Stevia Herb Uses

Stevia, also known as Stevia rebaudiana, is an unusually sweet natural herb native to Paraguay and Brazil. After some controversy surrounding it, the Food and Drug Administration approved its use as a sweetener for food and drink products in 2008. Since it received FDA approval, you can find stevia in various products under different brand names. Sold in both pre-packed products and drinks, it is also possible to purchase stevia as a stand-alone sweetener. Additionally, you can use stevia as a sugar replacement in baking.

Benefits of Stevia

Stevia may help to lower your blood pressure. Additionally, stevia can suppress inflammation mediators in the body and help to regulate blood sugar level, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Stevia may also facilitate weight loss, have anti-tumor effects and lower hypertension and hyperglycemia.

Sugar to Stevia Ratio

Stevia is a natural herb that is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. Additionally stevia has zero calories and scores a zero on the glycemic index, making it a good sugar substitute for diabetics. You can use a simple ratio to substitute stevia for sugar. Just 1 tsp. stevia equals 1 cup of sugar, one 1/4 tsp. of stevia equals 1 tsp. of sugar, and 1/16 tsp. of stevia equals 1 tsp. of sugar. You can buy stevia in both liquid or powder form.

Uses of Stevia

When using stevia as a sugar substitute in cooking you will need to consider the bulk that sugar provides in many recipes. Since 1 tsp. of stevia has the sweetness of 1 cup of sugar, you will typically need to use other ingredients to make up the bulk of the substituted sugar. Water and juice are common bulk substitutes to consider. You can now find many books and recipes that specialize in cooking with stevia. For everyday use, consider using stevia as a substitute for sugar in coffee, tea and cereal.

Healthier Alternative

Processed sugar has many adverse health effects such as weight gain, tooth decay, diabetes and heart disease. Stevia is a natural sweetner that takes care of the sugar cravings without harmful side effects. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, side effects of stevia include abdominal fullness, nauses, asthenia and myalgia. However, the incidence of side effects from stevia is rare and all symptoms disappeared after discontinuation of stevia for one week.