The ‘sweet leaf’ is a stevia healthy sweetener, does not create an insulin response and actually nourishes the pancreas which helps regulate blood sugar. The stevia plant is incredibly sweet and also incredibly good for you. The leaf is 30 times sweeter than sugar while extracts are 300-400 times sweeter making this a must superfood to have. This is good for Sugar Addicts.
Are you unsure about what the Best Healthy Sweetener is? Learn about all the benefits of stevia as a sweetener below.
6 Health Benefits of the Stevia Sweetener
1. Excellent for Diabetics
Diabetes is a serious health problem. There are 422 million people with diabetes in the world according to 2014 WHO statistics and for sure it is much more now. People with it have high blood sugar levels or are unable to produce insulin. There are many studies that show how helpful stevia can be for diabetics.
The type 2 diabetic patients who took 1 gram of stevioside with a meal had an 18% reduction in blood sugar according to a study. It was also found in a study that compared stevia, regular sugar and aspartame, that stevia lowered blood sugar and insulin levels after a meal. Consuming stevia before a meal was found to reduce the after the meal insulin levels as shown in a study.
Note: Artificial sweeteners often raise your blood sugar levels even more than sugar according to studies. Read Prevent Diabetes by Avoiding This Sugar-Free Substitute
2. Reduces Risk of Pancreatic Cancer
Stevia has sterols and antioxidant compounds (kaempferol, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, isoquercitrin, and isosteviol) in it and studies have found that kaempferol can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer by 23 percent.
3. Helps Lower Bad Cholesterol and Increase Good Cholesterol
This is what a study in 2009 found and the research also found that the subjects in this study had no adverse side effects from the stevia on their health.
4. Breast Cancer Reduced
It was found that consuming stevia lead to breast cancer being reduced in a 2012 study. What they found was that stevioside helped to decrease specific stress pathways that create cancer growth.
5. Treatment for Colon Cancer
It was found that when stevia is added to natural colon cancer killing mixtures, antioxidant levels soar according to a study in Croatia.
6. And of Course, It Is Great for Weight Loss
It has no calories or carbohydrates.
Consuming added sugars has been shown to contribute an average of 16 percent of the total calories in the American diet. This high sugar intake has been linked to weight gain and adverse effects on blood sugar, two things that can have serious negative impacts on health.
4 Extra Benefits of the Stevia Sweetener
- Cravings: The honey leaf’s sweet taste lasts longer than sugars.
- Fights Cavities: The ‘sweet herb’ is antibacterial and unlike sugar, it does not feed oral bacteria and is recommended by the National Center for Biotechnology Information to be helpful in preventing cavities. Stevia extracts were linked to having a less acidic plaque which is good for cavity prevention.
Note: the highly processed white powder stevia may not be helpful. - Skin Care: The antibacterial properties also help with acne and I have experienced a pimple disappearing soon after using stevia on it.
- Fights Yeast Infections: ‘Sweet Chrysanthemum’ does not feed candida or other yeast and is slightly antibacterial and anti-fungal.
Can One Be Allergic to Stevia?
The European Food Safety Committee after reviewing the stevia literature stated that there was no cause for concern for allergic reactions to the stevia plant. Also, the FDA declared that stevia was safe in foods and beverages.
Caution: Do not use the white powder stevia as it is highly processed and not as healthy. Learn more about stevia and How to Use Stevia and the Best Stevia.
Very Tasty Recipes Sweetened with Stevia
Walnut Dark Chocolate Bar With No Sugar, A Yummy, Healthy Treat For You – This dark chocolate bar recipe produces one of the healthiest chocolate treats you will find. It also tastes better than the commercial stuff you end up buying! Only those who like very dark chocolate will appreciate the intense chocolate flavour.I use healthy ingredients for all of my chocolate.
Lemon Water: AKA Sugar-free lemonade] When lemonade is made it is almost always made with white sugar. I love the way stevia sweetens it with no added calories and nourishes your pancreas.
Easy to Make Yummy Millet Pecan Pudding (Vegan and Sugar-free)!
Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Salad Dressing
Yummy Prune Jam is Sugar-Free with Apples and Cinnamon
Most of my recipes requiring sweetness use stevia check them out here: Real Food for Life Recipes
Related
19 Sugars & Sweeteners: Which Are Healthy?
Reasons to Avoid Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners
100+ Superfoods
Learn more about some of the healthiest vegetarian foods you will always want to have in your pantry or growing on your deck.
READ: Superfoods – Over 100 of the Healthiest Foods You Should Have in Your Diet and learn more about the variety of Superfoods we think you should have in your diet.
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Stevia is the best substitution for sugar. I already use it everywhere.
There is a delicious looking fruit crumble desert on your page Stevia is the most amazing healthy sweetener. It is made with red fruit. Do you know where I can get that recipe?
Thanks!
Yes, I love cancer! That’s why I eat stevia daily!