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.
It is a native plant from Southeastern Paraguay; it was kept as a secret for many years and was widely used among pre-Columbian cultures of the Pre Inca times.
Among the first observations on the benefits of this plant, it was found that the native Indians living in the tropics of Capricorn located at the 23º and 27º south latitude of Paraguay have enjoyed good health and longevity by using all parts of the Stevia plant (roots, stems and leaves).
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.
This sweet feature is generated by the so-called Stevia glycosides (stevioside and rebaudioside A, B, C and D), which upon being chemically extracted produce a sweet that is from 250 to 300 times sweeter than sugar cane and it is also zero calories.
From the economic point of view the Stevia sweet property has greatly impacted the food industry especially that of the sweeteners and the sweet industry generating a much healthier and more secure option.
From medical and health standpoints, Stevia has a huge potential in the use of other parts of the plant besides the leaves - "THE STEVIA STEMS" that is why in this document, we will only refer to the amazing effects that have been achieved from extracts made from Stevia stem.
STEVIA STEM EXTRACT
By mixing in proportions of 80% Stevia stems with a 20% of its leaves, powdered, boiled, concentrated and fermented for a while, you get the so-called miraculous "STEVIA STEM EXTRACT ", whose properties have amazed the scientific community.
MOST IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF STEVIA STEM
The stem of Stevia has three fundamental properties: It is an effective antioxidant, is a powerful detoxifier and a powerful immunostimulant.
1. IT IS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ANTIOXIDANT
The Stevia stem extract is five times more antioxidant than Japanese green tea extract and also five times more antioxidant than its very leaves.
Due to its strong antioxidant power is listed among the new forms of antioxidants (LOOH type) which can control harmful free radicals, in contrast to conventional antioxidants (SOD type) being present in conventional foods.
Stevia has 5 times more antioxidants than green Tea
Source: The Grace of God from Japan, pág 37. 1999, Japan
Excess active oxygen (free radicals) generated in the body hardens the arteries in the brain and heart, producing packages which obstruct blood flow leading to cerebral strokes, heart attacks which are caused by atherosclerosis, the functional disorders of the liver, diabetes and atypical allergies.
Antioxidants present in the Stevia stem have the possibility to release the risks of blood flow problems and avoid the ills mentioned.
2. FOOD DETOXIFYINGS 
Stevia stem extract surprisingly also has the power to dissolve toxic substances such as nicotine, dioxin and histamine, a substance that causes allergies.
It controls atopic dermatitis precisely caused by histamine, and it can also be used in food detoxification caused by pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli 0-157.
Many foods are grown with synthetic hormones for better crops and the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals and chemical fertilizers which creates a rich and profitable crop for farmers, but leaving its toll on consumers to consume daily chemical moieties.
The Stevia stem extract gives the possibility to remedy this deficiency in the food system, both for the farmer and the consumer.
Consumer can benefit by consuming Stevia stem extract directly or even by using it in the washing of food preparation, the people consuming the extract would also be freed from the effects of many preservatives found in packaged foods.
The farmer may benefit from Stevia stem by using Stevia extract solutions to conventional crops a week before being able to obtain food crops having almost organic grade inclusive; this demonstrates the impact and ecological and health benefits of this wonderful plant.
3. IMMUNOSTIMULANT
The Stevia stem ex
tract increases the resistance of the body's immune system to effectively fight free radicals.
According to some medical studies, it is said that continued exposure to free radicals in addition to causing various diseases in cell tissues would affect our immune system more than other cells, weakening this important defense system.
Leukocytes and lymphocytes are cells components of our defense system and they are diminished by the invasion and continued exposure of free radicals, generating a situation of weakening and elimination of these cells.
The active oxygen or free radicals would act attacking and doing damage to the cell membrane lipids which is a type of safety guard for cells, indiscriminately damaging to proteins, DNA and mitochondria, which are like cell energy producing factory; they would likewise proceed with white blood cells and lymphocytes.
SINE QUA NON CONDITION OF STEVIA STEM EXTRACT
The effectiveness of the extract is found in the concentration and fermentation; adequate fermentation allows inorganic mineral salts to be freed such as potassium and other vitamins such as alpha tocopherol.
IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN STEVIA STEM
What is the substance that contains Stevia and that makes it so effective against free radicals?
The impo
rtance lies in the natural potassium inorganic salts being present in Stevia stems especially when these have been released by fermentation and concentration processes which surprisingly reach the 2200 mg per 100 ml of extract.
These potassium salts are considered the major cause of the effectiveness of Stevia as an antioxidant together with alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) having an integrated, synergistic effect, which set the Stevia as a new type of antioxidant superior to the conventional antioxidants being present in common foods.
Potassium has been comparatively undervalued even much less than the calcium mineral for long time.
MAIN ROLE OF POTASSIUM IN STEVIA
Faced with these findings, it has been redefined the primary role of potassium as one of the essential minerals with four well-defined functions in the body to be included in the daily diet.
1. It woul adjust the balance between acidity and alkalinity of intracellular fluid.
To maintain good health is necessary to keep the pH between 7.35 and 7.45, with a slightly alkaline level, but when we eat acidic foods such as meat this level easily leans toward acidity.
If potassium were abundantly present in the body at that time, the pH balance would be back to normal through the important role of homeostasis.
Approximate Nutritional Value Chart for Stevia Stem Extract in 100 ml
| Calorie | 47 Kcal | Sodium | 22 mg |
| β-Carotene | 54 µg | Potassium | 2200 mg |
| Vitamin A | 30UI | Partothenic Acid | 1.8 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.28 mg | Acetic Acid | 0.37% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.36 mg | Lactic Acid | 0.85% |
| Vitamin E | 0.17 mg | Heavy Metal (pb) | Below 10ppm |
| Niacin | 3.9 mg | Cafein | Not detected |
| Biotin | 17.4 µg | Arsenic | Not detected |
| Phosphor | 200 mg | ||
| Calcium | 120 mg | ||
| Iron | 1.3 mg |
2. It would help to adjust the osmotic pressure of intracellular fluid by absorbing nutrients and allowing entry of fresh oxygen to cells and removing waste products out of them.
3. It supports the recognition of muscle contractions with nerve stimulation.
4. It accelerates protein synthesis in the granules called ribosomes of cells.
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY INDICES
Several experiments made in universities show rates of antioxidant activity of potassium carbonate, compared to linoleic acid with 99% effectiveness. This represents nearly a full mark because linoleic acid is very easy to oxidize unsaturated fatty acids.
The Stevia stem extract has anti oxidants and the power to control the peroxidation of lipids per active oxygen, this amazing activity comes from a few types of potassium salts being present in Stevia that makes it a superior food containing vitamins and minerals.
SUPER VITAMIN
We might have underestimated the activity of potassium in the body. According to many experts, potassium salts are
already a kind of modern "super vitamin" that helps to strengthen and revitalize the body's cells.
See the important issues that come in the book "The Grace of God from Japan" by Nahoiko Sato.