Scientific research has indicated that Stevia, a small green plant, native to Paraguay, effectively regulates blood sugar and brings it toward a normal balance. It is sold in some South American countries as an aid to people with diabetes and hypoglycemia. Since its introduction into the US, numerous people have reported that taking 20-30 drops with each meal brought their blood glucose levels to normal or near normal within a short time period. An important benefit for hypo-glycemics is Stevia's tonic action which enhances increased energy levels and mental acuity.Stevia seems to be the sweetener of the future. Because the human body does not metabolize the sweet glycosides (they pass right through the normal elimination channels) from the leaf or any of its processed forms, the body obtains no calories from Stevia. Processed forms of pure Stevia can be 70-400 times sweeter than sugar. It is not available in some countries, though. Naturally, the pharmaceutical industry making tons of money with chemical sweeteners isn't thrilled by the good news.
As far as I understand, Stevia is NOT a substitute material of insulin, which alone is able to reduce your blood glucose level. Being a substitute - like other artificial sweeteners (Saccharin) - Stevia only doesn´t increase the glucose level when meeting your addictive demand of eating sweets. Right?
ReplyDelete@cs - Right.
ReplyDeleteClaims that Stevia lowers your blood sugar levels are still very controversial. However, there seems to be a consensus that it will not raise your levels, either.
http://www.stevia.com/Stevia_Article.aspx?Id=2269