Stevia

INCI Name:  Stevia rebaudiana

CAS Number: 91722-21-3

Grade: Food Product

 Part Used: Leaves

 Appearance: Green

Origin: India

 
Introduction:

Common Name: Stevia

Stevia is perhaps unique among food ingredients because it’s most valued for what it doesn’t do. It doesn’t add calories. Unlike other sugar substitutes, stevia is derived from a plant. There is some question as to its effectiveness as a weight loss aid or as a helpful diet measure for diabetics. 

The stevia plant is part of the Asteraceae family, related to the daisy and ragweed. Several stevia species called candyleaf are native to New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. But the prized species, Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni), grows in Paraguay and Brazil, where people have used leaves from the stevia bush to sweeten food for hundreds of years. 

Moises Santiago Bertoni, an Italian botanist, is often credited with the discovery of stevia in the late 1800s, even though the native Guarani people had used it for centuries. Known as kaa-he (or sweet herb) by the native population, the leaves of the plant had many uses. In traditional medicine in these regions, stevia served as a treatment for burns, colic, stomach problems and sometimes as a contraceptive. The leaves were also chewed on their own as a sweet treat.

It took Bertoni over a decade to find the actual plant, leading him to initially describe the plant as very rare. About the same time, more farms started growing and harvesting the stevia plant. Stevia quickly went from growing in the wild in certain areas to being a widely available herb.  

The many health benefits of the Stevia Leaves Powder are as follows:

• Stevia leaves powder helps lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, and also works upon lowering cholesterol levels with regular use.

• It helps fight cavities by reducing the presence of bacteria in the mouth.

• It strengthens the bone health and is rich in natural nutrients.

• Stevia can help manage diabetes, due to its low calories and carbohydrates.

• Stevia powder can be used as a paste to apply and treat the scalp to remove dandruff.

• Stevia leaves powder is shown to have positive and beneficial effects on “blood glucose and insulin levels in human studies.” (Curi 1986; Gregersen, Jeppesen, Holst, & Hermansen, 2004).