Stevia (stevia rebaudiana), as God created it, is a white-flowered bush bearing leaves that not only offer an intense sweetening ability but also significant nutritional value. It grows naturally in the subtropical ecosystems of South America.  The leaves contain eight compounds which give stevia its sweetness.  These compounds are called steviol glycosides, the most common of which are steviosides and rebaudiosides.

Latin American indigenous communities refer to stevia as the “sweet herb”, “honey leaf” and “sweet leaf” and have been using it as a sweetener for centuries.  About 60 years ago it was taken out of its natural environment to be propagated, initially in Japan (where, incidentally, it now accounts for around 70% of sweetener consumption)

Studies have shown that stevia’s non-caloric sugars are up to 400 times sweeter than regular sugar and do not produce the health concerns associated with artificial sweeteners.

Stevia is a great option in the global fight against the sugar demon. One study showed that, not only is stevia a good sugar substitute, but also it may actually help to treat insulin resistance.

Stevia leaves are also very high in chromium and magnesium.

Given soaring rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, The World Health Organisation predicts that stevia intake could eventually replace 20% of all dietary sweeteners.

beating the sugar demon

Also, in pure extracted form, steviodes are way too sweet for human taste buds so companies need to add fillers to make the sweetness more palatable.

Most companies use fillers such as dextrose (corn fibre) and erythritrol (sugar alcohol) or so-called “natural flavours” to create the final product. There is debate whether these fillers are really natural…

At Sweetly™ Stevia, we only use Acacia Gum, Vegetable Fibre and Fruit Sugar. Our blend is 100% Natural!