"Stevia" (sugar substitute): useful properties and contraindications. Reviews of "Stevia"

The problem of combating obesity is of concern to manypeople around the world and passes from the category of an aesthetic defect to a serious disease requiring medical intervention. One of the means to combat ill-fated kilograms is the use of the drug Stevia instead of regular sugar.

What is harmful to sugar and how can it be replaced?

Scientists agree in the common opinion that sugarcan destroy the human body and causes many dangerous diseases, including diabetes, metabolic disorders and, as a result, obesity. The average daily sugar intake per person is not more than 50 grams, taking into account all sources - tea, juices, sweets, buns, chocolate and the like. Unfortunately, people are so addicted to sweets that they violate this norm several times. In Russia, the average consumption of this product per person exceeds 90 grams, and in the USA - for 150 grams. As a result of exposure to sugar, there is a disruption of the functions of the insular pancreas apparatus. In addition, sucrose destroys connective tissues, bones, teeth, vessels in the human body, which leads to the appearance of diseases such as caries, heart attack, hypertension, stroke, hyperglycemia. Since this substance belongs to carbohydrates, when it is split, it turns into fat, and with its excess, subcutaneous deposits are formed. The peculiarity of this product is that it becomes a kind of drug for people, as when using it hormones of joy are formed - endorphins, and you want the sweet again and again. That's why people began to look for a way out of the situation and develop substances that would replace this product. In particular, a sweetener based on stevia was developed.

What is Stevia?

"Stevia" (sugar substitute) is aA natural sweetener, which is extracted from honey grass. This plant was originally discovered in Paraguay, but today it is grown already in many countries of the world. "Stevia" is much sweeter than regular sugar, but it has almost zero calorie content, so it is actively used as a means to combat excess weight. The advantage of this product is that it is very palatable, unlike other sweeteners. Today, Stevia has already become an integral part of the diet for diabetics, since it helps to normalize blood sugar levels, normalize body weight and promote the production of insulin. This sweetener is considered to be one of the best in the whole world, since it is healthy and produced only from natural ingredients. Thanks to the widespread distribution of this product, the question of where to buy the stevia sweetener is not present to anyone, since it is available in almost any retail store.

Structure of the preparation

"Stevia" (sugar substitute) is made froma perennial herbaceous plant, which has been known for more than 1,5 thousand years. Honey grass grows bushes, each of which collect up to 1200 leaves. It is the leaves that are of particular value. Stevia grows naturally in the northeastern part of Paraguay, but after discovering its unique properties, it has been grown on an industrial scale in many countries of the world with a favorable climate (China, Korea, Japan, USA, Ukraine, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel) on special plantations. The largest exporter of this herb is China. Stevia is 10-15 times sweeter than sucrose. This is due to its unusual composition, which includes diterpene glycosides, including stevioside, reubadiosides. These substances have a stable sweet taste, which lasts much longer than sucrose. In addition, they have antibacterial effect. The sweetener is extracted from the leaves of honey grass using the extraction method, which results in usable as a "Stevia" powder (sugar substitute). Photos allow you to see what the plant looks like before and after processing.

Therapeutic effect

"Stevia" (sugar substitute) has in its compositionsaponins, which cause a light foaming effect and have increased surface activity, therefore it is widely used as an expectorant for the treatment of diseases of the lungs and bronchi. This drug improves digestion, as it increases the secretion of glands. It is used as a diuretic. Stevia improves the condition of the skin surface, increasing its elasticity, so it is widely used for the treatment of skin diseases. The drug helps to remove puffiness, has an anti-inflammatory effect, improves the process of assimilation of substances in the body. Thanks to the flavonoids contained in the honey herb, which are strong antioxidants, immunity is activated. In addition, Stevia strengthens the walls of blood vessels, capillaries, normalizes the level of cholesterol in the blood, splits fatty plaques and thrombi. The drug contains more than 53 different essential oils that suppress viruses, pathogens, have anti-inflammatory effect, tone up the work of the gallbladder, stomach, liver, intestines.

Beneficial features

"Stevia" (sugar substitute) has the following unique properties that distinguish this drug from the total mass of other sweeteners:

150-300 times sweeter than ordinary sugar;
has zero caloric value;
is not a favorable environment (in contrast to traditional sugar) for the development of bacteria, but, on the contrary, causes an antibacterial effect;
normalizes the level of glucose in the blood;
it readily dissolves in water;
a small dosage is required due to the high level of sweetness;
widely used in cooking, as it is not exposed to high temperatures, acids and alkalis;
Sweetener is safe for human health. This fact was tested by the Guarani tribe during the 1,000-year history of plant use;
is an exclusively natural product.

Indications

"Stevia" is recommended to be used as a sweetener:

patients with diabetes mellitus;
people who are overweight and obese;
people with high blood sugar;
for the treatment of violations of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, including, with ulcers, gastritis, a decrease in the level of production of enzymes;
for the treatment of viral and infectious diseases;
with a high level of cholesterol in the blood;
to activate the immune forces of the body;
at allergic reactions, dermatitis and other skin diseases;
with diseases of the kidneys, thyroid and pancreas.

For those who are interested in where to buysweetener "Stevia", it is important to know that the drug today can be found in many places. So, it is sold in retail stores, pharmacies, health food chains, dietary supplements, vitamins.

Sugary substitute "Stevia": contraindications

Stevia, like any other sweetener, has a number of contraindications. Therefore, the following information should be borne in mind:

before using the drug, it is necessary to consult a doctor about the individual intolerance of its individual components;
Since Stevia lowers the pressure,excessive doses can be observed strong jumps. Therefore, it is better to refuse the use of a sweetener for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases and problems with arterial pressure;
with a lowered blood glucose in the excessive use of "Stevia" can be observed hypoglycemic state.

To avoid harm to health, it is important to adhere to a strict dosage.

Stevia for weight loss

Millions of people around the world are overweightweight, the cause of which is improper and unhealthy eating - the abuse of too sweet, fatty and heavy food. Therefore, this problem takes on a global scale. The stevia "Stevia" in tablets is used by those people who in this way tend to abandon the use of sugar, leading to the accumulation of fatty deposits. When using sweeteners, people do not feel restrained in sweets, but the calorie content of dishes is significantly reduced, since "Stevia" contains practically 0 kcal. The peculiarity of the product lies in the fact that the substances contained in its composition are much sweeter than sugar, so a small dosage is needed, besides they are not absorbed in the intestines, which only serves the figure. However, it is worth noting that the side effects of Stevia have not yet been fully explored, so do not overdo it and exceed the dosage to avoid unintended consequences. A sweetener can not only be added to tea or coffee, but also used in cooking.

Use for Diabetics

According to the results of the Moscowlaboratory, natural sweetener "Stevia" with constant use reduces the level of glucose, cholesterol in the blood. In addition, this product improves the functioning of the liver, pancreas and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. The drug can be used in the treatment of joint diseases, in which it is required to exclude the consumption of sugar. Honey herb serves as a means of preventing the development of hypoglycemic conditions that occur in diabetes mellitus. It can be used for diseases of the heart, skin, teeth, in violation of the digestive tract, atherosclerosis. The sweetener stimulates the adrenal medulla and, with regular use, increases the quality and standard of living. According to the results of research, Paraguayans who used stevia instead of sugar, do not have such diseases as overweight and diabetes. According to statistics, every Paraguayan eats about ten kilograms of honey grass a year.

How to take "Stevia" and what is the dosage?

The sweetener with stevia is sold in variousspecies - dry leaves, tablets, liquid, tea bags. Dry leaves are brewed in tea. The dosage is 0.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. 0,015 grams of stevia in liquid form replace one cube of sugar. When using stevia in a tablet form, it is enough to dissolve one piece in 1 glass of the drink.

Side effects

The conducted researches have allowed to establish,that when the natural sweetener "Stevia" is taken, no side effects and negative effects on the human body are observed, provided that the dosage is observed even with prolonged use unlike synthetic sugar substitutes. If the dosage is disturbed, a hypertensive crisis may occur, as well as an increased heart rate. It is not recommended to use a sugar substitute for diabetics together with additional drugs to reduce sugar levels.

"Stevia": harm or benefit?

In the world community there are many disputes over thethe replacement of the stevia of ordinary sweets. Opponents of Stevia argue that for the stevioside, which is part of the sugar replacer, the human body does not have enzymes for the cleavage, so it removes the matter unchanged. In the intestine, this element decomposes into steviol and glucose. It is believed that steviol in its properties is similar to steroid hormones, so it can cause disruption of the hormonal background, reduce sexual activity. However, studies conducted on chickens, which instead of water gave a solution of stevia concentration of 5 grams per 100 milliliters, showed that the reproductive function does not cause a sugar substitute. And also those consumers who have already tried the Stevia sweetener agree with this. Reviews about it confirm that there are no violations in the genital area.

Customer's opinion

Those who have already consumed the "Stevia" sweetener,the reviews leave ambiguous. So, some buyers note that the drug has a pleasant taste. Others argue that it can be slightly bitter, which is not customary after eating normal sugar. Consumers use "Stevia" not only as an additive to beverages, but also for household preparations for winter, baking, and jam. However, there are difficulties with the correct dosage, you have to use the table for more accurate calculation.