The Wonders of Stevia

Stevia, also known as sweet leaf, sugar plant, or sugar leaf, is an herb which grows natively in tropical and subtropical South America, but is currently grown all over the world. The plant grows like a shrub, only reaching a height of about four feet, and can be cultivated rather easily because of its natural insect repelling qualities.

The majority of stevia is grown for its leaves which are used to produce an extract. The leaves are harvested when they are at their maximum sweetness, and when extracted the stevia substance is about three hundred times as sweet as table sugar. Stevia is grown primarily for its sweet properties, but it also contains a wide range of nutrients, including vitamin C, magnesium, niacin and potassium.

Stevia extract is commonly used to make sweeteners which are much healthier than the alternative of white sugar. Stevia sweeteners have a very low glycemic index and contain almost zero calories. Switching from sugar to a stevia sweetener is a really good idea, many people do not realize that you don’t have to give up on sweets when you cut back on calories, you can put stevia in your coffee, tea, cookies, yogurt, ice cream, or whatever.

Stevia is used by diabetics and others who are extremely concerned about their sugar intake. Since stevia doesn’t raise the body’s blood sugar level, diabetics can still enjoy sweet drinks and baked goods as long as they were made with stevia.

Another interesting thing about stevia is that despite its sweetness, it not only doesn’t cause cavities, it actually helps improve the health of your teeth and gums. Stevia is known to be an effective treatment for bleeding gums and other problems, and is therefore used as an ingredient in some toothpastes and mouthwashes.

The magic of stevia doesn’t end there though; stevia plants also have anti-microbial properties and contain many nutrients which are great for treating hair and skin. Stevia also has antibacterial and antiviral qualities, so the application of stevia extract or fresh leaves can go a long way in helping heal wounds quickly and actually prevent scarring. If you try this with fresh leaves however it is important to wash the leaves thoroughly before rubbing them in an open wound.

Uses of this amazing herb abound, it has also been found to promote mental activity, increase energy, treat mouth sores, mitigate food poisoning, aid in digestion, and probably many more uses nobody has discovered yet.