From a time to this part, the Estevia He has become fashionable. This sweetener It is preferred by more and more people in front of sugar. However, we don’t always know exactly why or what are the benefits from one to the other, and which one that suits us most consumed.

We find out today It is the best edulcorant stevia than sugar And we tell you their benefits and risks To get out of doubt. If you have included it in your diet or you are thinking of doing it, this interests you.

Estevia or sugar?

WHAT IS ESTEVIA

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The Estevia It comes from a family of plants of the same name originating from countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. But within the term stevia they framed 240 different speciesalthough when we refer to what is used as sweetener You just have to take into account one: the Stevia Rebaudiana bErtoni. You will find it for sale on leaves, Liquid either powdered.

He main use of Estevia It is like a natural sweetener, since it contains a series of chemical substances that are tens of darker than the known sucrose.

ESTEVIA PROPERTIES

More than half of the composition of the Estevia are Carbohydrates; 16 percent, fiber; 11 percent, Proteins; And the rest, a varied set of minerals among which are iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc, in addition to phytochemicals and Glucosides. Among the latter the Steviódthat gives that bitterness to the plant that reminds the licorice, and the reaaudosides A and M, responsible for sweetness.

You must also keep in mind that the plant is a Natural sweetenerbut not the derivative that is marketed from it. The plant goes through a process to obtain ESTEVIOL GLUCOSIDEShe chemical compound that is extracted from the plant, whose use was approved in 2011 by the European Union, adopting as technical denomination that of E-960.

In addition, most brands add to this Edulcorant of Estevia others completely different such as Erythritolso not always the consumer is taking something as natural as he believes. Look at the product label you buy to check the Ingredient percentages in its composition.

Benefits of Estevia

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The main one ESTEVIA BENEFIT If used as sweetener they are based on the fact that their glycemic index It is zero, unlike sugar. In short, if you sweeten the food with it, you will only be providing sweet but no calories.

This is the main advantage that it presents against sugar, which only 25 grams must be consumed per day per adult and whose recommended daily amount is easily exceeded by the majority of the population, increasing obesity problems.

For all this, in addition to serving sweeten foodthere are many people suffering from obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure that Estevia consume to take advantage of other of the properties They comment that the plant has: antibacterial, Vasodilators and diuretic. However, it is also necessary to know that, as a current date, there are not enough scientific studies that confirm the benefits of its consumption and that it is good to take it according to what conditions to improve our health.

In fact, the regulation of the sale and consumption of the Estevia plant differs in different parts of the world. In the United States, the sale of the leaves and extracts of Estevia is allowed as a food supplement, but the approval of its use as sweetener has not been given. Only one of its substances has been approved as such: the rebiana or reinudiosido A.

Stevia risks

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When consumed by oral routeEstevia can cause some Side effectssuch as dizziness, nausea, swelling and numbness. In the same way, since there are no certain studies and reliable information regarding Estevia consumption during pregnancy and during breastfeedingit is recommended Avoid its use under these circumstances.

Likewise, they should avoid consuming people who have allergies of any kind of ambrosia and the plants of the same family of the Asteraceae/Compositae. If you are allergic or have any reaction to the contact of plants such as chrysanthemums, margaritas and calendulas, avoid stevia, because it could also cause you the same symptoms.

Estevia and medications

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How can they exist Interactions with some medicationsIt is always recommended to consult with your header before including Estevia in your diet. Being a plant with diuretic effects, the effectiveness of medications can decrease. Regarding the prescribed for the diabeteswe must consider that Estevia could reduce blood sugar levels, so the fall can be excessive. The same happens if you take mediation for the High blood pressure.

In short, as a sweetener, it is completely safe, although it remembers that the Recommended daily amount It is from 4 milligrams per kilo What weights. That is, an adult of 70 kilograms can take 280 milligrams. However, its health benefits are under study and it is unknown in the long term what will be the effects on the consumption agency of this product. We will have to be aware of what science says in the future.