|
Recommend to Friend!
Stevia Dry Extract 10 grams
Stevia is a natural sweetener used by many as a healthy alternative to cane sugar and aspartame. Stevia is super sweet. For example, 1/8 teaspoon of Stevia replaces one cup of sugar.
Appearance
Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a perennial shrub indigenous to the northern regions of South America. Stevia may be found growing wild in the highlands of the Amambay and Iguacu districts (a border area between Brazil and Paraguay). It is estimated that as many as 200 species of Stevia are native to South America, but no other Stevia variety exhibits the same intensity of sweetness as Stevia rebaudiana.
History
The Guarani knew about stevia long before the invaders from the Old World were lured by the treasures of the New. They used the leaves to enhance the taste of bitter mate (a tea-like beverage) and medicinal potions, or simply chewed them for their sweet taste. In due course, stevia was introduced to settlers. By the 1800s, daily stevia consumption had become well entrenched throughout the region, not just in Paraguay, but also in neighboring Brazil and Argentina. In 1903 Dr. Moises Santiago Bertoni, director of the College of Agriculture in Asuncion, declared that "one is surprised at the strange and extreme sweetness contained therein. A fragment of the leaf only a few square millimeters in size suffices to keep the mouth sweet for an hour; a few small leaves are sufficient to sweeten a strong cup of coffee or tea." Today stevia is extremely popular in the Orient, particularly in Japan, but it’s spread in the western world is only just beginning.
Caution: As with any dietary or herbal supplement, you should advise your health care practitioner of the use of this product. If you have ulcers, gallstones or are nursing, pregnant, or considering pregnancy, you should consult your health care provider prior to taking this product.
|
