The
Sweet Stevia Plant
The stevia plant is the
new sugar. This South American herb can be about 30 times sweeter
than sugar and has been used as a sweetener by Paraguayan Indians
for centuries. The stevia plant has a delicious and refreshing flavor
that leaves your mouth tasting sweet for a long time. Indians in
Brazil and Paraguay have not only used the stevia plant as a sweetener
but they also believed it could help improve symptoms of diabetes.
It is also thought that since the stevia plant cannot be metabolized
by the body, it has no caloric intake.
Recently, companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have made deals with
stevia plant manufacturers to incorporate the stevia plant into
their products as a sweetener. Coca-Cola has Truvia and PepsiCo
has PureVia. The stevia plant can be purchased in various forms
today: stevia packets, stevia clear liquid, stevia tabs, stevia
extract powder and more. However, the stevia plant is sold as a
dietary supplement rather than a sweetener due to labeling regulations.
The stevia plant is considered to be an adaptogen that helps the
body cope with issues like anxiety, fatigue and stress. Other adaptogens
are also thought to help with the body’s metabolism, memory,
kidneys, lungs and even coughs and colds.
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