Passion for Stevia…
Between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, in the jungle clearings of Latin America, a mysterious and exotic plant named Stevia rebaudiana grows, whose leaves, the sweetest ones on the planet, mature under the watchful eye of dazzling tropical sun and fertile soil.
When these leaves are at their best, they are harvested and selected for processing in the midst of their floral aroma, the same ones that hide a mysterious, exotic and natural sweet with zero calories that exceeds the other sweets, that take us back in time to our ancestral, tribal and Inka wisdom.
It is in these leaves that NutraStevia focuses all its attention by handpicking, crushing them, and turning them, in the midst of the frenzy of our machines, into both infusions and healthy extracts and sugars
NutraStevia (Passion for Stevia ...our passion is shown in our products)
WHAT IS STEVIA REBAUDIANA BERTONI?
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a small shrub that belongs to the Asteraceae family, native to South America whose extracts are called steviol glycosides which are 300 times sweeter than sugar and contain zero calories.
Stevia has shown promising results in medical research in the treatment of obesity and blood pressure; it regulates the digestive system, also reduces fat in obese people and is a powerful diuretic.
Stevia has no effect on blood sugar, and it is for this reason why it is a natural sweetener attractive for use in diabetic patients and those who are on a diet with carbohydrate control and those seeking healthy foods.
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LEAVES
Stevia leaf chemically has a deeper green color than other normal plants; the color is directly related to its chlorophyll content, which is three times higher than other normal plants, that is why it is stated that chlorophyll is transformed into the sweet active principle.
STEVIOL GLYCOSIDE CONTENT
In fact, stevia leaves, the sweetest in the world, contain a complex mixture of compounds that determine their sweetness, among which we may find diterpenes, triterpenes, stigmasterol, tannins, volatile oils and eight sweet
diterpenic glycosides: stevioside, steviolbioside, rebaudiosides A, S, C, D, E and dulcoside A.
The glycoside is a molecule produced by condensation of two monosaccharides, while a terpene is a lipid derived from the hydrocarbon isoprene.)
The sweet taste is mainly determined by stevioside and rebaudioside A, the latter being a proportion of 3-5%, much sweeter and less bitter taste than stevioside whose concentrations are determined by the variety of the plant.
A slightly bitter taste is determined by the presence of minerals such as magnesium in the leaves and some steviol glycosides with less than 1%.
MAGNESIU
M’S SPECIAL ROLE
Stevia leaves, in addition to being the sweetest, represent the richest vegetable source of magnesium in the world: 500 mg per 100 g of leaves. It exceeds 50% to maca and 40% to coca (UNALM, 2005) and much more to other plant foods; animal foods, including milk, are very poor in this mineral.
Magnesium is required to prevent osteoporosis, especially in the female menopause and it meets several other important functions in the body. Magnesium acts as a catalyst, at least, in 300 enzymatic steps that take place in the body during the "burning" of nutrients and their conversion into useful energy for life.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STEVIA AND DIABETES
In normal health conditions, magnesium being present in stevia promotes the secretion of insulin and the combustion of glucose and its conversion within the cells into energy available to the body.
In lack of mineral, it affects both the secretion of insulin as the combustion of nutrients and the conversion of glucose into energy.
The excess sugar in the blood is deposited on the walls of the blood vessels, these may swell and cause diabetes and its serious implications and it could therefore be said that:
Stevia is the plant of diabetics:
Much of those affected by diabetes (more than 135 million worldwide) may benefit from the property regulating sugar levels in the blood that characterizes the stevia.
Scientists at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, in 2002, after continuous studies with diabetic, concluded that stevioside acts by stimulating the pancreatic beta cells in the presence of glucose, so that they produce their own insulin.
Therefore, this compound has a potential role as “anti-hyperglycemic agent” (checking the level of blood sugar) in the prevention of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (non-insulin-dependent). These results confirm the findings of Jeppesen (2000).
STEVIA IN THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF OBESITY
According to several studies it was found that the 'Stevia is an exceptional aid for weight loss because it contains no calories and reduces cravings for food and sweets, chocolates, fats, etc. This effect reduces calories (glucose).
Stevia also regulates insulin and therefore the body gets fat less, i.e., it stores less fat. Hunger mechanisms reduce through the effect of stevia on the hypothalamus which regulates hunger, appetite and satiety. People feel satisfied sooner and therefore it helps them to eat less and lose weight.
Also, Nilsa Noemi Arce Ibarrola, a specialist in endocrinology, nutrition and diabetes, in 1976, explains that the continued use of stevia in tea infusions, that it to say regular intake, reduces the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, thereby acting as a slimming agent.
OTHER BENEFITS OF STEVIA IN HEALTH
a) Combating anxiety: The "magnesium" that is present in the unrefined Stevia has no effect on the excitability of neurons in the nervous system. By reducing anxiety, stevia can help combat both smoking and alcoholism.
b) Antiarthritic effect: The "swollen fingers" condition in diabetes because of uric acid deposits in joints is due to failure of the kidneys by “magnesium” deficiency.
c) Cardiotonic Action: Stevia with its high richness of "potassium" (3.45%) and very low "sodium" (0.03%) level becomes a powerful regulator of blood pressure and heartbeat. Potassium in stevia leaves exceeds by 22.6% than that of maca leaf and 49.6% of the coca leaf.
A group of doctors from the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Taipei Hospital (Taiwan), after treating for 3 months with stevioside to 106 Chinese hypertensive men and women, whose ages ranged from 28 to 75 years, found that "stevioside" acts as a hypotensive and cardiotonic agent (it regulates blood pressure and heart rate), which resulted in decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Chang et al., 2000).
d) Anti-Stress: The "potassium" also sends oxygen to the brain and regulates the water balance in the body. Tension rises over the metabolic rate and reduces levels of "potassium", they can be re-balanced by intake of stevia tea or stevia stem extracts in proportions (80% stems and 20% leaves). (Buy stevia).
e) Fighting Anemia: Levels of "iron" of 702 ppm that are in the stevia filter can stimulate the production of hemoglobin, thereby alleviating the condition of anemia. Similarly, "Copper" (17 ppm) plays an important role in the formation of hemoglobin. Stevia leaf is 80% higher in "iron" than the coca leaf and is 93% higher in copper.
f) Digestive action: Its diuretic and antacid properties help remove via the urinary tract the toxins accumulated by poor nutrition. The diuretic action is highly appreciated in kidney diseases. The content of "fiber" of 10.77% corrects the problem of constipation, especially in adults without resorting to commercial laxatives.
g) Antimicrobial Action: It prevents and inhibits infections caused by bacteria and other pathogens, improves resistance against strains that cause colds and flues. It is effective against the bacteria E. Coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium diphtheriae as well as the fungus Candida albicans and does not affect the useful bacteria like bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria.
h) Anticaries activity: A study by the Department of Dentistry, Hiroshima University, showed that "stevioside" is not a food source for bacteria in the mouth and that th
is suppresses bacterial growth. It helps prevent cavities formed by these bacteria.
These effects are confirmed by research conducted by the Department of Pediatric Dentists and School of Chemistry, University of Illinois, which include complete elimination of the bacterium Streptococcus sobrinus.
Other three studies were conducted: the first showed that stevioside is 100% compatible with fluoride; the second one confirmed that stevioside significantly inhibits the growth of platelets and the third one showed a 20% reduction of caries.
As sweetener does not ferment, it is used in toothpaste, mouth rinse and chewing gum as it protects the tooth enamel by fighting bacteria (Fujita, 1979).
Traditionally, many people add stevia leaf powder to a toothbrush along with toothpaste and exploit the benefits of stevia as anticaries and mouth refresh. (Buy stevia flour).
i) Anticancer: Stevia contains beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and zinc. These "antioxidants" have the capacity to prevent the formation of cancer cells caused by free radicals or toxic particles. The antioxidant effect of stevia are effective in preventing breast cancer, uterus and prostate, potassium is found in a ratio of approximately 2200 mg per 100 ml of stem extract of Stevia. (Buy stevia stem extract)
j) Dermal Effects: The cosmetic preparations based on stevia can be used as a lotion for the face, achieving a smooth and effective lifting of the skin, which helps in combating wrinkles and cure acne, dermatitis, seborrhea capillary, eczema; also the stem extract of concentrate stevia can be applied to the face and hair.
Similarly, the extract makes skin cuts heal quickly.
k) Aesthetic uses:
Mouth and teeth: it prevents tooth decay by inhibiting the formation of dental plaque. It is also an excellent wound and mouth-lips ulcer healing and some gum problems.
Overweight: It is known about the sweet taste control on the hypothalamic regulation in the anxiety of eating. In controlling hunger phenomenon, stevia is an excellent coadjutant of the weight loss treatments and counteract the obesity. Remember that the responsible for stevia sweetness (mainly stevioside) is not metabolized being zero calories.
Skin and hair: when it is placed directly on cuts and scratches the wound recovering increases without leaving a scar. Applying a few drops of leaves extract could burn about 30-40 seconds, following a significant reduction in pain. This concentrate is easily washed with warm water if desired: Always use herbal extracts of stevia based on water, not alcohol and above all, made from leaves of excellent quality.
Wrinkles and eyelids: a delicate stevia tea or a concentrated extract of stevia stems and leaves offer an ideal help in a tired face. It could be placed in hot water a tea bag of stevia leaves and that sweet water could be used to sweeten other beverages. The bag with the remains of the stevia leaves could be placed on the eyelids, like the cucumber is used for a few minutes, being effective for firming the skin and removing annoying wrinkles. The concentrated extract is applied as an effective facial mask to soften and firm the skin and expression lines (wrinkles), helps heal skin aging spots, including acne. Gently apply liquid stevia on the whole face, let it dry at least 30-60 minutes and feel the skin lifting effect otherwise apply at night and leave it until next day.
Anti-Aging: Japanese studies have demonstrated that drinking this natural sweetener has an anti-aging protective effect caused by free radicals. The concentration of antioxidants in Stevia is five times more than in the oriental green tea, you can drink stevia infusions in filter tea bags, concentrated solutions of stevia leaves, stevia stem extract as well as steviosides and rebaudioside like tabletop sweeteners.
To remember: Frequent applications with stevia poultices and extracts give the skin smoothness and softness. The use on the scalp also produces benefits part
icularly in seborrhoea and other studies have shown favorable responses in cases of psoriasis (buy stevia).
The doses that are always used by the most people who have noticed beneficial effects in Popular Medicine is 4 baby green leaves, they are eaten before or during lunch and 4 more leaves before or during supper. If baby green leaves are not available, dried leaves can be used in preparing a tea. (an infusion in the morning and another one in the afternoon). The infusion dose is one teaspoon.
For dessert a cup of infusion of cut dried leaf. It is easier to prepare of filters or Stevia envelopes of one gram packaged in boxes of 25 units with health certificate, or it can drink concentrated extract of Stevia stem, one tablespoon three times a day and use the antioxidant effects so you care your heart, prevent or control diabetes, eliminate free radicals, detoxify the body, follow the diet if sick people are exposed to intensive treatment with antibiotics or exposed to contaminated environments by CO2, soot, nicotine, steroids, hormonal drugs. http://www.nutrastevia.com/es/tienda/stevia
STEVIA REBAUDIANA BERTONI, it is also called "miraculous plant", "the immunostimulant plant", “The plant that can release human beings from poverty and disease", in an allusion to its enormous impact on society, ecology and economy.
At an altitude of no more than 70 to 80 cm, Stevia grows semi perennially and it is also considered a semi bushy plant, whose greatest virtue is to offer very sweet leaves, so sweet that they exceed 20 to 30 times sugar cane’ sweet and zero calories.