Stevia: discover this natural sweetener and the benefits it offers

In the quest to reduce sugar consumption, many people turn to sweeteners. And among them, one of the most popular today is stevia, an option of natural origin, with the power to sweeten up to 300 times more than sugar.

Stevia is extracted from the leaves of a plant called Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. Its sweetening power comes especially from the stevioside and rebaudioside compounds, and one of the great advantages is being stable at high temperatures.

Learn why this sweetener is usually well indicated by health professionals and how it can be used in everyday life.

Discover the main features and advantages of this natural sweetener, listed with the help of nutritionist Andrezza Botelho:

Option to replace sugar: for those who feel the need to sweeten coffee, other foods or drinks, stevia is usually a good option, as it has no calories and has great sweetening power – requiring a smaller amount to make it sweet.

Helps to prevent diabetes and obesity: Andrezza explains that stevia favors the reduction of glucose in the blood, protecting the body from diseases such as diabetes and obesity. “Its hypoglycemic action stimulates the secretion of insulin, reducing the level of glucose in the blood,” he says. Thus, the sweetener is usually a good option for people with diabetes mellitus, as it helps in glycemic control.

Ally of good digestion: according to Andezza, stevia does not cause gastric discomfort and can even help prevent stomach pain.

Good for Oral Health: Stevia has the benefit of helping to protect teeth and not cause cavities.

Stable at high temperatures: this means that the sweetener can be used in teas, coffee, cakes and pies recipes without any risk of any component being altered and the.

Natural: as it comes from a plant, the sweetener has no artificial ingredients and is non-toxic. It is worth paying attention, however, to product labels, as other ingredients are often added to make up the sweetener.

Read Also: Embroidered Jeans: the piece that makes any look more modern

Despite having its advantages, stevia, like any other sweetener, should not be consumed “at will”. The ideal, in fact, is to consume it only under the guidance of a health professional.

In addition, the acceptance (or not) of its flavor is very personal. In general, the sweetener leaves a bitter aftertaste in the mouth, but for those who consume it in small amounts, this is usually not a problem.

In what forms is stevia found?

A common question is about how to use the sweetener. Check out how it can be found and which one is the best option for you.

In natura plant: The fresh leaves of the Stevia plant can be ground/chopped and sprinkled over the food or even added during the cooking of the food (so the sweet flavor is released). It is a good option, for example, for sweet and sour sauces, salad dressings, cookie dough and breads, etc. The leaves can also be dried and crushed until they become powder, for later use as a sweetener.

Liquid: It is a potent sweetener, being 200 to 300 times sweeter than sucrose (commercial common sugar). Liquid stevia is best suited to be added to various beverages (coffee, teas, juices); but, in small amounts (few drops), to avoid a strong aftertaste in the drink.

Powder: Powdered stevia is usually more suitable for general preparations, such as cakes, pies and breads. But, it can also be added to drinks such as coffee and teas. It has sweetening power about 20 times greater than sugar. That is, a greater amount of powdered stevia is used to sweeten it to the same intensity as the liquid sweetens.

Read Also: First date: how to dress and looks to inspire

The choice is very personal. The in natura plant is always the best option, because, in this way, you can be sure that a natural sweetener is really being consumed. But, buying the sweetener ready-made, in liquid or powdered versions, is certainly much more practical… It is important, however, to pay attention to the product label to ensure that they do not have other ingredients added.

Is Stevia bad?

The subject is controversial, but, in general, stevia is safe because it is made from a plant. Anyone can consume it unless they are intolerant or allergic to the main sweetening components of the plant, stevioside and rebaudioside.

An important care is to buy only sweeteners with 100% stevia, as most brands sell stevia in association with cyclamate and saccharin, for example.

Also, consumption of stevia and any other sweetener should not be excessive. Ideally, consult a healthcare professional you trust to ensure that stevia is the best option for you, as well as to know how much and how to consume it on a daily basis.

Is Stevia Better Than Other Sweeteners?

For Andrezza, stevia is an excellent option for people looking for a sweet taste in food, avoiding the calories and harmful effects of sugar consumption.

There are professionals who argue that sweeteners should only be used in special cases, such as diabetes and obesity. In this way, people who are not obese could choose to sweeten drinks and foods with honey, brown sugar, demerara or coconut sugar, for example.

But between natural sweeteners (as is the case with stevia) and artificial sweeteners, without a doubt, the former are ahead.

Read Also: Fast and effective cleaning: learn to clean each room in 15 minutes

The use of sweeteners divides opinions, so the ideal is that each case is individually evaluated by a health professional. On the other hand, one recommendation is unanimous: the ideal thing is that the person stimulates his taste to know the true taste of food, that is, he does not need to sweeten most foods and drinks!

Where to buy

Stevia is a sweetener that is easily available for sale, for example, on the internet, in restricted food sections in supermarkets and in health food stores. Remember the importance of reading the label and actually choosing a natural product!

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.