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What is Stevia and General
Information on sweeteners.
Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and Splenda have been
reported to contribute to certain forms of cancer, cause headaches and may even
inhibit weight loss! It could be argued that the recent success of Splenda may
stem from the fact that consumers mistakenly believe this form of artificial
sweetener is natural because it is derived from sugar. While it is true Splenda
is derived from sugar, it is also true that a lot of chemistry is used to modify
the sugar to make it calorie-free. Essentially three hydrogen-oxygen groups on
the sugar molecule are replaced with three chlorine atoms. Read about the health
concerns associated with Splenda (sucralose) and aspartame. Please visit
www.truthaboutsplenda.com. and
www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/nutraswt.htm
Sweet!
Now imagine an all natural product that is up to 300 times
sweeter than sugar (sucrose), has no calories, no carbohydrates and is perfectly
healthy. Does such a product exist? The answer is yes. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana
Bertoni) is a herb indigenous to the valley of Rio Monday in North Eastern
Paraguay. It has been used as a sweetener for approximately 1500 years in parts
of South America and has become a popular sweetener in many Asian countries. In
fact, in Japan where aspartame has been banned because of health concerns,
stevia is now widely used as a sweetener in products like gum, soda and ice
cream. Stevia is the #1 sweetening agent in Japan accounting for approximately
50% of the sweetener market share. Interestingly, Japan has the highest life
expectancy of any country in the world (World Health Organization, 2005). In
North America and Europe, the decline of consumers' health and the subsequent
movement towards more natural foods has created a great deal of public interest
in stevia.
The sweetness of stevia is found in the leaves. There are four
sweetening agents in stevia called "steviol glycosides". They are stevioside,
rebaudioside A, rebaudioside C and dulcoside C. Stevioside is the most plentiful
of the sweetening agents but carries the bitterest flavour. Rebaudioside A is
equally sweet but does not carry the same bitterness as stevioside. Rebaudioside
A is used in Krisda brand stevia.
On the market, stevia is available in several forms; the less
refined being the most nutritious. It can be purchased in dried leaf form,
stevia leaf powder, tea or as a liquid tincture extract and concentrate. The
leaves and powder are light to medium green and are not water-soluble. Stevia in
this form is approximately 15 to 30 times sweeter than common table sugar (sucrose).
The liquid forms made from the whole leaf are very dark in color (dark brown to
almost black) and come in different purities and strengths depending on the type
and manufacturer. Blended stevia is also available. Blended stevia contain
primary ingredients such as maltodextrin, inulin fiber or erythritol.
The refined forms of stevia come in a white powder or a clear
extract. Like any refined product they do not retain all of the health benefits
of the unrefined products. Refined stevia is generally 200 to 300 times sweeter
than sugar. The refined stevia extracts are safe and far superior to artificial
sweeteners or sugar.
Why isn't stevia more widely used?
The widespread commercial use of stevia in North America and
Western Europe has been blocked by two forces. First, the financial and thus
political strength of the sugar and artificial sweetener industries enable them
to successfully lobby against the classification of stevia as a "sweetener". The
FDA in the United States of America and Health Canada both recognize stevia as a
dietary supplement, but not a sweetener. What does this mean? Stevia can be
bought and consumed in its raw form, but it cannot be added to a product and
subsequently labelled as a sweetener. The second force blocking the widespread
use of stevia is the packaged goods industry. Driven primarily by profit margins,
the packaged goods industry embraces the most cost effective method of
sweetening its products.
The production cost of stevia is still exceedingly high compared
to sugar and artificial sweeteners. However, given the significant health
benefits of stevia there is little doubt that stevia and products sweetened with
stevia will gain in popularity. Group Krisda - Stevia of Canada is dedicated to
delivering consumers the benefits of stevia by 1) working to reduce stevia
production costs, 2) develop great tasting, healthy and high quality stevia
products, and 3) by improving the availability and visibility of stevia in
retail outlets.
History of Stevia rebaundiana
Leaves of the stevia plant, a perennial herb that grows to 50 to
60 cm in height, have been used as a sweetener for approximately 1500 years by
the Guarani natives of Paraguay. It was also collected to treat diabetes,
hypertension and to keep skin looking young. Stevia first came to the attention
of Europeans in 1888 when it was discovered in the Paraguay highlands. In the
16th century the conquistadors had reported stevia to the Spanish, but it
remained a mystery until 1889 after the first studies were done by botanist
Moises Santigo Bertoni. He "discovered" stevia after seeing it used by Guarani
natives, and his studies showed that stevia is 200-400 times sweeter than sugar
(sucrose) without the negative health effects.
In the early 1900's stevia was being widely used throughout
Paraguay, and had earned the attention of other countries. By 1941 it was being
grown in Britain as a sweetener to combat the shortages brought on by the Second
World War. In the mid 1950's Japan started growing stevia, and by the 1970's
after extensive studies Japan began marketing it as an alternative to aspartame.
Today, health conscious Japan is one of the world's largest users of stevia. It
is used in gum, diet soda and in a large multitude of other products.
Is sugar bad for our health?
Refined sugar gets
called “white death” for a reason: it’s one of the worst things we can do for
our immune system, weight, and total health. Are you addicted to it?
"If it’s white, it’s killing you," has become the rallying cry of many holistic
doctors when it comes to the dangerous impact of sugar on health. It may be
overly simplistic, but the statement does sum up the situation when it comes to
sugar and its impact. Not all sugars are unhealthy; certain sugars have minimal
or no negative impact, and remarkable
health benefits. But refined white sugar, the table sugar that most people
use every day, is harmful, even in small amounts.
White sugar suppresses the immune system. It has been shown to decrease the
vitality and number of white blood cells, the body’s immune response to invaders.
Sugar also depresses the body’s energy field and makes your blood more acidic,
both of which result in vulnerability to toxins, bacteria and viruses. Sugar
feeds bacteria like candida and yeast infections.
Refined sugar is an extremely
high glycemic food; it hits your bloodstream hard and can have severe impact
on blood sugar, insulin levels, digestive enzyme count, weight, and the pancreas.
Taken from Victoria Anisman-Reiner's article "Sugars: The Good, the Bad and the
Ugly." Read more on
http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/sugars__the_good
Sugar to
Stevia Conversion
|
Sugar |
Granulated
Artificial Sweeteners |
Krisda* (Packets) |
Krisda*
Crystals |
Clear Stevia
Liquid (Stevia diluted in water) |
Pure
Steviosides (S100X) |
|
2 tsp. |
2 tsp. |
1 packet |
1 tsp. |
1/4 tsp. |
tip of a knife |
|
1/4 cup |
1/4 cup |
6 packets |
1/8 cup |
1/2 tsp. |
a pinch |
|
1/3 cup |
1/3 cup |
8 packets |
1/6 cup |
3/4 tsp. |
1/8 tsp. |
|
1/2 cup |
1/2 cup |
11 packets |
1/4 cup |
1 1/4 tsp. |
1/6 tsp. |
|
3/4 cup |
3/4 cup |
17 packets |
12 tbs. |
1 3/4 tsp. |
1/4 tsp. |
|
1 cup |
1 cup |
22 packets |
1/2 cup |
2 1/2 tsp. |
1/2 tsp. |
|
2 cups |
2 cups |
44 packets |
1 cup |
5 1/4 tsp. |
1 tsp. |
Comparing
costs :
Although stevia is more expensive than table sugar, we have to compare it to
other Low-Calorie Sweeteners. Considering that a fraction of a teaspoon equals a
full teaspoon of sugar, stevia is thus very advantageous compared to other
sweeteners. But of course that is only one of the advantages.
Comparison with artificial sweeteners: Equivalence factor= 1 cup of sugar
(25 g sweetener)
|
Aspartame (NutraSweet) 5.59 /
100g |
1.40$ |
|
Sucralose (Splenda) 5.99 / 110g |
1.37$ |
|
Cyclamate (SugarTwin) 2.99 / 80g |
0.94$ |
|
Stevia extract 100 x 12.45$ /
40g (1 t.sp = 1 cup) |
0.16$ |
Other links :
http://res2.agr.ca/London/faq/stevia_e.htm (gov. of Canada)
http://www.arc.ab.ca/Index.aspx/ARC/2485 (gov.
of Alberta)
http://www.freestevia.de/was_ist_stevia/franz.htm
http://www.iirhb.org/fr/nutrithe/stevia.htm
http://www.greenfacts.org/fr/aspartame/niveau-1.htm defending
aspartame
http://www.sweetpoison.com/
http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/stevia.asp
http://www.holisticmed.com/sweet/
http://www.earthrainbownetwork.com/NancyMarkleFR.htm
http://www.wnho.net/bio-bmartini.htm
http://www.mindgallery.com/hiddenroom/aspartameMartini.html
http://www.mercola.com/article/sugar/dangers_of_sugar.htm#
http://www.nancyappleton.com/pages/damages.html
http://www.aromalves.com/article.php3?id_article=294 sugar
http://www.truthaboutsplenda.com/
Books :
Sugar Blues by William Dufty
| The Stevia Story by Linda
Bonvie, Bill Bonvie, and Donna Gates
|
Sugar-Free Cooking With Stevia:
The Naturally Sweet & Calorie-Free Herb (Revised 3rd Edition)
by James Kirkland
Many more can be
found on Amazon
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What
is Stevia
