The Stevia Plant: Sugar Substitute or Medicial Plant?

1. The Stevia Plant: Sugar Substitute or Medicial Plant?

2. About The Stevia Plant • Scientific name: Steviarebaudiana • Genus: Asteraceae • Also referred to as sweet leaf, sugarleaf or sugar plant • Native to the tropical and subtropical South America. • Today the stevia plant is mass cultivated all over the world. • Stevia is a perennial variety that thrives well in soils having proper drainage systems. It grows like a shrub, reaching to a height of about four feet. For mass cultivation, stevia seeds are sown after frosting is over. These stevia plantlets grow better in soil temperatures of about 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. • Possesses natural insect repelling characteristics, especially due to the excess sugar content. • Commercially, stevia leaves are employed for obtaining extracts. In order to extract stevia, the leaves are harvested during cold climates (prior to frost), so that more sugar is accumulated in the leaves. The harvested stevia leaves are sun-dried first in specific conditions with proper air circulation. Dried stevia leaves are then processed for extraction of the liquid extracts. These extracts of the stevia plant are about 300 times more sweet than that of normal table sugar. • Presently, the FDA will only allow stevia products to be distributed as a dietary supplement. Despite sweeping toxicology tests and widespread global use without incidence of adverse reaction, stevia has yet to be approved as a food source by the FDA. They rejected two comprehensive petitions submitted in the 1990s, citing insufficient proof of stevia's safety. Paradoxically, the FDA-approved sweetener, aspartame, receives one of the highest number of consumer complaints made to the FDA. Consequently, because of this ruling, stevia is sold only in the nutritional supplement section in health food stores.

3. Traditional Stevia Uses • Stevia Sweeteners Stevia sweeteners are available commercially in the market under different brand names. As these stevia sweeteners are low in glycemic and calorie contents (nearly zero calorie), they are healthy alternatives to sugar and other artificial sweeteners. They are also used in preparation of processed foods like ice-cream, sweet drinks and other food items. • Stevia Tea Leaves Fresh stevia leaves, in their natural state, can be directly used for making tea and coffee. However, fresh leaves are required in sufficiently larger amounts than dried stevia powder or liquid extract in order to get the desired sweet taste. Also, usage of fresh stevia leaves imparts an earthy taste to the tea or coffee. • Homemade Stevia Extract and Powder For those people who grow stevia plants, the leaves can be used for preparation of stevia extract and stevia powder, both of which can be used in various recipes. Liquid stevia extract is prepared by adding hot water in ground stevia leaves, while stevia powder is made by grinding dried stevia leaves in a food processor.

4. Other Stevia Uses and Their Claims • Stevia for Diabetics For diabetics and other people who are very concerned about the sugar intake, stevia plant is a healthy sweetening agent. In contrary to table sugar, stevia does not affect or raise the blood sugar level. Hence, diabetics can consume sweet beverages and food items like tea, coffee, cakes and cookies, that are prepared by using extracts of stevia. • Steviafor Dental Care Though the stevia plant tastes sweet, it does not cause cavities, rather it helps in improving dental health, treating bleeding gums and other teeth problems. Hence, people who regularly use stevia-based mouthwash and toothpaste for dental care hardly have gum and teeth problems. • Steviafor Skin and Hair Care As stevia plants are enriched with various beneficial nutrients for the skin and hair, they can be incorporated in the routine skin car andhair care practices. You can notice improvement of the skin and hair after using stevia plants or reliable stevia based products. The anti-microbial action of stevia plants also aid in reducing skin infections. • Stevia for Wound Healing Since stevia has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, application of fresh leaves or extracts of stevia plants helps in quick healing of cuts and wounds. It is also observed that usage of stevia prevents scaring of the wounded site. However, make sure that the leaves are washed thoroughly before applying them to the cuts and wounds • Other Stevia Plant Uses As the stevia plant contains zero calorie, it aids in effective weight control and management. Some of the other important stevia plant uses are promoting mental activity, increasing energy levels, and treatment of hypoglycemia, mouth sores, food poisoning, and digestion problems. Medical researchers also claim that stevia plants can be used for combating high blood pressure (Hypertension) and obesity related health complications.

5. Stevia Claimed Health Benefits • It is estimated that over 500 scientific studies have been performed on stevia. Many scientists have reported numerous health benefits to adding stevia to the daily diet. • Scientific research indicates that stevia effectively regulates blood sugar in people with diabetes and hypoglycemia, bringing it toward more normal levels. • Studies have indicated that stevia tends to lower elevated blood pressure while not affecting people with normal blood pressure. • Steviainhibits the growth and reproduction of oral bacteria and other infectious organisms. Regular users of stevia as a mouthwash or for brushing teeth
(added to toothpaste) have reported an improvement to bleeding gum problems. This inhibition of oral bacteria may explain why users of stevia-enhanced products
report a lower incidence of colds and flu. Subsequently, an increasing number of toothpaste manufacturers are now using stevia in their products. • When applied externally stevia poultices and extracts have been observed to have therapeutic effect on acne, seborrhea, dermatitis and eczema. Extracts placed
directly in cuts and wounds, have demonstrated rapidly healing without scarring. • Other benefits of adding stevia to the daily diet include improved digestion and soothed upset stomachs. • Steviais also an exceptional aid in weight loss management because it contains no calories and reduces the craving for sweets and fatty foods.

6. Stevia Research • Hypoglycemic Action (Diabetes Treatment) It is believed that the presence of the steviosides themselves that has produced dozens of empirical and semi controlled reports of hypoglycemic action. Paraguayans say that stevia is helpful for hypoglycemia and diabetes because it nourishes the pancreas and thereby helps to restore normal pancreatic function. In semi-controlled clinical reports one also encounters this action. A 35.2 per cent fall in normal blood sugar levels after 6-8 hours was reported following the ingestion of a Stevia leaf extract. Other workers has reported similar trends in humans and experimental animals. These kind of results have led physicians in Paraguay to prescribe Stevia leaf tea in the treatment of diabetes; similarly, in Brazil, Stevia tea and Stevia capsules are officially approved for sale for the treatment of diabetes. However, it is important to note that Stevia does not lower blood glucose levels in normal subjects. In one study, rats were fed crude extracts of Stevia leaves for 56 days at a rate of 0.5 to 1.0 gram extract per day. Neither group observed a hypoglycemic action. The experimental research on the effects of stevia on blood sugar levels in human patients with diabetes and hypoglycemia is in progress in many countries. The general feeling in the scientific community is that the mild acting nature of the plant and its total lack of toxic side effects obviate the need for extensive and expensive research program.

7. Stevia Research Continued… • Antimicrobial Action Stevia is known to possess the ability to inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria and other infectious organisms. This is important in at least two respects. First, it may help explain why users of stevia-enhanced products report a lower incidence of colds and cough, and second, it has fostered the invention of a number of mouthwash and toothpaste products. Research clearly shows that Streptococcus mutants, Pseudomonas aeruginos, Proteus vulgarisand other microbes do not thrive in the presence of the non-nutritive Stevia constituents. This fact, combined with the naturally sweet flavour of the herb, makes it a suitable ingredient for mouthwashes and for toothpastes. Stevia has even been shown to lower the incidence of dental caries. In India, toothpaste using Stevia and Aloe vera has been commercialized. • Effects on the Skin One of the properties of a liquid extract of stevia that has not yet been investigated experimentally is its apparent ability to help clear up skin problems. The Guarani and other people who have become familiar with stevia report that it is effective when applied to acne, seborrhea, dermatitis, eczema, etc. when placed directly on cuts and wounds, more rapid healing, without scarring, is observed. This treatment may sting for a few seconds, but a significant lowering of pain follows this. Smoother skin, softer to the touch is claimed to result from the frequent application of stevia poultices and extracts.

8. Stevia Research Continued… • Cardiovascular Action • A good deal of experimental work has been done on the effects of Stevia and stevioside on cardiovascular functioning in man and animals. Some of this work was simply looking for possible toxicity, while some was investigating possible therapeutic action. In neither case have significant properties been found. There is almost always a slight lowering of arterial blood pressure at low and normal doses, changing to a slight rise in arterial pressure at very high doses. The long-term use of stevia would probably have a cardio tonic action, that is, it would produce a mild strengthening of the heart and vascular system. Digestive Tonic Action In the literature of Brazil, stevia ranks high among the list of plants used for centuries by the "gauchos" of the southern plains to flavor the bitter medicinal preparations used by that nomadic culture. For example, it was widely used in their "mate" herbal tea. Through much experimentation, these people learned that Stevia made a significant contribution to improved digestion, and that it improved overall gastrointestinal function. Likewise, since its introduction in China, Stevia tea made in either hot or cold water, is used as a low calorie, sweet-tasting tea, as an appetite stimulant, as a digestive aid, as an aid to weight management, and even for staying young. Anti-Hypertensive A 1-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 106 individuals with high blood pressure evaluated the potential benefits of stevia for reducing blood pressure.4 In the treated group, the average blood pressure at the beginning of the study was about 166/102. By the end of the study, this had fallen to 153/90, a substantial if not quite adequate improvement. In contrast, no significant reductions were seen in the placebo group.

9. Conclusions • The stevia plant is both a sugar substitute and a medicinal plant. • Through the research done, and with the lack of evidence of any safety issues, I believe that the stevia plant has medicinal properties that can lead to overall general health. • Concerns: • Only FDA approved as a supplement • A lot of the research has been done in South America where the plant originates from, not in the USA. • As with any supplement take in moderation

10. References • http://www.happystomach.com/stevia.htm • http://www.agricultureinformation.com/forums/stevia/8089-medicinal-properties-stevia.html • https://epi.aecom.yu.edu/studies/CCA/Newsletters/PDF%20FILES/Stevia.pdf • http://ijib.classicrus.com/IJIB/Arch/2008/1036.pdf • http://www.buzzle.com/articles/stevia-plant-uses.html • http://www.springerlink.com/content/t570x03426394277/fulltext.pdf