Is stevia dangerous for health? The benefits and harms of stevia, medicinal properties and contraindications of honey herb. Stevia: a natural sugar substitute

Nov-10-2016

What is stevia?

What is the herb stevia, the benefits and harms of stevia for the human body, all this is of great interest to those who lead a healthy lifestyle, monitor their health, and are interested in traditional methods treatment. So we will try to answer these questions in the following article.

Stevia is a genus of perennial plants in the family Asteraceae, or Asteraceae, which includes about 260 species of herbs and shrubs native to South and Central America, as far north as Mexico.

It grows wild in semi-arid areas from plains to mountainous regions. Stevia produces seeds, but only a small percentage of them germinate.

When cultivated, it is much more effective vegetative method reproduction.

In 1931, French chemists M. Bridel and R. Lavieille isolated glycosides from stevia, which give this herb sweet taste. The extracts, called steviosides and rebaudiosides, turned out to be 250-300 times sweeter than sucrose. The sensation of sweetness for stevia occurs more slowly than regular sugar, but lasts longer. However, especially when high concentration, it may have a bitter aftertaste or a licorice residue. Stevia does not significantly affect the amount of glucose in the blood and for this reason is indicated for those suffering from diabetes and other carbohydrate diets.

Wikipedia

Now that people are worried proper nutrition, many people wonder how to reduce the amount of sugar they consume daily. How can you replace sugar in tea or coffee, lemonade or fruit drink? What about baking? What about other dishes? It’s good if this interest has a purely theoretical significance, but it happens that a person comes to his senses already when he was diagnosed with “type 2 diabetes,” that is, diabetes that developed from excessive consumption of carbohydrates. Such diabetes can be corrected not only with medications, but also with diet. Usually in such cases, sugar is replaced with sweeteners, but as it turns out, they have side effects and are not very healthy. So what to do?

People began to look for natural sugar substitutes. After all, the diet did not always contain exactly the kind of sugar that we are now used to. And he wasn’t everywhere. And not very long ago, by historical standards, scientists and others became interested in stevia honey, a plant from the Asteraceae family, which is ten times more sweeter than sugar.

Stevia honey, also known as honey herb, or in Latin Stevia rebaudiana, belongs to the Aster family, or Asteraceae.

This family is extremely diverse. Asteraceae are common on all continents of the Earth and in all natural zones. For example, we can name asters, sunflowers, dandelions, gerberas, calendula, chamomile, chrysanthemums, dahlias and many others.

Stevia is part of the tribe Eupatoriaceae, or Poskonnikovye, where there are more than 2000 species. It should be noted that most of them live in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of Northern and South America. In Central America, they grow as far north as Mexico.

Stevia is no exception; it mainly grows in warm regions. It is now cultivated in eastern Asia, including China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia, in South America (Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and Israel.

This herb originally grew in South America (northeast Paraguay, border with Brazil). It has a moderately humid subtropical climate. And since ancient times, the Guarani Indians in the territory of modern Brazil and Paraguay have used stevia, calling it “ sweet grass", as a sweetener for mate and various drinks, for the treatment of heartburn and other diseases.

Europeans named the plant in honor of the Spanish botanist Pedro Jacobs Stevus (1500–1556), who first studied representatives of this genus of plants. And this particular stevia was described in detail in 1899 by the Swiss botanist M. S. Bertoni, who conducted research in Paraguay.

What is stevia, the benefits and harms of stevia, are of great interest to people who lead a healthy lifestyle, monitor their health, and are interested in traditional methods of treatment. So we will try to answer questions that interest this category of people.

What are the benefits of the herb stevia?

Why are scientists now ordinary people interested in stevia? It combines high sweetness and low calorie content, which is very important nowadays. That is why dishes with it can be used for patients with diabetes mellitus to control body weight. Stevia also improves metabolism and is used to restore metabolism. Its leaves are 300 times sweeter than sugar and contain more than 50 substances beneficial to the human body: mineral salts (calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, cobalt, manganese, copper), vitamins P, A, E, C, beta carotene, amino acids, essential oils, pectins, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids.

In 1931, French scientists isolated stevia as pure form glycosides stevioside and rebaudioside, giving it a sweet taste. By the way, in addition to sweetness, it has a grassy aftertaste, which not everyone likes. The leaves contain 5–10% stevioside, which is 250–300 times sweeter than sucrose, and 2–4% rebaudioside, which is 400–500 times sweeter than sucrose. Stevioside does not increase blood glucose levels and promotes insulin production.

In the middle of the last century, the Japanese became interested in stevia, studied it in detail and began to cultivate it, adding it instead of sugar to marinades, ice cream, fruit juices, desserts and even in chewing gum. And this continues today, sometimes they write that half of the food products produced in Japan have replaced sugar with stevia.

By the way, stevia-based sweeteners and sugar substitutes are allowed in the Russian Federation. In our country, the Research Institute of Food Hygiene of Ukraine studied this herb in the 1980s. Own varieties were bred: “Bereginya” and “Slavutich”. Stevia loves warm climates; in Russia it can be grown as annual plant, and in the southern part of the Krasnodar Territory even as a perennial.

In the USA, EU countries and Indonesia, this herb is allowed as a dietary supplement.

Nowadays, stevia is grown on an industrial scale in countries South-East Asia, South America, in Israel.

Research is still ongoing, but it is already believed that:

– Stevia leaves can be an excellent source of vitamins and minerals,

– it normalizes blood pressure,

– medicines based on it cleanse the body of toxins,

– this herb can improve immunity,

– it can reduce sugar levels due to the fact that a person will not eat regular sugars,

– for the same reason, it helps control and lose weight.

Due to this, the use of stevia will be useful for hypertension, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol. She will help (not alone, but in complex treatment!) during treatment viral infections, allergic dermatitis, acute and chronic gastritis, stomach ulcers and other ulcers. Accordingly, it helps improve immunity and is used to relieve exacerbations of chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys and pancreas.

Stevia helps fight excess weight due to the fact that it is very sweet and dulls the feeling of hunger. There are practically no calories in it and its sweet components are not absorbed by the body. If you use this herb in tablets, you can calculate the “dose”: 1 tablet is equal to a teaspoon of sugar.

Stevia lowers blood sugar levels in diabetes, whereas with normal sugar levels it does not change. It also has the ability to stimulate insulin secretion processes in the body. That is why in some countries medicines containing stevia and stevia tea are included in the mandatory treatment program for diabetes.

Steviosides have the property of reducing arterial pressure, so the herb will be useful for hypertensive patients. But hypotensive patients should be careful with it.

Since stevia has antimicrobial effect, then it can be used during epidemics of acute viral respiratory diseases, for example, drinking tea with stevia every day. And your immune system will be fine too.

At regular use This herb improves the functions of the pancreas and liver function. Also, tea with stevia is useful for flatulence, heartburn and hyperacidity. gastric juice.

Stevia extract acts as an anti-inflammatory for gastritis, colitis, enteritis. The pectins included in its composition serve as a nutrient medium for intestinal microflora, therefore they effectively cope with dysbacteriosis.

Stevia is effective as a vitamin-mineral complex for the syndrome chronic fatigue, exhaustion of the body, loss of strength. Can be chewed fresh leaves or drink tea with stevia.

Stevia is also used in cosmetology, as it helps clear the skin of rashes, and masks made from stevia have a tightening effect, moisturize the skin, improve complexion and prevent skin inflammation and the formation of wrinkles.

An aqueous solution from the leaves or powder of this herb inhibits the growth of bacteria, so it can be used instead of balms for rinsing the mouth. Accordingly, this will also help with various diseases teeth and gums, and how to prevent caries.

It should be kept in mind that the sensation of sweetness when using stevia does not occur immediately. And if you exceed the amount of sweetener, the dish will acquire a characteristic bitter taste.

Some people believe that the taste of this plant is similar to the taste of licorice.

Contraindications:

We have already figured out why this herb is useful. But can it do any harm?

Studies have shown that if stevia is consumed rationally, it will not cause harm to the body. However, there are a number side effects, which have been repeatedly observed in people with individual intolerance to plant components. It is necessary to carefully monitor your body’s reaction when using honey herb and adhere to some rules, namely:

Some people experience allergic reactions when consuming stevia, in which case it should be excluded from the diet;

Since honey grass can lower blood sugar, it is advisable to use it for diabetes, but uncontrolled use of stevia can cause harm;

Honey herb is prescribed with caution to hypotensive patients: this plant has the ability to lower blood pressure;

Stevia can be harmful to the body if a person has digestive problems, hormonal disorders, mental disorders or blood diseases.

To avoid harm to your body when using products containing stevia, be sure to consult your doctor. Especially if you have some chronic diseases or a tendency to allergic reactions.

In addition, it should be remembered that treatment medicinal herbs requires compliance:

Stevia calories:

The calorie content of stevia is 18 kcal per 100 grams of product. This is for the grass itself. In addition, the grass contains 0 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat and 0.1 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams of product.

The calorie content of stevia tablets is 272 kcal per 100 grams of product. 1 tablet = 1 tsp. Sahara.

Weight of 1 tablet is 0.25 grams, calorie content is 0.7 kcal.

Growing stevia at home:

This is a heat-loving subshrub, so in our climate it can be grown either as a house perennial plant or in open ground as an annual.

The following varieties of stevia are known: Detskoselskaya, Mechta, Ramonskaya Slastena, Slavyanka, Sofia, Stavropolskaya Slastena, Uslada, Marfa.

The soil needs to be light, sandy. You can take 2 parts sand and 1 part humus, and for better germination add 1% vermicompost. Or you can buy land for seedlings so that there is turf, humus and sand. Or you can take 50% peat compost with the addition of a quarter of regular garden soil and coarse sand.

The soil is poured into seedling containers in a layer of no more than 10–12 cm and watered thoroughly. warm water.

Before planting, seeds must be placed in warm water for 30 minutes and then dry. They cannot be planted deep into the ground; there will be no sprouts. You just need to scatter it on the ground and lightly press it down. The soil should cover them by a maximum of 5 mm. After this, you need to spray the seeds with warm water, cover the ground with glass or transparent film and put it in a warm place. In such conditions (humid and warm), the seeds will germinate in a week. If you put them in a fairly cool place (with a temperature of +4 to +7 degrees), they will sprout in 2–3 weeks.

When most of the seeds have sprouted, you can remove the glass. Then the container with the seedlings is transferred to a warm and bright room without drafts. Periodically, the seedlings should be sprayed with warm water.

Seedlings should be replanted when the first pair of leaves appears. They take the same soil, put it in pots for seedlings, and replant each shoot along with a small lump of soil. Seedlings require regular watering, and it is advisable to feed them once a week mineral fertilizers. If you plan to grow stevia at home, you can immediately plant it in a permanent pot. It should be shallow, but wide, since the root system of stevia grows in breadth. The pot must be at least 2 liters in volume, and be sure to provide 2 cm of drainage, preferably from broken shards. First, you need to fill the pot halfway, plant a cutting or seedling, and then add soil as the bush grows.

At home, stevia will grow well on south and southwest windows.

If stevia grows in a pot, then you need to make sure that the soil does not dry out and at the same time that there is no waterlogging, otherwise the roots will rot and the plant will die. Stevia loves to be sprayed.

When the plant reaches 20 cm in height, it is necessary to trim the central stem at a height of about 5 cm from the top, and always in the middle of the internode. Then the bush will become lush and there will be many leaves. And the cut top can be used as a cutting and rooted.

If stevia grows at home, it will be a perennial plant, and then every 5-6 months each shoot is shortened by half or a third (small branches). There should be at least 3 pairs of leaves left. New shoots will immediately begin to grow from dormant buds. It is recommended to treat wounds after pruning pork fat or garden varnish - this way the plant will survive the injuries painlessly.

At home in winter, it is better to highlight stevia - then the leaves will be as sweet as in summer.

The leaves that are collected first are those with curled edges. The leaves ripen already at 3 months - they become brittle. They must be picked off without keeping them on the bush for more than 4–5 months. Dry the leaves or use fresh, storing them in the refrigerator.

Drying quickly produces leaves best quality. If the plants are heavily crushed or dried for a long time, the quality of the raw material deteriorates due to oxidation: up to a third of steviol glycosides are lost in three days.

Application:

Dried leaves can be ground in a coffee grinder or mortar to produce a green powder that is about 10 times sweeter than sugar. 1.5–2 tbsp. l. replace 1 cup regular sugar. This powder can be added to all dishes and drinks where sugar is traditionally used.

Tea:

Pour 200 ml of boiling water over a third of a teaspoon of stevia leaves and leave for 1 minute. Add a slice of lemon or a mint leaf and drink like tea.

Alcohol extract:

Pour alcohol or vodka over whole leaves or green powder until the leaves are completely covered. Leave to infuse for a day. Then strain the liquid.

Aqueous extract:

Grind 40 g of fresh or dried leaves, pour 1 cup of boiling water. Insist for a day. Strain the prepared solution, then evaporate over medium heat until thickened. Keep refrigerated. Take diluted (a quarter teaspoon in half a glass of water at room temperature) an hour before meals.

Syrup:

Fill the dried green leaves and shoots with water completely and boil for 40 minutes. Strain and continue to evaporate the liquid over low heat (or in a boiling water bath). The syrup is ready if a drop of syrup on a glass or porcelain saucer does not spread. This syrup is added to various drinks and desserts.

An interesting video about stevia from the program “Live Healthy!” with Elena Malysheva:

Before making any complex dishes or baked goods, try a stevia leaf or brew it in tea. Stevia is an herb and has a grassy taste that not everyone likes. Some people think that the taste of stevia is similar to the taste of licorice (licorice). To beat it, some people add cinnamon or some other spices to taste ( lemon zest, mint and the like). It's all individual.

In the marinade and vegetable dishes its taste is not noticeable.

It is better to use stevia powder for baked goods rather than crushed leaves. The fact is that some powders do not have the grassy taste of stevia, which is important for the taste of baked goods. And in cookies, pancakes and other desserts - whichever you like best (powder or crushed leaves). Everything is learned in practice.

If a recipe says crushed stevia, it means collected, dried and crushed stevia. The recipe requires more of it than store-bought stevia powder from a bag. This should be kept in mind if substitutions are made within a recipe.

If you take stevia powder bought in a store, then a small bag usually contains 2 g. Such a bag is brewed with 1 liter of boiling water and left for 15–20 minutes. The infusion turns light brown. If the infusion is left open for several hours, it turns dark green.

Tea with stevia, in addition to having a great taste and restorative properties, also helps to normalize the functions of the immune system, blood circulation, blood glucose levels and maintain blood pressure within normal limits. Teas also promote scarring of stomach and intestinal ulcers, eliminate gastritis and caries, and have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver, kidneys, and spleen.

Ratio of sugar to stevia:

1 g of purchased stevia powder is equal in sweetness to 10 g of sugar. There are 25 g of sugar in a tablespoon, 200 g in a glass.

1 teaspoon of sugar is replaced with ¼ teaspoon of ground dried stevia, or commercial powder on the tip of a knife (about 0.7 g), or 2–6 drops of liquid aqueous extract stevia.

1 tablespoon of sugar is replaced by ¾ teaspoon of ground dried stevia, or purchased powder (2.5 g), or 10 drops of liquid aqueous stevia extract.

1 glass of sugar is replaced with 1–2 tablespoons of ground dried stevia, or purchased powder at the rate of 20 g, or 1–2 teaspoons of liquid aqueous stevia extract.

The amount of stevia in recipes can be reduced or increased, because everyone likes different sweetness.

Based on the book by Yu. Konstantinov “Stevia. Natural sugar replacement. Against diabetes, obesity and a hundred ailments.”

The plant is 15-20 times sweeter than sugar, shocking everyone with its low calorie content - 100 g of the product contains only 18 kcal. Such characteristics are not inherent in all types of plants. To replace sugar and for preventive purposes Stevia honey is used. Other subspecies growing in natural conditions, are not so valuable because they contain natural sweet substances in too small quantities.

Features of the plant

Stevia is a lover of heat and dry climates, so it grows in subtropical latitudes. The plant's homeland is considered to be South and Central America (Brazil, Paraguay). It grows in semi-arid conditions, both in mountainous areas and on plains. Stevia seeds have very poor germination, so it is propagated vegetatively.

Due to its excellent taste, as well as high antioxidant abilities, stevia is actively cultivated in eastern countries - Japan, China, Indonesia, Thailand. Breeding and selection of new sweet species are carried out in Ukraine, Israel, and the USA.

Growing stevia at home is also popular, as indoor plant. After wintering, the grass is planted in open ground. Over the summer, the small bush grows beautifully, allowing you to harvest an impressive harvest of sweet leaves.

Botanical description

Stevia is a herbaceous perennial bush formed as a result of active branching of the main stems. Its height can reach 120 cm. Under unfavorable conditions climatic conditions Stevia does not branch and grows like a grass with a thick stem about 60 cm long.

• Root system. Long and even cord-like roots form a fibrous rooting system for stevia, penetrating up to 40 cm deep into the soil.
• Stems. Side stems extend from the main stem. The shape is cylindrical. Active branching forms a voluminous trapezoidal bush.
• Leaves . 2-3 cm long, have an obovate shape and a slightly crenate edge. Dense in structure, the leaves do not have stipules and sit on a shortened petiole. Cross-opposite placement.
• Flowers. Stevia flowers are white, small, collected 5-7 pieces in small baskets.
• Fruits. During the fruiting period, small boxes appear on the bushes, from which spindle-shaped seeds 1-2 mm long fall out.

When growing a plant in room conditions, to form a bush it is necessary to regularly trim the tops of the stems.

Procurement of raw materials

Stevia leaves are used as a medicinal raw material and a natural sweetener. They are harvested before flowering, when buds appear on the shoots of the plant. It is at this time that the concentration of sweet substances in the leaves becomes maximum.

To harvest the leaves, the stems of the plant are cut, retreating 10 cm from the ground. After cutting, the lower leaves are torn off, and the stems are laid out on a cotton cloth in a thin layer or hung, tied into small panicles.

Stevia should be dried in the shade with good ventilation. In hot weather, the stems dry completely within 10 hours, which ensures high quality vegetable raw materials. To maintain the maximum concentration of steviol glycosides, it is recommended to harvest the plant using dryers.

The quality of dried leaves and their sweetness depends on the drying time. At high humidity and low temperature conditions this leads to the loss of 1/3 of the total amount of steviol glycosides in 3 days.

After complete drying, the leaves are removed from the stems and packed in paper or plastic bags. Low humidity and good ventilation allow storing raw materials for 2 years.

At the time of its discovery, stevia became not only the leader in the content of sweet substances, but also the plant with the greatest antioxidant effect. Complex chemical composition will help preserve youth, neutralize the influence of negative exogenous factors, as well as restore the functioning of damaged cells. The plant contains a variety of biologically active substances.

The chemical composition of the plant allows it to be used for medicinal and prophylactic purposes, as a remedy with versatile pharmacological properties:

• it is a source of vitamins and microelements;
• blood pressure stabilizer;
• immunomodulatory agent;
• plant with antitoxic properties;
• hypoglycemic agent;
• plant with antimicrobial effect.

The high concentration of glycosides allows the plant to be used as a sweetener and processed industrially to produce sweeteners. Small dosages of stevia give foods a sweet taste; rich infusions and decoctions have a bitter aftertaste due to increased concentration steviolglycosides.

The benefits of stevia for different body systems

Beneficial features Stevia is actively used in traditional and folk medicine for the treatment and prevention of many diseases.

Cardiovascular

Stevia can regulate blood pressure. Small doses help reduce it. High doses, on the contrary, stimulate an increase in blood pressure. The mild, gradual action of the plant is completely safe for hypo- and hypertensive patients. Also, stevia has been proven to normalize heartbeat and the strength of heart contractions. Positive Impact on blood vessels allows you to eliminate congestion, spasm, normalize the tone of the venous walls. The herb reduces blood concentrations bad cholesterol, helps eliminate formed plaques on the walls of the arteries. The plant can be regularly consumed internally for treatment and prevention:

• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• coronary heart disease;
• hypertension;
• myocardial infarction;
• atherosclerosis;
• varicose veins.

In case of fluctuations in blood pressure and sudden jumps, dose selection must be very careful. It is worth focusing on the patient’s well-being.

Endocrine

The most common use of stevia leaves is to normalize blood glucose levels in diabetes mellitus. The effect is due to inhibition of glucose absorption. With the use of stevia, diabetics note an improvement in their well-being, as well as a decrease in the need for external insulin. With constant use of the plant, the dosage of the hormone is gradually reduced.

The herb can restore the functioning of pancreatic cells. In some cases of type 2 diabetes, complete recovery occurs after using stevia.

The plant improves hormone production thyroid gland, normalizes the level of sex hormones. Macro- and microelements necessary for hormonal synthesis, normal operation endocrine system are contained in the leaves of the plant.

Immune

The vitamins and macroelements included in stevia activate protective forces body. This is useful in cases of decreased immunity due to past diseases, during the cold season. Stevia is known to have the ability to eliminate the reactive response of the immune system to allergens entering the body. This effect is necessary when allergic reactions by type of urticaria and dermatitis, as well as for the treatment and prevention of the following autoimmune skin diseases:

• psoriasis;
• eczema;
• idiopathic dermatitis;
• seborrhea.

The antitumor effect of stevia is based on the plant’s ability to neutralize and eliminate free radicals. The same mechanism underlies the grass’s slowing down of the aging process. The antimicrobial and antifungal properties of stevia help in the treatment of wounds, including weeping, purulent, trophic ulcers, and fungal skin lesions.

Digestive

Stevia provides beneficial influence for all digestive organs. The plant normalizes the secretion of digestive juices and acidity in the stomach, improving the absorption of food. The enveloping properties are useful for gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Stevia consumption is recommended for weight loss. In the fight against obesity, not only the ability of the plant to replace sugar, reducing the calorie content of food consumed, but also to prevent the occurrence of insulin surges - the causes of sudden and severe attacks hunger.

Nervous

Stevia returns to work nerve fibers, normalizes the conduction of impulses through them. The plant helps fight migraine attacks. Stevia is also known to have a sedative effect. The use of drugs helps cope with the following conditions:

• eliminates anxiety attacks;
• fights insomnia;
• promotes concentration;
• neutralizes nervous tension;
• helps fight chronic fatigue;
• treats depression and blues;
• activates the internal potential of the body;
• has adaptogenic properties;
• increases endurance.

Daily moderate consumption of stevia is recommended for athletes, as well as for improving psychological and physical activity, as an anti-stress and light tonic.

Non-medical use of raw materials

Stevia is recommended as a safe sweetener for diabetes. Tablets are used active substance of which, stevioside is an extract from the plant. The natural sugar substitute stevia from the Arnebia brand is packaged in convenient automatic dispensers, similar to packaging from the Milford company, but contains higher quality and safe alternative analogous to aspartame.

The sweetener stevia is actively used to create a line dietary nutrition from the Leovit brand. This sweetener is used in cereals and desserts. For diabetics, they even produce stevia-based chocolate and vanilla extract for homemade confectionery dishes.

Stevia infusions are also used in for cosmetic purposes- to eliminate age spots, lighten the skin and rejuvenate it. The plant’s ability to normalize the condition of the scalp and eliminate dandruff, including seborrheic origin, is known. The use of dietary supplements with stevia has a positive effect on appearance skin.

Home Recipes

Dry stevia extract is produced industrially, contains sweet substances from the plant, called “Stevioside”. At the same time, the manufacturer does not pursue the goal of preserving the entire chemical composition of the herb in the extract. It is for this reason that for the comprehensive improvement of the body, for the purpose of losing weight, preventing and treating diseases, the use of stevia in the form of dried or fresh leaves is recommended.

Dosage forms prepared according to special recipes can be used externally and used in cooking to improve the taste of dishes, tea, and coffee. Stevia syrup is prepared separately and used instead of sugar. A popular herbal tea recipe is drunk as a stand-alone drink or added to other drinks.

Infusion

1. 20 g of crushed leaves are poured into a thermos.
2. Pour a glass of boiling water.
3. Leave to infuse for 24 hours.
4. Strain, pour half a glass of boiling water over the cake.
5. Strain to the first infusion after eight hours.

Syrup

1. Prepare an infusion of the plant according to the previous recipe.
2. Place it in a saucepan with a thick bottom.
3. Evaporate over low heat to the consistency of syrup.
4. Check readiness by dropping the product onto a saucer - the drop should not spread.

Decoction

1. Two tablespoons of leaves are poured into a glass of boiling water.
2. Bring to a boil, simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
3. The water is drained, the leaves are poured with half a glass of boiling water.
4. Infuse the mixture for 30 minutes, after which it is filtered into the first decoction.

Extract

1. 20 g of leaves are poured with a glass of alcohol or vodka.
2. Heat over low heat or in a water bath for 30 minutes, avoiding boiling.
3. After a short cooling, the mixture is filtered.

Herbal tea

1. One level tablespoon of whole or crushed stevia leaves is poured into a glass of boiling water.
2. After 20 minutes of infusion, the tea can be consumed.

If stevia is taken for prevention, it is enough to replace the sugar consumed daily with it. To treat diseases and obtain a tonic effect, it is recommended to drink herbal tea from the leaves.

In pharmacies you can buy a ready-made extract from the plant - a white free-flowing powder in jars or bags. Baked goods, compotes, and porridges are prepared with it. To brew tea, it is better to purchase stevia leaf powder or filter bags with crushed raw materials.

Among dietary supplements, the sugar substitute “Stevia Plus” in tablets is popular. In addition to stevioside, this preparation contains chicory, as well as licorice extract and vitamin C. This composition allows the use of a sweetener as an additional source of inulin, flavonoids, and amino acids.

The practice of using fresh stevia is also known. Crushed leaves are applied to wounds, burns, trophic ulcers. This is a way to relieve pain, burning, and speed up healing. For internal use Brew two or three leaves of stevia per glass of boiling water. According to reviews, in fresh It is better to use Crimean stevia.

Security Information

The herb honey stevia is considered the safest and low-allergenic natural sweetener, which allows it to be used even for children. Age limit- three years. Before this age, the chemical composition of stevia leaves can have an unpredictable effect on the child’s body.

Stevia preparations are not recommended for pregnant women, although it has been proven that small dosages of the plant do not have teratogenic or embryotoxic effects. But due to the difficulties of dosing and different taste preferences, it is better to minimize the use of stevia leaves when carrying a child. During breastfeeding It is better to avoid stevia due to its unproven safety for infants.

The plant has no side effects. Direct contraindications include only individual intolerance, which occurs extremely rarely.

Comparing medicinal properties and contraindications of stevia, we can come to the conclusion that this plant is a way to improve the functioning of the whole body, ensure beauty and youth for long years. Reviews of stevia herb extract confirm the excellent taste and ability of the plant to completely eliminate sugar from the human diet.

In nature, there are plants that are much sweeter and healthier than sugar. For example, stevia, the benefits and harms of which have already been studied in detail. This perennial plant has an unusual sweetish taste that is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. The use of stevia as a natural sweetener is recommended for everyone: adults, the elderly, children, healthy people and those who are sick. What useful qualities does this plant have, how to use it, and when is the use of this herb contraindicated?

Beneficial properties of stevia for the body

This plant contains a huge amount of substances beneficial to the body, such as:

• flavonoids - quercetin, avicularin, rutin, apigenin, kaempferol, guayaverine;
• vitamins - beta-carotene, C, E, Thiamine, D, Niacin, P, group B;
• minerals - cobalt, chromium, zinc, calcium, potassium, copper, phosphorus, silicon, magnesium, selenium, iron;
• essential oils;
• pectins;
• glycosides - Stevioside, Rubuzoside, Rebaudioside A, C, B, Dulcoside;
• acids - chlorogenic, hebberellic, formic, caffeic;
• inulin;
• tannins.

Stevia is effective therapeutic agent, it is widely used in medicine, because it:

• Charges the body with energy.
• At frequent use instead of sugar, improves physical and mental performance, dream.
• Has a hypoglycemic effect . Stevia activates the production of insulin in the blood, so when people with diabetes consume it, their sugar levels decrease. Application of the plant healthy people does not harm their body.
• Strengthens cardiovascular system.
• Lowers blood pressure.
• Useful for the prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, as an additive to foods
• It has antibacterial properties, thanks to which stevia is used for the treatment and rapid healing of wounds.
• Helps remove toxins from the body.
• Has a beneficial effect on the liver and pancreas.
• Takes part in stabilizing metabolism.
• Reduces cholesterol.
• Used for allergic reactions (diathesis) in children.
• Stabilizes the acidity level of gastric juice.
• Due to essential oils in the composition, used for frostbite, burns, eczema.
• Has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. Used as a tea to treat colds, acute respiratory infections, and flu.
• Strengthens immune system body. Great amount minerals, amino acids, vitamins completely replenish reserves and prevent the immune system from weakening.

It is known that sweets are harmful to teeth. But stevia as a sweetener has useful action in dentistry:

• It contains a large amount of vitamins and glycosides, which prevent bacteria from multiplying, which is why stevia is prescribed for diseases of the oral cavity.
• Protects tooth enamel from damage and destruction.
• Protects gums from periodontal disease, launched form which is at risk of tooth loss.

Useful properties of stevia in cosmetology:

• The plant is used as a skin care product. Masks with this honey herb effectively eliminate blackheads and quickly cope with irritation and inflammation of the skin.
• It is used to treat dermatitis and acne.
• Mask based water infusion The plant makes the skin velvety, elastic, and prevents the appearance of fine wrinkles.
• This herb helps fight seborrhea and dandruff.

How to use

You can use stevia different methods:

• In cosmetology, various masks, decoctions, and infusions are prepared from it, which are used to cleanse the skin, heal wounds, and treat acne and rashes. To prepare a water infusion, a fabric bag with 100 g of herb is placed in a pan with 1 liter of boiling water. Boil for 1 hour, steep a little, add half a liter of water and boil for another hour.
• As a food additive. The plant tolerates well heat treatment, it is added to baked goods, teas and different dishes.
• For weight loss. Often people who want to lose weight find it difficult to give up sweets. By using stevia in their diet, they compensate for the lack of sugar by reducing the calorie content of their diet.
• Diabetics. People suffering from diabetes use the plant as a sweetener that releases insulin.
• For injuries and burns. Fresh stevia leaves, rubbed a little with your hands, are applied to the damaged areas of the skin.

Can stevia be harmful?

Any medicine has contraindications, so self-medication is not recommended. Before starting a health course, you should consult a doctor. For people suffering from diabetes, the use of stevia can only be prescribed by a doctor, who will determine the frequency and dose of the drug. The main contraindications for the use of this plant include:

• Individual intolerance to the plant by the body. To find out, you need to take tests to identify the allergen.
• Pressure changes. Chronic excessive consumption of stevia leads to spikes in blood pressure.

Where to buy and how much does stevia cost?

You can purchase the plant from herbalists, pharmacies, and online stores that sell medicines. It is sold as dried herb, dry leaf powder, syrup, extract, or tablets. The shelf life of dried stevia is two years. Depending on the type of drug, the price also changes:

• A 500 gram package of the plant (powder) costs 90-200 rubles.
• Stevia syrup 20 ml – 125-300 rubles.
• A pack of dried leaves – 50-100 rubles.
• Stevia tablet (200 pcs.) instead of sugar - 900-1000 rubles.

Video: about growing stevia at home from seeds

Honey grass is sold in all pharmacies, but sometimes fresh leaves are needed, for example, for making tea or salads. For such purposes, stevia can be grown at home. This perennial plant is successfully grown by gardeners in their beds, loggias, and in pots as an indoor crop. Stevia tolerates light frosts and heat well, so it is not difficult to grow. Watch the video below detailed instructions for growing this plant at home.

There are contraindications, consult your doctor.

Represents glycoside, isolated from stevia leaves.
The indigenous people of America, who did not know how to produce sugar, sweetened their food with this plant. Today stevioside is used throughout the world. It has a sweet taste, but has zero calories.
Compared to other sweeteners, stevioside is more attractive to people because it is of natural rather than synthetic origin.

Harm of stevioside

Stevioside was isolated by chemists in the 30s of the last century. After some time, it began to be used as a sweetener in different countries peace. Today, stevia extract is most consumed in Japan. But a few decades ago everything was different.

Stevioside was not as popular as it is today. Moreover, this sweetener has been banned or limited in a number of countries, including the European Union. Doctors suspected that stevia had a mutagenic effect. That is, it can provoke fetal development abnormalities if consumed by a pregnant woman.

However, the scientists' fears were not confirmed. Stevia has not been shown to be mutagenic in numerous animal studies. Therefore, today it is one of the most widely used in the world. Currently acceptable for consumption daily dose stevioside is in different countries from 2 to 4 mg per kg of weight.

Benefits of stevioside

Stevioside has a positive effect on human health if used instead of sugar. However, its properties are often exaggerated in the media, and some websites about herbal or other traditional medicine treatments offer visitors information that is frankly delusional. Thus, the authors of such sites claim that stevioside:

• is a source of vitamins and minerals;
• strengthens the immune system;
• removes worms;
• improves the condition of teeth;
• increases sensitivity to insulin receptors;
• treats colds;
• reduces blood cholesterol levels.

This is not all the false information that can be found on websites about folk medicine, but only the most popular of them. In fact, stevioside is useful only for three diseases:

1. Obesity.
2. Diabetes mellitus.
3. Hypertension.

No matter how much you would like stevia to cure you of every ailment in the world, it will not happen. Stevioside is a sweetener, not a medicine. It heals because it contains no calories. If a person uses stevia instead of sugar, he gradually loses weight.

In diabetes mellitus, stevioside is useful for the same reason - it does not contain. It’s sweet, but it doesn’t require insulin to be absorbed. Therefore, sweeteners are most often consumed by people with impaired carbohydrate metabolism. Stevioside reduces the risk of. The reason is that stevia promotes weight loss, while carbohydrate metabolism Mostly obese people suffer.

There is also evidence that stevioside, when consumed regularly, reduces systolic blood pressure by 10-15 mm Hg, which makes it useful food additive for people suffering hypertension. On blood pressure in long term influences the ability of stevia to reduce body weight. Obesity is one of the risk factors contributing to the development of arterial hypertension.

Where to buy stevioside?

You can buy stevioside in almost any grocery supermarket. Look for it on the shelf with products intended for diabetics. Stevia can also be purchased at a pharmacy or ordered online. Prices for stevioside from different manufacturers:

Stevioside, Svita-Sweta– 435 rubles per 90 g jar. According to information from manufacturers, one package of sweetener replaces 15 kilograms of sugar. The declared sweetness coefficient is 170. This means that, according to the manufacturers of the product, their stevioside is 170 times sweeter than sugar.

Stevia plus. Available in 100 mg tablets. The price of a package containing 150 tablets is 200 rubles. Intended exclusively for adding to tea or coffee. In addition to stevia extract, they contain ascorbic acid, and licorice root.

Stevia Leovit. Packaging price – 200 rubles. Available in packs of 100 tablets. Each of them contains 250 mg of stevioside. One tablet is equivalent in sweetness to 4 g of sugar.

Stevia extra. 150 effervescent tablets for adding to tea. Each of them contains 100 mg of stevioside. Price – about 200 rubles.

Now Foods Better Stevia. The supplement can only be ordered online. It costs 660 rubles for 100 sachets of 85 mg. The manufacturer recommends taking no more than 4 sachets per day.

Stevia Green Canderel. The company produces stevia in different forms, doses and packages. The product is positioned as a sweetener for making sweets. average price– 10-12 rubles per 1 gram of stevia. The minimum release form is a 40 g package, which can be purchased for 450 rubles.

Reviews of stevioside

Judging by reviews on the Internet, most people consider stevioside a natural and healthy sweetener. It is used in cooking, added to tea, fermented milk drinks. Confectionery products are prepared from stevioside. Moreover, it is taken not only by people who want to lose weight. Stevioside is in great demand among people who are fans of a healthy lifestyle and believe that sugar is “white death”.

Judging by the reviews, stevia extract has not only advantages, but also disadvantages:

1. On all cans of the additive, manufacturers write that stevioside is 250 times sweeter than sugar. In practice, it turns out that it is 30-40 times sweeter in strength. Some people say in their reviews that stevioside is only 20 times sweeter than sugar.

2. Stevioside has a specific aftertaste that you need to get used to.

3. When added to a dish large quantity stevia extract, the sweetener may be slightly bitter.

The taste of stevioside is somewhat different from the taste of regular sugar. But if you believe the reviews, then after a month a person gets used to the sweetener and stops feeling the difference. True, not all people are ready to add stevioside to baked goods or confectionery products. Some people note its sugary-bitter taste, so they use it only as a sweetener for tea or coffee.

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Hello, dear readers! Stevia in Lately It is becoming more and more a popular food product. Those people who know about it actively use it in their diet. But, as I was able to verify, when communicating with my friends, many people have a question: what is stevia and what benefits does it have for the body? Therefore, I decided to talk about this in my article.

What is stevia?

Stevia, or, as it is also called, honey grass, is a perennial herbaceous plant with white (or white-cream) small flowers collected in complex inflorescences (baskets), and paired leaves framed by jagged edges. Outwardly, it looks like a branched bush that can reach a height of up to eighty centimeters. South America is considered the birthplace of this herb.

But it is the leaves that attract attention, which are several dozen times greater than the sweetness of sugar. Centuries-old history indicates that people have been adding this part of the plant to tea since ancient times and serving the drink as a sweet treat.

In 1931, after research, French chemists and pharmacists M. Bridel and R. Lavey obtained crystalline substances (glycosides) from stevia leaves, which gave them an amazing sweet taste. Subsequently, these glycosides were called steviosides. They turned out to be much sweeter than sugar.

In 1934, returning from an expedition to Latin America, academician Vavilov N.I. brought stevia to the USSR. When studying this plant, they identified numerous properties beneficial to humans.

As you know, the Japanese pay special attention to their health and are very practical people. In 1954, they showed serious interest in honey grass, and this was due to the fact that in Japan they considered sugar to be the culprit of tooth decay, obesity and diabetes. Currently, this country is the leader in the consumption of food products with stevia.

According to the results scientific research It has been established that stevia is a natural sweetener and has “zero” calories, despite the fact that taste qualities it exceeds sugar three hundred times.

Composition of nutrients

Leaves of this unique plant are the owner of a fairly significant amount of useful components.

• vitamins A, C, E and group B, which are actively involved in metabolic processes body;
• rutin (vitamin P), which strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
• glycosides (steviazid and rebaudioside), which turned out to be absolutely harmless to humans compared to synthetic sugar substitutes;
• quercetin (plant flavonoid), which has antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic effects;
• chlorophyll, which, in addition to having anti-inflammatory properties, improves immunity, strengthens the body's cells and helps protect them;
• kaempferol (flavonoid), which has antioxidant and antitumor activity.
• minerals: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, silicon, copper, selenium, chromium, etc.;

Beneficial properties for the human body

Stevia is a natural sweetener with excellent therapeutic, preventive and health properties.

Considering the fact that honey grass contains virtually no calories, it is recommended for people suffering from excess weight and diabetes. Stevia reduces blood glucose and promotes the production of insulin by the pancreas, and in addition, reduces hunger and makes it easier to follow an appropriate diet for these ailments.

This unique property It also allows you to reduce the concentration of harmful substances in the blood, which prevents the development of atherosclerosis and the formation of blood clots in the blood. blood vessels and thus helps to avoid strokes and heart attacks.

The rich composition of vitamins, flavonoids, glycosides makes the walls of blood vessels elastic, elastic and less fragile, and this:

• reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases;
• prevents varicose veins veins;
• normalizes blood pressure.

Stevia has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, wound healing, antiviral, antimicrobial actions and that's why it's useful:

• for joint pathology, arthritis, osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis;
• to strengthen the immune system;
• for colds and viral diseases.

In addition, honey herb normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and promotes the healing of ulcers in the stomach and intestines.

As well as fresh leaves and herbal infusions used for local application, effective for skin diseases, cuts, burns.

The antimicrobial properties of the plant protect teeth from caries and relieve gum inflammation.

The presence of chlorophyll and antioxidants in stevia, incl. kaempferol, protect body cells from free radicals, preventing the formation of cancerous tumors.

The unique properties of the plant improve the functioning of the liver, kidneys, thyroid gland and spleen.

The presence of chlorophyll can protect a person from the occurrence of urolithiasis by reducing the level of formation of calcium oxalate crystals found in urine. In addition, it actively cleanses the body of waste and toxins.

Currently, stevia is available in the form of tablets, dry powder, tea in filter bags, syrup, extract and packaged dry herb.

Steviosides are resistant to high temperatures Therefore, stevia can be used as a sugar substitute for preparing dishes that require heat treatment.

Contraindications for use

In a number of studies of the properties of the plant, practically no contraindications to eating products based on it have been identified, with the exception of cases in which the honey herb should be discarded. This:

• for allergic reactions to plants from the Asteraceae family such as chamomile, dandelion, etc.;
• with individual intolerance;
• during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• use caution if you have low blood pressure.

Now you have learned what stevia is and what benefits it has for the body.

Good health to you!