Stevia: More than just a sweetener

Stevia is a shrub that is indigenous to South America and that has been used as a sweetener and sugar substitute throughout the world. There are many different species of stevia with varying degrees of sweetness. The sweetest stevia is said to be native of Paraguay, where the indigenous have been using stevia leaf to sweeten yerba mate tea for hundreds of years. Europeans became aware of stevia after Spanish conquistadores sent word of it
to Spain in the 1500’s. It became of European interest in the early 1900’s after a Brazilian researcher analyzed stevia’s components and published reports on it. During World War II, England began using it more widely due to a sugar shortage. Japan began cultivating it in the 1950’s, and commercial sales of stevia began there during the 1970’s. Today, Japan has the highest consumption of stevia, with it accounting for over 50% of the sweetener industry. While stevia is known most for its natural sweetness, it has received more attention by researchers for its ability to fight diabetes, high blood pressure, and infections and to prevent cavities.

Early validation of stevia’s hypotensive properties came as a result of trials conducted during the late 1970’s on rats. During these trials, stevia was shown to have the ability to normalize blood pressure in hypertensive rats and to regulate heart beat. In 1991, Brazilian scientists recorded lowered blood pressure in rats. In 2000, a Chinese clinical study conducted on over 100 hypertensive women reported lowered systolic and diastolic rates for the women for a whole year. In this study, subjects were given 250 mg of stevia leaf three times per day.

South American and European researchers also confirmed stevia’s hypoglycemic properties. In 2000, researchers from Denmark noted the ability of stevia to stimulate insulin secretion. Brazilian researchers reported significantly reduced blood glucose levels in all human subjects who consumed stevia leaf extract. In another human trial, blood sugar was reduced by 35% after 6 – 8 hours of oral ingestion of the leaf extract. Other stevia research has uncovered antibacterial, antiviral, and  antifungal properties. A water extract of the leaves was shown to prevent dental cavities by inhibiting growth of the bacteria that stimulates plaque formation. In addition, stevia has been reported to widen blood vessels and be
effective against skin diseases that are the result of microbial and circulatory problems. It has also been shown to be a good digestive aid that reduces gas and stomach acidity and as an aid in healing wounds more quickly. As a sweetener, stevia has been of great interest because it has no calories and has been reported to lessen cravings for sweet and fatty foods. Some have reported weight loss as a result of consuming stevia on a regular basis, and medical research has confirmed stevia’s efficacy in the battle against obesity. Stevia’s health benefit as a food has been acknowledged in countries such as Japan and Brazil. Nevertheless, while stevia is widely used in Japan and other countries as a food additive, it is banned for use as a food additive in the United States.

In 1991, the Food and Drug Administration banned stevia, but lifted the ban in 1995 after much lobbying by the American Herbal Products Association. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, stevia can be sold as a dietary supplement. The United States Food and Drug Administration considers stevia unsafe as a food additive, even though research and clinical trials have shown no toxicity in stevia.

Large corporations such as the Coca-Cola Company, that use artificial sweeteners in their United States products, use stevia in some of its overseas products. Coca-Cola is developing a stevia-based sweetener under the name Rebiana with the intent of marketing it in several countries and gaining regulatory approval in the United States and the European Union by 2009 for its use as a food additive. While there are many benefits to using stevia in food, stevia’s properties also make it a great ingredient for natural personal care products. Adding stevia to toothpaste or mixing a few drops in water and using it as a mouthwash can result in improved oral health. Using the dark liquid extract of stevia in facial masks to tighten skin and combat wrinkles or applying drops of stevia concentrate to blemishes and lip sores can result in improved skin health. Topical application of stevia to skin may help alleviate skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema and applying stevia to scrapes, cuts, and wounds may accelerate healing. Also, adding stevia concentrate to shampoos can help eliminate dandruff, improve scalp health and help retain the natural color of hair. More than a just a sweetener, stevia is another herb that may play an effective role in naturally maintaining cardiovascular, oral, and pancreatic health.

Deirdre DeVane is the founder of Perpetual Chi, a company now building an online repository of studies and peer-reviewed research articles on the benefits of plant-based diets and the efficacy of plant-based and other natural healing modalities. For more information on herbs from the Amazon call 678-642-8615 or 888-300-3507 ext. 801. Or visit online at perpetualchi. amazon-herb.net.