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Stevia is an all-natural sweetener used as a sugar substitute.
Stevia can now be found in most major supermarkets in liquid or powdered form, but you won't find it lined up beside the Splenda or sugar. Check the fitness foods aisle near all the protein bars and health foods.
You can also order stevia online at dozens of websites. Just remember it is super sweet and only a tiny bit is needed to hit that sweet tooth.
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Stevia Rebaudiana is an herb in the chrysanthemum family that grows wild as a small shrub in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. The glycosides in its leaves, including up to 10% Stevioside, account for its incredible sweetness, making it unique among the nearly 300 species of Stevia plants.
There are indications that Stevia (or Ca-he-he) has been used to sweeten a native beverage called mate since pre-Columbian times. However, a Natural Scientist named Antonio Bertoni first recorded its usage by native tribes in 1887.
The crude Stevia leaves and herbal powder (green) are reported to be 10-15 times sweeter than table sugar. The refined extracts of Stevia called steviosides (a white powder, 85-95% Steviosides) are claimed to be 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar.
Two tests conducted by Purdue University's Dental Science Research Group have concluded that Stevioside is both fluoride compatible and "significantly" inhibits the development of plaque, thus Stevia may actually help to prevent cavities.
Stevia extracts are considered to be non-caloric.
Side effects from the use of stevia are unknown.
The FDA's position on Stevia is somewhat ambiguous. In 1991, citing a preliminary mutagenicity study, the FDA issued an import alert which effectively blocked the importation and sale of Stevia in this country. Ironically, this was the year that a follow-up study found flaws in the first study and seriously questioned its results.
In September of 1995, the FDA revised its import alert to allow Stevia and its extracts to be imported as a food supplement but not as a sweetener. Yet, it defines Stevia as an unapproved food additive, not affirmed as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) in the United States. The following is a portion of this revised alert:
"If Stevia is to be used in a dietary supplement for a technical effect, such as use as a sweetener or flavoring agent, and is labeled as such, it is considered an unsafe food additive. However, in the absence of labeling specifying that stevia is being or will be used for technical effect, use of stevia as a dietary ingredient in a dietary supplement is not subject to the food additive provisions of FD&C Act."
Update! Recipes for stevia cooking and baking can be found at http://www.cookingwithstevia.com.
If you find any other sites with great recipes for stevia, let us know! |
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