Stevia leaf is an all-natural sweetener. It comes from a bush that grows naturally in Brazil and Paraguay. Although people in South America have been using it to sweeten their food and drinks for hundreds of years, it has been widely used in other countries for the last few decades. In 2008, stevia sweetener was approved in the US as a food additive and its popularity is rapidly growing due to its many benefits.

Stevia helps reduce food and other cravings

One of the main reasons stevia is so popular is that it can help people lose weight. By sweetening foods and beverages with stevia, people who need to cut calories to lose weight can do so safely without sacrificing the sweet foods they love. It can also benefit weight loss by working as an appetite suppressant. This works when a few drops of concentrated stevia leaf are swallowed about 20 minutes before eating. Since sweetleaf stevia is all natural with no known side effects, it is certainly much safer than taking dangerous diet pills!

This wonderful substance not only suppresses food cravings, but has also been shown to reduce the desire to smoke and drink.

Stevia leaf helps regulate blood sugar

Doctors in Paraguay have been prescribing stevia for a long time to their diabetic and hypoglycemic patients. This is because it has properties that help stabilize blood sugar. Where regular sugar can cause a sudden spike in blood sugar followed by a rapid drop, the stevia leaf keeps the flow more consistent. Naturopaths know this too and have used stevia powder and other forms of sweetener for their patients for a long time.

Patients with hypertension have also benefited from the use of stevia leaf because it helps lower blood pressure. For those whose blood pressure is normal, stevia extract powder and other forms of stevia have no effect.

Stevia helps prevent cavities

When used in chewing gum, foods, and beverages, the stevia leaf actually helps prevent the development of cavities. This is because it slows down the growth of bacteria in the mouth, which leads to plaque buildup. When used in toothpaste or added to water as a mouthwash, it helps reduce bleeding gum problems. Companies that produce toothpaste and mouthwash are catching up and adding stevia sweetener to them.

Stevia has antioxidants that promote health

It has also been noted that those who use the stevia leaf in oral care, as well as in food and drink, get colds and flu less often. This may be due to the many antioxidants and other nutrients it contains, including vitamins C and A, zinc, magnesium, and iron.

Since antioxidants fight free radicals that can cause cancer, stevia may help prevent cancer. One particular enzyme found in the stevia leaf that acts as an antioxidant is SOD, which stands for superoxide dismutase. Cancer cells have been shown to have little or no SOD. Since sugar and common artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose lack antioxidants, this makes stevia sweet leaf an excellent choice as a sweetener.

These are just a few of the many health benefits found in the stevia leaf. No other sweetener really compares, making it a great alternative to satisfy your sweet cravings!