Stevia Balance is a zero-calorie sweeter manufactured by NOW Foods. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Stevia rebaudiana is a shrub native to Paraguay and Brazil, and it is from this plant that stevia is derived. The Guarani Paraguayan Indians used stevia to enhance the flavor of bitter tribal beverages for centuries. NOW Foods adds the mineral chromium and a fiber called inulin to Stevia Balance to give the sweetener added nutritional benefits.
NOW Stevia Basics
NOW Foods has been in business since the late 1960s, producing food, dietary supplements and personal care products. NOW Foods sells a range of stevia extracts, from packets of the powdered sweetener to liquid stevia and stevia tabs. Stevioside is the ingredient in the plant that gives it a sweet flavor; it's hundreds of times sweeter than sucrose, or table sugar. The manufacturer indicates that the stevia used in Stevia Balance and NOW Foods' other stevia products is produced using only water and alcohol. The extract is then treated with an enzyme called glucosyl transferase to reduce stevia's bitter, licorice-like aftertaste.
Stevia Balance
Stevia Balance is sold in a box that contains 100 packets of the sweetener. Each packet has no calories. The manufacturer's suggested use for Stevia Balance is to sweeten beverages and other foods; however, it should be used sparingly, as it's extremely sweet. The manufacturer enhanced Stevia Balance with 900 mg inulin, a probiotic, and 50 mcg chromium, an essential mineral. NOW Foods suggests limiting your consumption of Stevia Balance to eight packets a day, as this sweetener is very low in other nutrients.
Other Ingredients
Chromium is a mineral that your body can't manufacture itself; therefore, you have to get it from the food you eat. Chromium encourages healthy brain function and helps your body metabolize insulin, according to MedlinePlus. Depending on your age, men and women need various amounts of chromium, ranging from 20 to 35 mcg daily. The manufacturer adds inulin to its product as a prebiotic, which encourages the growth of healthy bacteria in your colon. Inulin is a fiber that's derived from chicory root when used for industrial purposes---such as in Stevia Balance. However, according to a July 2010 Reuters Health article, inulin is a food additive that can result in bloating, flatulence and diarrhea when consumed in large quantities. The most common side effect of consuming inulin is flatulence.
Other Information
Stevia products were first sold as dietary supplements in the mid-1980s. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved highly refined stevia extracts as food additives that could be used in foods and beverages. MayoClinic.org states that stevia is deemed GRAS by the FDA---"generally recognized as safe"---when consumed in moderation. However, it's best to avoid it if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, and limit your consumption to one to two servings daily. According to the manufacturer's website, Stevia Balance and other NOW Foods products can be purchased at Whole Foods Market, Sun Harvest Farms, select HEB markets and various natural food stores. Customers can also purchase this sweetener by accessing NOW Foods' online market at now-2-u.com.
References
- NowFoods.com: Stevia Balance
- NowFoods.com: Stevia rebaudiana FAQ's
- MayoClinic.org: Stevia -- A New Zero-Calorie Sweetener
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: Stevia -- A Bittersweet Tale
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Chromiun in Diet
- Reuters.com; Popular Food Additive Can Cause Stomach Ache; R. Lowe; July 2011
Member Comments