Among diabetics and those who want to lose weight, stevia is very popular. Reviews about this incredible plant are most often enthusiastic and grateful. The leaves of this herb are a complete substitute for sugar. Unlike chemical analogues, it is completely safe for health, and also has a number of properties beneficial to the body.
Stevia: photos, history and alternatives
The birthplace of a unique honey grass is South America. She was known even during the Mayan civilization. The natives of Paraguay and Brazil pass on the word of mouth the legend according to which stevia appeared on the earth (reviews of this plant are always positive for everyone who grows it or uses it as a sweetener). She says that honey grass was named after the girl whom the gods awarded for wisdom, purity and patience, giving her magic grass. Conquistadors, observing the Indians, noted that they drink mate with stevia leaves as a healing drink.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, French scientists isolated an extract from this plant. The substance was called stevioside. It turned out that it is many times sweeter than sugar and does not cause any side effects. Therefore, stevia was recommended for those who wanted to lose weight all over the world - the reviews about it of the first volunteers were enthusiastic.
In the Soviet Union, the plant was thoroughly studied immediately after it was introduced into the country by academician Vavilov. Studies have confirmed the list of healing properties that Crimean stevia possesses: it increases the metabolic rate, delays the aging process, and helps withstand the harmful effects of the environment. But the main advantage of this plant, of course, is its sweet taste. When people who are forced to follow a diet and are exhausted by the lack of sugar in their diets find out that there is a completely harmless substitute for their health, their joy has no limit. After all, cyclamate and aspartame, which are used for the diet of diabetics, have a number of side effects. Unfortunately, they cannot be used constantly without a threat to health.
Stevia: plant reviews
Sweeteners based on an extract of this plant are constantly praised by people with diabetes and obesity. The absence of contraindications for stevioside is currently confirmed by many scientists around the world. The World Health Organization joined the research in 2006 and also gave a positive conclusion. Non-carcinogenicity (unlike some other sugar substitutes) is very important for people who care about their bodies.
Stevioside is a promising, inexpensive and effective substitute for sweets. A magic plant is used both in the form of a decoction of leaves and in the form of a dry extract. According to reviews of people who actively include stevia products in dishes, dried grass can give an unpleasant sugary taste. But stevioside in tablets is more versatile. It is even used as icing sugar for sprinkling. If you put a little of this substance, you can minimize the specific taste or get used to it over time.