Are you looking for a sugar substitute that By 1954 Japan also began to grow Stevia in However, passing of a new act in 1994 has virtually no calories, doesn't raise commercial quantities. By the late sixties effectively nullified the ban, and by blood-sugar levels, doesn't promote tooth the Japanese government had banned September 1995 the FDA allowed Stevia decay and doesn't have that chemical certain artificial sweeteners due to health and stevioside into the country but only if aftertaste like artificial sweeteners do? concerns and as a result the use of stevia labelled as dietary supplements.

increased dramatically. Consumer Then try using the sweetest known natural concerns about sugar-related tooth decay, ARVEST product that Mother Nature has provided. obesity and diabetes also contributed to This is best done when Originally a native of Paraguay, Stevia's this increase. Today Japan is still the the plant begins to flower leaves are 10-15 times as sweet as table largest user of Stevia and it is used as this is when the leaf sugar but extracts may range from 100-300 extensively for drinks and various low weight is at it's greatest times as sweet as sugar. calorie foods as well as numerous other and the stevioside content

products. is at its peak. One report from a study Stevia is a member of the Aster family showed a yield of 220 pounds per acre, (Compositae). It is a perennial shrub and Today, Stevia and stevioside have become equivalent in sweetening power to about grows to approx 60-100cm (24-36in) tall in major expor t produc ts, with Stevia 28 tons of sugar.full sun. Originally grown in acidic, sandy cultivated in more than a dozen countries How Much to Crop:soil that borders marshes and grasslands world wide, including South America, For a young plant cut the tips only, this will with shallow water tables, it is however Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Southeast also encourage your plant to become adaptable to a wide variety of soil Asia, Israel, California, and southern bushier. Older plants as a usual rule are conditions. Ontario. cut by half.

Top dress with a suitable fertiliser after The sweet secret of Stevia lies in a white Stevia's pharmacological activity has also pruning. To dry stevia leaves, place them in crystalline compound called stevioside, a been investigated, for its effects on a dark, well ventilated area until dry. glycoside composed of glucose, diabetes, blood pressure, contraception Alternatvely place leaves in a microwave sophorose and steviol. and bacterial growth, Some scientific oven and cook on a low setting until crisp.

studies have confirmed that Stevia may help regulate blood-sugar levels in normal ISTORY OW TO USE adults. Stevioside has been used as the This herb has been used

STEVIAsweetener for toothpastes, mouthwashes, throughout history by Two or three leaves of and chewing gums that have been ancient tribes in Paraguay, Stevia are enough to accredited to the decrease in the incidence Brazil and Argentina as a sweeten a cup of tea, of tooth decay and retarding the growth tea sweetener, but in 1887 Coffee, or other beverage. of plaque. Although further research on a South American scientist discovered its

Green stevia powder (pulverised dried its medical benefits is indicated, numerous amazing properties and brought its true leaves) is 10 to 15 times as sweet as sugar: biological tests indicate that Stevia and its value to light.use 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons to replace 1-constituents are relatively nontoxic.cup sugar. Start with a small amount and Research that began in the early 1930's by add more to taste.Despite the fact that in the USA Stevia was two French chemists isolated a constituent

widely used to sweeten herbal teas, in 1991 they named stevioside. They found this to Stevia can be combined with other the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) be 300 times stronger than sugar and non-sweeteners if desired. Stevia does not issued an import ban that blocked sales of toxic to their laboratory animals.caramelise like sugar, unfortunately it Stevia. cannot be used in meringues. The green During World War 2 in England, research powder may tint the food slightly, was undertaken on the potential of Stevia depending on how much you use. as an alternative sweetener. This research

was very favourable. Test plots yielded the It is generally preferable to use the less equivalent of two tons of sugar per acre. processed stevia products such as whole However, the project was largely forgotten leaves, the green powder, or simple in the aftermath of the war.extracts.

THE SUGAR HERBStevia rebaudiana

Family: Aster (Compositae)

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Any enquiries can be directed to:

HERB HERBERT P/L PO Box 24 Monbulk Victoria 3793 Australia

E-mail: herb@herbherbert.com

HERB HERBERT

This Herb description is for informal use only; we cannot accept any liability for any harm or illness arising from the misuse of the plant described above

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