Nowadays, with the expansion of the internet and the availability of different information, many people learn about healthier lifestyle and healthy diet and the negative effects of eating too much refined sugar, among other unhealthy stuff.
With this in mind, many people search for alternative sweeteners and though there are several, stevia is by far considered the healthiest.
Unlike other sweeteners, stevia is 100 percent natural and extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant. Believe it or not, it is 200 times sweeter than sugar in the same concentration.
This being said, if you want to regulate your intake of sugar and reduce your addiction to the bad stuff like processed sugar and other unhealthy sweeteners, use stevia!
Continue reading the article to learn more about why switching to stevia can do wonders for your health and well-being.
Is Stevia the Best Replacement for Refined Sugar?
Stevia is very sweet and it needs to be used in smaller amounts. The compound responsible for the sweetness which we know as stevioside contains sucrose, glucose, steviol, and several other compounds.
Low in calories, stevia is extracted from the plant stevia which has been grown for its sweetness and healing properties for a long period of time in South America.
This sweetener is highly sweet, yet free of calories, unlike highly-caloric processed white sugar. Plus, it can improve your overall health, as some studies have found.
How Does Stevia Better Your Health?
According to studies done with humans, stevia was able to decrease the blood pressure in hypertensive individuals by 6 to 14 percent. And, it also helped lower the blood sugar levels in diabetic individuals.
Moreover, several laboratory mice studies discovered the ability of stevia to better the insulin sensitivity, minimize the oxidized LDL cholesterol, and lower the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
In a groundbreaking research done back in 2012, stevia consumption was linked to shrinkage of breast cancer cells. Namely, it was able to encourage cell death and lower the stress pathways in the body which trigger cancer formation.
This being said, if you need to sweeten your coffee, tea or something else, use stevia- it is the healthiest choice.
Since some people may dislike its taste, it is good to try out several brands because the flavor often depends on the specific brand to find the most suitable option for you.
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