FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Stevia?
Stevia is a sweetener and sugar substitute extracted from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana. The active compounds of stevia are steviol glycosides (mainly stevioside and rebaudioside), which have up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, are heat-stable, pH-stable, and not fermentable. Stevia’s taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar and some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations. Stevia plant is a part of the Chrysanthemum plant species and is related to Lettuce, Marigold and Chicory as well. Christened Stevia Rebuadiani Bertoni in honor of the eminent Paraguayan Chemist, Rebaudi, the leaves of Stevia were used by Guarani Indians for sweetening the tea as well as making sweet treats.
Is Stevia Safe?
Stevia has proven that it is completely safe and good for improving overall health. Recognized by FAO, WHO as a beneficial and safe food additive, Stevia has also been approved for sale by the United States FDA as a healthy addition to the diet.
What is a Steviol glycosides?
They are sweeteners that are naturally found in the leaves of the Stevia plant. There are many types of Steviol glycosides, such as Rebaudioside A, Stevioside, Rebaudioside B, C, D, F, Steviolbioside, Rubusoside and Dulcoside A.
What is a Rebaudioside A?
It is the second most abundant Steviol glycoside in the Stevia leaf and is known for its excellent quality and taste and its absence of a bitter aftertaste. There are no indications that highly refined Rebaudioside (Reb-A 97%) is chemically or structurally altered when extracted from the Stevia plant.
What is a Erythritol?
It is a naturally-occurring polyol. It has a mildly sweet taste, occurs during the fermentation of fruits and vegetables and has zero calories. Erythritol does not spike insulin in the body.
I have heard that Stevia has side effects?
Stevia is absolutely safe sweetener and is completely non-mutagenic. Various test have been conducted around the world including the Japanese Food and Drug Safety Center along with scientists from Great Britain have found Stevia harmless. Stevia has been used for centuries by numerous people around the globe without any side effects on human health.
What are the benefits of using Stevia?
The beneficial properties of stevia improve the human health and cure various ailments.
Use of Stevia Benefits –
• Zero Calories, Carbohydrates and GI level
• Non-Toxic and Non-Mutagenic
• Natural sweetener that lacks any chemical components
• Known to cure varied ailments
• Completely natural herbal sweetener
• Great alternative for diabetics and the health conscious
Where is Stevia Grown?
It is found in the dense landscape of the Amabai Mountains in the Cordilleras Range in the northern part of South America beside the Brazil-Paraguay border. Nowadays this natural incredible herb is grown in India, China, Japan, Ukraine, Paraguay and Europe too.
Does Stevia have the same qualities as sugar in cooking recipes?
Stevia is 300 times sweeter than Sugar and is packed with a lot of vital health improving ingredients. Stevia and its extracts can be used for cooking or baking purposes. Stevia is a best alternative to sugar in all possible ways.
Can Sugar be replaced by Stevia in the daily diet plan?
Refined Sugar lacks all nutritive value and is responsible for unnecessary increase in calories. Many studies also indicate that Sugar is responsible for increasing the risk of many life threatening diseases. But Stevia is much sweeter than Sugar is packed with the goodness of nature and does not contribute to calorie intake.
How Sweet is Stevia in comparison to Sugar?
The Stevia plant has been used for centuries by numerous people around the world and is found to be 250 to 300 times sweeter than Sugar. Stevia has a distinct sweet taste which is different from that of cane sugar and may need getting used to. Stevioside the white powder that is extracted from Stevia is about 100 to 150 times sweeter than ordinary Sugar.
Is Stevia safe to be used by a diabetic?
Yes, Stevia is absolutely safe for diabetics due to the fact that it does not raise the blood sugar levels. The research that was conducted at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism in Aarhus University Hospital located in Denmark confirmed that Stevioside and Steviol present in the Stevia increase the secretion of insulin by directly impacting the beta cells in the pancreas. The data collected from this experiment show that Stevia can actually be used for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. Stevia must be the preferred sweetener for all diabetics since it is natural and absolutely safe with no side effects.
Does Stevia increase the Blood Sugar levels?
Stevia doesn’t increases the blood sugar levels and if Stevia is consumed in a greater quantity than that is used for sweetening tea and food, it actually decreases the blood sugar level.
Does Stevia affects the teeth?
Sugar has elements that damage the tooth while Stevia possesses constituents that retard the growth of plaque and anti-bacterial elements, therefore improving the overall condition of the teeth. Stevia is actually beneficial for the teeth in contrast to Sugar that is responsible for damaging it.
Can Stevia be used while cooking or baking?
Stevia is heat stable up to 200 degree Celsius or 392 degrees Fahrenheit. According to studies conducted in Japan, Stevia and Stevia extracts are immensely heat stable and can be used while cooking or baking a variety of items. Stevia is now widely used to manufacture sugar free products for consumption by people of all ages.
Does Stevia have any calories?
The stevia does not contain any calories and does not contribute to unnecessary weight gain. Stevia assists in weight control.
Which countries have approved the usage of Stevia?
With an increase in the awareness about the benefits of Stevia, it is gaining popularity as an important food ingredient and table top sweetener. Countries like Malaysia, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and India have understood the significance of using Stevia and approved it for use in manufacturing food and as a sweetener.
Where can I buy Stevia?
We, SteviahubIndia, are the leading manufacturer of Stevia products in India under our brand name “ZINDAGI”. It is available at all online portals across the country and is highly recommended by top dieticians in the country. We welcome direct enquiries and will be happy to courier your requirement of “ZINDAGI” stevia to your address. You can also place your orders over phone, email, or from our website www.zindagi.co.in.