Also known as Sweet Herb, Sweetleaf and Stevia rebaudiana.
The botanist Antonio Bertoni first recorded the use of Stevia by the Indians of Paraguay in 1887. Europeans first learned of Stevia when the Spanish Conquistadors of the sixteenth century sent word to Spain that the natives of South America had used the plant, mostly for sweetening.
Stevia is a perennial shrub of the aster family (Asteraceae), native to the northern, subtropical regions of South America. Numerous countries have discovered Stevia in the past several decades. It is now being grown in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, the United States, Israel, Thailand and China.
Japan, in particular, has done extensive research and safety testing on the plant. This testing has shown the herb to be non-toxic, safe for diabetics and beneficial in cases of obesity. In addition, it is not a source of nutrition for bacteria in the mouth and candida in the colon.
In addition to its sweetening capability, it is also considered a medicinal herb. As a tonic, stevia helps to;
- stimulate mental alertness and counter fatigue
- facilitate digestion
- lower blood pressure
- regulate metabolism
- maintain a healthy liver, pancreas and spleen.
The powdered extract is also a health bonus to the consumer as it is an excellent sugar replacement.With it's steviol glycoside extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has taken centre stage amidst demand for low-carb, low-sugar alternatives.