The problem of combating excess weight worries many people around the world and is moving from the category of an aesthetic defect to a serious disease requiring medical intervention. One of the means of dealing with the unfortunate kilograms is the use of the drug "Stevia" instead of regular sugar.

Why is sugar bad and how can it be replaced?

Scientists agree that sugar can destroy the human body and causes many dangerous diseases, including diabetes, metabolic disorders and, as a result, obesity. The average daily intake of sugar per person is no more than 50 grams, taking into account all sources - tea, juices, sweets, muffins, chocolate and the like. Unfortunately, people are so addicted to sweets that they violate this norm several times. In Russia, the average consumption of this product per person exceeds 90 grams, and in the USA - over 150 grams. As a result of exposure to sugar, there is a violation of the functions of the insular apparatus of the pancreas. In addition, sucrose destroys connective tissues, bones, teeth, blood vessels in the human body, which leads to the appearance of such diseases as caries, heart attack, hypertension, stroke, hyperglycemia. Since this substance belongs to carbohydrates, when splitting, it turns into fat, and with its excess, subcutaneous deposits are formed. The peculiarity of this product lies in the fact that it becomes a kind of drug for people, since when it is used, hormones of joy are produced - endorphins, and you want sweets again and again. That is why people began to look for a way out of the situation and develop substances that would replace this product. A sweetener based on stevia was also developed.

What is "stevia"?

"Stevia" (sweetener) is a natural sweetener that is extracted from honey grass. This plant was originally discovered in Paraguay, but today it is grown in many countries around the world. "Stevia" is much sweeter than regular sugar, but has almost zero calorie content, so it is actively used as a means to combat excess weight. The advantage of this product is that it tastes very pleasant unlike other sweeteners. Today, "Stevia" has already become an integral part of the diet for diabetics, as it allows you to normalize body weight and promotes the production of insulin. This sweetener is considered one of the best in the world, as it is healthy and is made only from natural ingredients. Due to the ubiquity of this product, the question of where to buy the Stevia sweetener does not arise for anyone, since it is commercially available in almost any retail store.

The composition of the drug

"Stevia" (sugar substitute) is made from a perennial herbaceous plant, which has been known for more than 1.5 thousand years. Honey grass grows in bushes, each of which collects up to 1200 leaves. It is the leaves that are of particular value. Stevia grows naturally in the northeastern part of Paraguay, but after the discovery of its unique properties, it began to be grown on an industrial scale in many countries of the world with a favorable climate (China, Korea, Japan, USA, Ukraine, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel) on special plantations. China is the largest exporter of this herb. Stevia is 10-15 times sweeter than sucrose. This is due to its unusual composition, which includes diterpene glycosides, including stevioside, rebuadiosides. These substances have a persistent sweet taste that lasts much longer than that of sucrose. In addition, they have an antibacterial effect. The sweetener is extracted from the leaves of honey grass by extraction, resulting in a suitable for use in the form of Stevia powder (sweetener). Photos allow you to see what the plant looks like before and after processing.

Therapeutic effect

"Stevia" (sugar substitute) contains saponins, which cause a slight foaming effect and have increased surface activity, therefore it is widely used as an expectorant for the treatment of diseases of the lungs and bronchi. This drug improves digestion, as it enhances the secretion of glands. It is used as a diuretic. Stevia improves the condition of the skin surface, increasing its elasticity, which is why it is widely used to treat skin diseases. The tool helps to relieve swelling, has an anti-inflammatory effect, improves the process of assimilation of substances in the body. Thanks to the flavonoids contained in the honey grass, which are strong antioxidants, the immune system is activated. In addition, Stevia strengthens the walls of blood vessels, capillaries, normalizes cholesterol levels in the blood, breaks down fatty plaques and blood clots. The drug contains more than 53 different essential oils that suppress viruses, pathogens, have an anti-inflammatory effect, tone up the work of the gallbladder, stomach, liver, and intestines.

Beneficial features

"Stevia" (sugar substitute) has the following unique properties that distinguish this drug from the total mass of other sweeteners:

• 150-300 times sweeter than regular sugar;
• has zero calories;
• is not a favorable environment (unlike traditional sugar) for the development of bacteria, but, on the contrary, causes an antibacterial effect;
• normalizes blood glucose levels;
• dissolves well in water;
• a small dosage is required due to the high level of sweetness;
• widely used in cooking, as it is not exposed to high temperatures, acids and alkalis;
• sweetener is safe for human health. This fact was tested by the Guarani tribe over a 1000-year history of using the plant;
• is an exclusively natural product.

Indications

• patients with diabetes;
• people suffering from overweight and obesity;
• people with high blood sugar;
• for the treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, including ulcers, gastritis, a decrease in the level of enzyme production;
• for the treatment of viral and infectious diseases;
• with a high level of cholesterol in the blood;
• to activate the body's immune forces;
• with allergic reactions, dermatitis and other skin diseases;
• in diseases of the kidneys, thyroid and pancreas.

For those who are interested in where to buy the Stevia sweetener, it is important to know that the drug can be found in many places today. So, it is sold in retail stores, pharmacies, retail chains of health products, dietary supplements, vitamins.

Sweetener "Stevia": contraindications

Stevia, like any other sweetener, has a number of contraindications. Therefore, keep in mind the following information:

• before using the drug, you should consult with your doctor about the presence of individual intolerance to its individual components;
• Since "Stevia" lowers blood pressure, strong jumps can be observed with excessive doses. Therefore, it is better to refuse the use of a sweetener for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases and problems with blood pressure;
• with a low content of glucose in the blood with excessive use of Stevia, a hypoglycemic state can be observed.

To avoid harm to health, it is important to adhere to a strict dosage.

Stevia for weight loss

Millions of people around the world are overweight, the cause of which is improper and unhealthy nutrition - the abuse of too sweet, fatty and heavy foods. Therefore, this problem is taking on a global scale. Sweetener "Stevia" in tablets is used by those people who thus seek to give up the use of sugar, leading to the accumulation of body fat. When using sweeteners, people do not feel disadvantaged in sweets, but at the same time, the calorie content of dishes is significantly reduced, since Stevia contains almost 0 kcal. The peculiarity of the product lies in the fact that the substances contained in its composition are much sweeter than sugar, so a small dosage is required, and besides, they are not absorbed in the intestines, which only benefits the figure. However, it is worth noting that the side effects of Stevia are not yet fully understood, so you should not get too carried away with the use and exceed the dosage in order to avoid unforeseen consequences. The sweetener can not only be added to tea or coffee, but also used in cooking.

Application for diabetic patients

According to the results of a study by a Moscow laboratory, the natural sweetener "Stevia" with constant use reduces the level of glucose and cholesterol in the blood. In addition, this product improves the functioning of the liver, pancreas and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. The drug can be used in the treatment of diseases of the joints, in which it is required to exclude the use of sugar. Honey grass serves as a means of preventing the development of hypoglycemic conditions that occur with diabetes mellitus. It can be used for diseases of the heart, skin, teeth, disorders of the digestive tract, atherosclerosis. The sweetener stimulates the adrenal medulla and, with regular use, increases the quality and standard of living. According to research, Paraguayans who used stevia instead of sugar do not have such diseases as overweight and diabetes. According to statistics, each Paraguayan eats about ten kilograms of honey grass per year.

How to take Stevia and what is the dosage?

Sweetener with stevia is sold in various forms - dry leaves, tablets, liquid, tea bags. Dry leaves are brewed into tea. The dosage is 0.5 grams per 1 kilogram of body weight. 0.015 grams of stevia in liquid form replaces one sugar cube. When using stevia in tablet form, it is enough to dissolve one piece in 1 glass of drink.

Side effects

The conducted studies made it possible to establish that when taking the natural sweetener "Stevia" there are no side effects and negative effects on the human body, provided that the dosage is observed, even with prolonged use, unlike synthetic sweeteners. If the dosage is violated, palpitations may also occur. It is not recommended to use a sweetener for diabetics in conjunction with additional drugs to reduce sugar levels.

Sweetener "Stevia": harm or benefit?

There is a lot of controversy in the world community about replacing ordinary sweets with stevia. Opponents of Stevia argue that for the stevioside that is part of the sweetener, the human body does not have enzymes for splitting, so it removes the substance unchanged. In the intestine, this element breaks down into steviol and glucose. It is believed that steviol in its properties is similar to that, therefore, it can cause hormonal imbalances and reduce sexual activity. However, studies conducted on chickens that were given a stevia solution at a concentration of 5 grams per 100 milliliters instead of water showed that the sweetener does not cause reproductive dysfunction. And also those consumers who have already tried the Stevia sweetener agree with this. Reviews about him confirm that there are no violations in the sexual sphere.

Customer opinion

Those who have already used a sweetener leave ambiguous. So, some buyers note that the drug has a pleasant taste. Others claim that it can be slightly bitter, which is not common after drinking regular sugar. Consumers use "Stevia" not only as an additive to drinks, but also used in home preparations for the winter, in baking, making jam. However, there are difficulties with the correct dosage, you have to use the table for a more accurate calculation.

The stevia herb is also known as "honey herb". Both leaves and stems of the plant have a pronounced sweetness. On the basis of stevia, a natural sweetener is prepared, given that the green mass is 300 times sweeter than regular sugar.

Under production conditions, a sugar substitute is prepared in the form of a powder of dried leaves, a bleached granular Stevioside preparation, or a liquid extract. To know exactly how much stevia to use instead of sugar in your usual recipes, we suggest you read the table.

Syrup and liquid extract can be prepared from both fresh leaves and dried raw materials.

Stevia is a very thermophilic perennial plant. It can be grown in your garden by seedlings. At the same time, stevia must be dug up for the winter and determined in a cool place indoors. It is desirable to collect fresh herbs during the flowering period. At this time, the foliage synthesizes such sweet glycosides as stevioside and rebaudioside with maximum power. Before use, the stevia is washed, dried on napkins, and then cut randomly.

If it is not possible to grow stevia on your own, then dried raw materials can also be used to prepare a natural sweetener. Dried stevia herb or powdered stevia can be purchased at drugstore chains or stores specializing in the sale of herbs.

Preparing Liquid Stevia Extract

On vodka

The most popular is the method of preparing an extract from stevia using ethyl alcohol. This is due to the fact that alcohol draws sweetness from the leaves better than water, and the finished product can be stored longer.

To prepare the extract, take one liter of vodka and greens. If fresh grass is used, then it will need one bunch, weighing approximately 300 grams. A dried product for a given volume of liquid requires 150 grams.

Stevia is placed in a clean glass container and filled with vodka. In order for the herb to be evenly distributed in the liquid, the jar is shaken several times. From above, the container is tightly closed with a lid and removed in a dark place for two days. Exceeding the steeping time can make the extract bitter. After the allotted time, the infusion is filtered through several layers of gauze.

It remains to get rid of alcohol. To do this, the finished extract is poured into a saucepan and heated over low heat for a quarter of an hour. An important condition: the mass should not boil!

During the “evaporation” procedure, the extract may slightly change color and thicken. Precipitation is also quite normal. Before packing the liquid into bottles, it is filtered again.

Store the finished product in the refrigerator for six months.

On the water

This option is less popular, but also has a right to exist. To prepare a water extract, you can also use dry grass or chopped fresh leaves.

For 1 liter of liquid, you need 100 grams of dry leaves or 250 grams of fresh stevia. The raw material is poured with boiling water, loosely covered with a lid and left to infuse at room temperature for a day.

The finished extract is filtered and poured into clean storage containers. Such an extract is stored for a relatively short time. It must be used within 10 days.

Halle Cottis will show you how to make liquid stevia extract yourself in this video.

How to make stevia syrup

The syrup, in comparison with the liquid extract, can be stored as long as possible - up to 1.5 years. This does not require special conditions: even at room temperature, stevia syrup retains all its properties.

Any liquid extract is used to make syrup. It does not matter in what way the glycosides were extracted, alcohol or water.

The sweet extract is poured into an enamel pan and put on a minimum fire. The main goal is to evaporate the liquid without letting it boil. To do this, the container with the products must be constantly monitored. The total evaporation time is from 4 to 6 hours. As soon as the syrup begins to flow smoothly from the spoon in a thin stream, the fire is turned off, and the finished product is bottled.

There are several stages that we all go through when trying to give up sweets, when we realize all the destructive consequences of carbohydrates that come in excess - or when we simply come to understand that any rational diet is based on limiting sugars, and even more so concentrated sugars and refined.

At first it seems like a good idea to replace sugar with fructose. (actually - terrible, see the tag "harm of fructose").
Then there is the impression that there is a whole range of natural syrups and nectars that are more useful than sugar - agave, Jerusalem artichoke, maple syrup. A little later, it becomes clear that these liquid sweeteners are also, in fact, "fructose" and, therefore, among other things, put a heavy load on the liver and continue to feed sugar addiction - in any case, these are concentrated sugars...

Then, at some point, we all learn about the wonderful non-carbohydrate sweetener, the herb stevia.

It turns out that stevia has its own slight aftertaste, but it has no carbohydrates at all. (and besides, it has some suppressive effect on fungi of the genus Candida, and the growth of this culture is most of all provided by just carbohydrates - flour and sugar. And on the other hand, the more this culture grows in the tissues of the body, the more we feel the need for sweet).

So, the natural and carbohydrate-free option available in stores is one: stevia. But it turns out that this knowledge is still not enough, and just about the nuances of the production of sweeteners from stevia, I want to say a few words.

Stevia is now sold in most stores, and even more so in health food stores - in the form of crushed leaves, white extract powder or the same powder in tablets, or in the form of a liquid tincture.
Some manufacturers are cunning: the cover says “natural stevia” - but in the composition on the back you can also find ingredients that have undergone strong industrial processing, such as maltodextrin (this is a sugar that softens the taste of the extract and prevents the powders from clumping). The white stevia powder itself is a product of complex processing, and in addition, it is bleached using chemicals.

The liquid extract is the most convenient: it is both sweeter than the leaves (more concentrated), and it is convenient to use in pastries and drinks, for other needs. But honestly, we don’t know how it is produced in the purchased version - the shelf life is so long that it raises questions.

For that, we know how easy and simple it is to make a similar one at home!

So, liquid stevia extract:

1) dry the stevia leaves in the oven or dehydrator (or use dried purchased raw materials)
2) it is advisable to use a jar with a tight lid, with a volume of 250-300 ml: fill it with leaves, pour good vodka
3) withstand the day, decant the leaves
4) evaporate alcohol by heating: 20-30 minutes over low heat, without bringing to a boil
5) it is more convenient to pour the infusion into a bottle with a pipette - and you can store it in the refrigerator for up to three months

PS If you don’t have stevia on hand and you have to choose between honey and different types of sugar, you probably want to try using “coconut sugar” (coconut palm sugar) - its processing comes down to evaporating the juice of coconut palms. They write that this sugar is rich in amino acids, and it has 30 times more phosphorus, 20 times more potassium, magnesium and iron, 10 times more zinc than brown sugar.

However, similar figures can often be found in relation to honey, Jerusalem artichoke syrup, maple syrup, agave nectar... insignificant.



Stevia ("honey grass") is that rare sweetener that you can safely replace sugar if you decide to lose weight or just lead a healthy lifestyle.

Stevia has zero calories and a very low glycemic index (an indicator of the effect on blood glucose levels).

Stevia is not only safe (this was confirmed in 2006 by the World Health Organization), but also useful.


Stevia slows down the aging process in cells, has an antiseptic and antifungal effect on the body, and normalizes the work of the nervous, cardiovascular and digestive systems.

NOW releases 6 varieties of stevia. They differ in the form of release, additional ingredients and, of course, the price. In parentheses, I have indicated the price based on 30 servings.

LIQUID ON GLYCERIN

60 ml - 375 servings - $6.06 (0.48)
237 ml - 1,481 servings - $17.54 (0.36)


PACKAGED WITH MALTODEXTRIN

Outwardly, this option can be distinguished by the beige / yellow-orange box design.

45 sachets/servings - $3.23 (2.15)
75 sachets/servings "French Vanilla" flavor - $6.74 (2.70)
100 sachets/servings - $6.06 (1.82)

What can confuse in glycerin, alcohol, maltodextrin? For a healthy person, these components are not dangerous.

But for patients with diabetes - theoretically they can. Because they have a high glycemic index. But the amount of these substances in a serving is so negligible that - it seems to me - their presence can be safely neglected.

This idea is also confirmed by the fact that Eicherb has special dietary supplements for diabetics, where glycerin and maltodextrin, just like in stevia, are additional ingredients of drugs. But if you still don’t like their presence, pay attention to three other stevia options.


INULIN PACKAGED

Boxes with this stevia are decorated in a turquoise/blue design.

35 sachets/servings - $3.23 (2.77)
75 sachets/servings - $6.06 (2.42)
100 sachets/portions (an interesting variety with chromium and inulin in the composition - Better Stevia balance) -$7.41 (2.22)

POWDER IN A JAR

28g - 622 servings - $6.06 (0.29)
113g - 2,511 servings - $20.24 (0.24)
454g - 10,088 servings - $68.39 (0.20)

It is the purest (contains no other ingredients) and most economical stevia.




STEVIA TABLETS

THEREFORE, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WHICH STEVIA IS THE MOST PROFITABLE, SHOULD SOUND LIKE THIS:

1st place (the most profitable) - Stevia powder in a jar. The larger the jar, the better.

2nd place - liquid stevia (alcohol is cheaper than glycerin).

3rd place - stevia tablets.

4th place - packaged stevia.

WHICH STEVIA IS THE MOST CONVENIENT TO USE?

My favorite is liquid stevia. Before use, shake the bottle and - by pressing on the soft plastic walls -squeeze out a few drops. It is the liquid version that is most convenient to take on the road. Because in bags - which, it seems, are intended for travel - stevia is too much for me at one time. Half of it remains, you have to wrap the edge of the bag and make sure that the powder does not spill out of it. In addition, it is liquid stevia that is more convenient to add to cold food - it dissolves best.

WHICH STEVIA IS THE MOST DELICIOUS?

It is clear that the question of taste is an individual matter. All of the options seem about the same to me. In any case, you will have to get used to stevia at first. At first, its sweetness may seem as if separated from the taste of the drink itself.

Just in case, I remind you that the benefits of fructose, honey, cane sugar and other supposedly safe alternatives to sugar are in fact nothing more than a myth.

Stevia (otherwise - honey grass) is not without reason becoming more and more popular lately. After all, this is not only a worthy, but also a much more useful replacement for the usual and far from harmless sugar. In cases where a low-calorie and low-carbohydrate diet is required, this natural sweetener is simply indispensable. Of the wide range of sweeteners produced from honey grass, liquid stevia is a very convenient option to use.


A few words about the benefits of stevia

In addition to the phenomenal (30 times higher than that of sugar) sweetness, honey grass has many more useful and necessary substances for the human body. There are about fifty of them in total: these are vitamins, microelements, minerals, and so on.

Replacing sugar with stevia, there is no need to deny yourself such a favorite taste of sweets. And, what is especially pleasant, at the same time you can also recharge your health. After all, sweeteners (liquid stevia extract, in particular) have the following very useful properties:

• they are completely calorie-free;
• their glycemic index is zero;
• they improve carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism, lower blood glucose and blood pressure, remove cholesterol, promote weight loss;
• restore the normal functioning of the liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract;
• increase immunity;
• have antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

The origins of the unique sweetness

The exceptional sweetness of honey grass leaves comes from a group of substances called steviosides. These are diterpene glycosides with a common aglycone - steviol. These sweet substances are extracted from the plant by extraction and are ahead of sugar in terms of sweetness by 300 times.


Release form


In the products offered by our company, liquid stevia extract is a stevioside containing 95% steviol glycosides, diluted with distilled water. It is poured into glass bottles, equipped with a pipette for ease of use, or into plastic bottles of 30 grams each. In order to sweeten a glass of any drink, liquid stevia will need a few drops - only 4-5 pieces. One vial contains 730 drops of liquid sweetener.

There is a "basic" version - liquid stevia with a natural taste. It is perfect for baking, for sweetening yoghurts, curds and cereals. Moreover, it can be added to both hot and cold dishes and desserts.

Fruit lovers are offered liquid stevia with a variety of flavors: raspberry, strawberry, grape, lemon. Fans of mint, vanilla or chocolate will also not be left without a healthy sweetener.

Latest reviews

• Stevioside SWEET "Crystal" 1 kg

  I ordered from this site for the first time.

  Within 20 minutes after the order, the manager called me back, everything was agreed. Delivery SDEK, after 4 days I received my package. So for the service and fast delivery, this site is definitely 10/10

  Now about the stevioside itself.

  In general, I was satisfied with its quality and cost. It has a very economical consumption, and a rather pleasant taste.

  I always try to make profitable purchases - optimal in terms of price and quality, and after comparing manufacturers, I realized that "I am stevia" is, if not the most profitable, then clearly one of the most optimal.

  Taste. I can’t say that there is absolutely no bitter aftertaste - it is, but it is not as intrusive as in the sweeteners that I tried before, despite the fact that they cost several times more. This is if we talk about its taste in its purest form.

  When cooking, this taste is less noticeable, and perhaps even those who do not know will not notice the difference between it and ordinary sugar. The closest thing to sugar, in my opinion, is the taste of erythritol, but it also has a completely different cost, if we take into account the sweetness coefficient.

  Regarding the sweetness of 100 times the sweetness of sugar, the issue is debatable, but "Crystal" is really very sweet, and the consumption will be very economical.

  Summing up, I want to express my gratitude to the Ya Stevia company for a quality product and fast delivery, to the manager Svetlana for efficiency and courtesy. I have no complaints, I am satisfied with your work and the quality of the products. Thank you!

  Stevioside "Crystal"
• Rebaudioside A 97 20 gr. Replaces 8 kg. Sahara