteraceae
Also referred to as sweet leaf, sugarleaf or sugar plant
Native to the tropical and subtropical South America.
Today the stevia plant is mass cultivated all over the world.
Stevia is a perennial variety that thrives well in soils having proper drainage systems. It
grows like a shrub, reaching to a height of about four feet. For mass cultivation, stevia
seeds are sown after frosting is over. These stevia plantlets grow better in soil temperatures
of about 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Possesses natural insect repelling characteristics, especially due to the excess sugar content.
Commercially, stevia leaves are employed for obtaining extracts. In order to extract stevia,
the leaves are harvested during cold climates (prior to frost), so that more sugar is
accumulated in the leaves. The harvested stevia leaves are sun-dried first in specific
conditions with proper air circulation. Dried stevia leaves are then processed for extraction
of the liquid extracts. These extracts of the stevia plant are about 300 times more sweet
than that of normal table sugar.
Presently, the FDA will only allow stevia products to be distributed as a dietary supplement.
Despite sweeping toxicology tests and widespread global use without incidence of adverse
reaction, stevia has yet to be approved as a food source by the FDA. They rejected two
comprehensive petitions submitted in the 1990s, citing insufficient proof of stevia's safety.
Paradoxically, the FDA-approved sweetener, aspartame, receives one of the highest number
of consumer complaints made to the FDA. Consequently, because of this ruling, stevia is
sold only in the nutritional supplement section in health food stores.
• Stevia Sweeteners
Stevia sweeteners are available commercially in the market
under different brand names. As these stevia sweeteners are low in
glycemic and calorie contents (nearly zero calorie), they are healthy
alternatives to sugar and other artificial sweeteners. They are also
used in preparation of processed foods like ice-cream, sweet drinks
and other food items.
• Stevia Tea Leaves
Fresh stevia leaves, in their natural state, can be directly used for
making tea and coffee. However, fresh leaves are required in
sufficiently larger amounts than dried stevia powder or liquid extract
in order to get the desired sweet taste. Also, usage of fresh stevia
leaves imparts an earthy taste to the tea or coffee.
• Homemade Stevia Extract and Powder
For those people who grow stevia plants, the leaves can be used
for preparation of stevia extract and stevia powder, both of which can
be used in various recipes. Liquid stevia extract is prepared by adding
hot water in ground stevia leaves, while stevia powder is made by
grinding dried stevia leaves in a food processor.
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Stevia for Diabetics
For diabetics and other people who are very concerned about the sugar intake, stevia plant is a
healthy sweetening agent. In contrary to table sugar, stevia does not affect or raise the blood
sugar level. Hence, diabetics can consume sweet beverages and food items like tea, coffee, cakes
and cookies, that are prepared by using extracts of stevia.
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Stevia for Dental Care
Though the stevia plant tastes sweet, it does not cause cavities, rather it helps in improving dental
health, treating bleeding gums and other teeth problems. Hence, people who regularly use steviabased mouthwash and toothpaste for dental care hardly have gum and teeth problems.
• Stevia for Skin and Hair Care
As stevia plants are enriched with various beneficial nutrients for the skin and hair, they can be
incorporated in the routine skin car and hair care practices. You can notice improvement of the
skin and hair after using stevia plants or reliable stevia based products. The anti-microbial action
of stevia plants also aid in reducing skin infections.
• Stevia for Wound Healing
Since stevia has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, application of fresh leaves or
extracts of stevia plants helps in quick healing of cuts and wounds. It is also observed that
usage of stevia prevents scaring of the wounded site. However, make sure that the leaves
are washed thoroughly before applying them to the cuts and wounds
• Other Stevia Plant Uses
As the stevia plant contains zero calorie, it aids in effective weight control and
management. Some of the other important stevia plant uses are promoting mental activity,
increasing energy levels, and treatment of hypoglycemia, mouth sores, food poisoning, and
digestion problems. Medical researchers also claim that stevia plants can be used for
combating high blood pressure (Hypertension) and obesity related health complications.
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It is estimated that over 500 scientific studies have been performed on stevia. Many
scientists have reported numerous health benefits to adding stevia to the daily diet.
Scientific research indicates that stevia effectively regulates blood sugar in people
with diabetes and hypoglycemia, bringing it toward more normal levels.
Studies have indicated that stevia tends to lower elevated blood pressure while not
affecting people with normal blood pressure.
Stevia inhibits the growth and reproduction of oral bacteria and other infectious
organisms. Regular users of stevia as a mouthwash or for brushing teeth (added to
toothpaste) have reported an improvement to bleeding gum problems. This inhibition
of oral bacteria may explain why users of stevia-enhanced products report a lower
incidence of colds and flu. Subsequently, an increasing number of toothpaste
manufacturers are now using stevia in their products.
When applied externally stevia poultices and extracts have been observed to have
therapeutic effect on acne, seborrhea, dermatitis and eczema. Extracts
placed directly in cuts and wounds, have demonstrated rapidly healing without
scarring.
Other benefits of adding stevia to the daily diet include improved digestion and
soothed upset stomachs.
Stevia is also an exceptional aid in weight loss management because it contains no
• Hypoglycemic Action (Diabetes Treatment)
It is believed that the presence of the steviosides themselves that has produced
dozens of empirical and semi controlled reports of hypoglycemic action. Paraguayans say
that stevia is helpful for hypoglycemia and diabetes because it nourishes the pancreas and
thereby helps to restore normal pancreatic function.
In semi-controlled clinical reports one also encounters this action. A 35.2 per cent fall
in normal blood sugar levels after 6-8 hours was reported following the ingestion of a Stevia
leaf extract. Other workers has reported similar trends in humans and experimental animals.
These kind of results have led physicians in Paraguay to prescribe Stevia leaf tea in the
treatment of diabetes; similarly, in Brazil, Stevia tea and Stevia capsules are officially
approved for sale for the treatment of diabetes.
However, it is important to note that Stevia does not lower blood glucose levels in
normal subjects. In one study, rats were fed crude extracts of Stevia leaves for 56 days at a
rate of 0.5 to 1.0 gram extract per day. Neither group observed a hypoglycemic action. The
experimental research on the effects of stevia on blood sugar levels in human patients with
diabetes and hypoglycemia is in progress in many countries.
The general feeling in the scientific community is that the mild acting nature of the
plant and its total lack of toxic side effects obviate the need for extensive and expensive
research program.
• Antimicrobial Action
Stevia is known to possess the ability to inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria and
other infectious organisms. This is important in at least two respects. First, it may help explain
why users of stevia-enhanced products report a lower incidence of colds and cough, and
second, it has fostered the invention of a number of mouthwash and toothpaste products.
Research clearly shows that Streptococcus mutants, Pseudomonas aeruginos, Proteus vulgaris
and other microbes do not thrive in the presence of the non-nutritive Stevia constituents. This
fact, combined with the naturally sweet flavour of the herb, makes it a suitable ingredient for
mouthwashes and for toothpastes. Stevia has even been shown to lower the incidence of
dental caries. In India, toothpaste using Stevia and Aloe vera has been commercialized.
• Effects on the Skin
One of the properties of a liquid extract of stevia that has not yet been investigated
experimentally is its apparent ability to help clear up skin problems. The Guarani and other
people who have become familiar with stevia report that it is effective when applied to
acne, seborrhea, dermatitis, eczema, etc. when placed directly on cuts and wounds, more
rapid healing, without scarring, is observed. This treatment may sting for a few seconds,
but a significant lowering of pain follows this. Smoother skin, softer to the touch is claimed
to result from the frequent application of stevia poultices and extracts.
•Cardiovascular Action
A good deal of experimental work has been done on the effects of Stevia and stevioside on
cardiovascular functioning in man and animals. Some of this work was simply looking for possible toxicity,
while some was investigating possible therapeutic action. In neither case have significant properties been
found. There is almost always a slight lowering of arterial blood pressure at low and normal doses,
changing to a slight rise in arterial pressure at very high doses. The long-term use of stevia would probably
have a cardio tonic action, that is, it would produce a mild strengthening of the heart and vascular system.
Digestive Tonic Action
In the literature of Brazil, stevia ranks high among the list of plants used for centuries by the
"gauchos" of the southern plains to flavor the bitter medicinal preparations used by that nomadic culture.
For example, it was widely used in their "mate" herbal tea. Through much experimentation, these people
learned that Stevia made a significant contribution to improved digestion, and that it improved overall
gastrointestinal function. Likewise, since its introduction in China, Stevia tea made in either hot or cold
water, is used as a low calorie, sweet-tasting tea, as an appetite stimulant, as a digestive aid, as an aid to
weight management, and even for staying young.
Anti-Hypertensive
A 1-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 106 individuals with high blood pressure evaluated the
potential benefits of stevia for reducing blood pressure.4 In the treated group, the average blood pressure
at the beginning of the study was about 166/102. By the end of the study, this had fallen to 153/90, a
substantial if not quite adequate improvement. In contrast, no significant reductions were seen in the
placebo group.
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The stevia plant is both a sugar substitute and a medicinal
plant.
Through the research done, and with the lack of evidence of
any safety issues, I believe that the stevia plant has medicinal
properties that can lead to overall general health.
Concerns:
Only FDA approved as a supplement
A lot of the research has been done in South America where
the plant originates from, not in the USA.
As with any supplement take in moderation
• http://www.happystomach.com/stevia.htm
• http://www.agricultureinformation.com/forums/stev
ia/8089-medicinal-properties-stevia.html
• https://epi.aecom.yu.edu/studies/CCA/Newsletters/
PDF%20FILES/Stevia.pdf
• http://ijib.classicrus.com/IJIB/Arch/2008/1036.pdf
• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/stevia-plantuses.html
• http://www.springerlink.com/content/t570x0342639
4277/fulltext.pdf