Wouldn't it be great if
you could reach for a sweetener that would not only satisfy
your craving, but endow you with healthful properties too? Before
you dismiss the thought as fantasy, take a moment to learn about
stevia. This sweetener is derived from a plant and not associated
with any of sugar's less desirable qualities. Though it is enjoyed
as a sweetener, stevia is very unlike white sugar, which is
a menace to anyone whose health is compromised.
In countries such as Brazil and Paraguay,
stevia has long been used to sweeten the native drink, yerba
mate. People use stevia to help make bitter medicinal teas more
palatable, but also for the qualities it provides. Stevia is
helpful in treating obesity, heartburn and other serious conditions
such as high blood pressure.
Japan is reported to use the highest
amount of stevia as a food sweetener. In the 1970s, when the
popular sugar substitutes cyclamate and saccharin were suspected
of being carcinogenic, Japanese researchers became interested
in stevia as a natural substitute. Now it is widely used in
soft drinks, foods and for table use. Although some European
studies suggest that more research is needed, the Japanese maintain
that stevia causes no major health concerns in its millions
of users. It accounts for about 40% of the food sweetener products
use in Japan.
Stevia is much sweeter than sugar.
A little tiny spoonful of powder packs a potent punch, so be
conservative with use. It is a handy sweetener for those of
us who are watching our weight, because it contains nowhere
near the calories of sugar or honey. When using it in any recipe,
be sure to adjust your amounts. Taste it to see how sweet it
is. Stevia comes in powder and extract form, and in green or
brown powder or extract, as well as in white or clear. You'll
be getting much more of stevia's nutritional qualities with
the green or brown type.
Sad but true, white refined sugar and
many of its chemical substitutes will more than likely help
ruin your teeth, add fat and weaken your immune system, making
it harder for you to ward off colds and flus. Stevia seems to
be a much sweeter choice, because the evidence seems to point
out that it's even good for you. |
