Stevia contraindications. Sweet herb stevia is a natural and healthy sweetener
Stevia is an herb that grows in South America and is a natural sweetener.
fans healthy eating passionately loved honey grass Paraguay and use it instead of sugar in all dishes and drinks.
Unlike chemical sweeteners, stevia, absolutely, natural, and has a lot of useful properties.
At the end of the XX century. the grass has gained great popularity, so it began to be grown everywhere. However, still, Paraguayan stevia is considered the best.
Now honey grass can be bought in pharmacies, stores, and even grown in your own garden or on the window.
plant properties
The main feature of stevia is its sweetness. Natural stevia 10-15 times sweeter than sugar, and its extract - 100-300 times!
At the same time, the calorie content of grass is negligible. Compare, in 100 g of sugar there are about 388 kcal, and in the same amount of stevia - only 17.5 kcal.
Stevia is a rich source of vitamins and other beneficial substances. It consists of:
- vitamins A, C, D, E, K, P;
- minerals: chromium, selenium, phosphorus, iodine, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron;
- amino acids;
- pectins
- stevioside.
Wherein glycemic index product is zero, which makes stevia ideal sweetener for diabetics.
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Another important advantage of stevia is that when exposed to high temperatures it does not change its properties.
Therefore, the product can also be used in cooking for the preparation of hot dishes.
What are the benefits for the body
Stevia is not only incredibly tasty - it is also extremely useful.
What is the effect of honey grass on the human body?
Release forms: how to choose
Stevia can be bought at any pharmacy. It comes in various forms:
You can choose any option. It is only necessary to remember that the natural leaves of the plant are less sweet than the concentrated extract, and have a specific grassy flavor. He is not liked by everyone.
When choosing dried leaves you need to pay attention to their color: properly dried raw materials retain their green color.
If the leaves are poorly prepared or stored incorrectly, they will turn brown.
To really get useful product, you need to make sure that it does not contain additives. If the package says that fructose or sugar was added to the stevia, it is better to refuse the purchase.
Application methods
Stevia can be added to any food and drink. She will give them sweetness and a delicate aroma.
Honey grass is great for fruit salads, jams, pastries, soups, cereals, compotes, desserts, milkshakes.
But you need to remember that with an overdose of stevia, it will start to taste bitter, and the dish will be spoiled.
In addition, when the food sits for a while, the sweetness of the stevia will become more intense. That's why add her food carefully.
But how to cook stevia?
After all, not every dish can be put natural leaves? In this case, there are several universal recipes.
Instead of sugar
If you need to sweeten the dish, then using fresh or dried leaves is impractical.
Therefore, you can prepare a sweet infusion.
For him you will need:
- 200 g of hot water;
- 20 g stevia leaves.
The leaves must be put in a deep container, pour boiling water and put on a strong fire. The infusion should boil for 5-6 minutes. Then the broth must be removed from the stove, let it brew for 10-15 minutes and pour into a thermos.
Here the resulting mass should be 8-10 hours to brew well.
After that, the infusion can be filtered, poured into a bottle and stored in the refrigerator, if necessary, adding to dishes. The shelf life of the product is no more than a week.
Ready infusion can be added to pastries or tea. And here coffee with stevia is not for everyone. The herbaceous taste of the plant distorts the aroma invigorating drink, so the taste is very specific.
For weight loss
For people who want to lose weight, stevia will be an excellent aid.
It dulls the appetite, so half an hour before a meal, you need to drink a couple of teaspoons of the infusion prepared according to the above recipe.
If such a rich sweet drink is not to your taste, you can dilute it with tea.
Now a special tea for weight loss with stevia is on sale. It can be bought either as filter bags or as dried leaves.
It's easy to prepare:
- 1 tsp leaves or 1 filter bag should be poured with a glass of boiling water and let it brew for several minutes.
This drink should be consumed twice a day before meals. To make the product even tastier, you can add chamomile, black or green tea and rosehip.
Decoctions and infusions
To prepare a drink you will need: 
- 2 tsp dried stevia leaves;
- 1 liter of hot water.
Pour boiling water over the leaves, cover the container with a lid and leave for 20 minutes.
Ready tea can be filtered through a sieve, and then drunk throughout the day to improve metabolic processes.
In cosmetology
Since stevia helps smooth wrinkles, strengthen hair and nails, it is widely used in cosmetology:
- masks from grass crushed in a blender make the skin of the face supple, elastic and even, narrow pores, eliminate inflammation;
- you can wash your face with stevia infusion: it dries up inflammation, reduces oily skin and effectively fights acne;
- the infusion diluted with water can be used as a lotion for daily use;
- decoction (tea) from stevia can be frozen and used as cosmetic ice;
- the same composition is used for rinsing hair.
The only barrier to using stevia as a cosmetic product may become individual intolerance.
Contraindications
WHO experts have recognized stevia as an absolutely harmless product that can be consumed without restrictions.
However, there are certain properties of honey grass, due to which such a rash conclusion cannot be unconditionally accepted.
Japanese and Chinese researchers have found that some side effects from the use of this product do exist.
Stevia - amazing product, which will allow people who limit sugar intake to enjoy sweet foods again. Nutritionists around the world claim that honey grass is the most promising sweetener of our time.
We offer you to watch the video of the First Channel, dedicated to the medicinal plant - stevia.
Medicinal plants have been successfully used in folk medicine for many centuries. One of them is stevia - natural grass with a special sweet taste, with virtually no drawbacks and contraindications.
What it is?
Stevia or sweet double leaf is a type of medicinal perennial artisanal herb of the Compositae family. The plant is not tall, can reach 60-80 cm. The leaves are simple, the flowers are small, white. root system stevia is well developed, fibrous. Leaves are of particular value, they are much sweeter than ordinary sugar, they differ pleasant taste and aroma. 
Where does it grow
Stevia is native to South America.
Did you know?Indian peoples considered stevia as a symbol of happiness, eternal beauty, strength and courage. There was a legend that a girl named Stevia, who lived in ancient times, sacrificed herself for the sake of her people. The gods, having rewarded humanity for the feat of the beauty, gave the earth sweet, fragrant grass.
Most comfortable conditions for the growth of the bifolia is a moderately humid subtropical climate. Today it can be found in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay. Stevia is also grown in southeast Asia. If you create comfortable conditions for the plant, then it can grow almost anywhere.
Chemical composition
Stevia is an herb rich in great amount unique in their properties, special useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the state of the human body. The main beneficial substances of the plant are stevioside, rebaudioside. 
It also contains:
- group vitamins,;
- minerals (, etc.);
- stevioside;
- rebaudiosides;
- flavonoids;
- hydroxycinnamic acids;
- amino acids;
- chlorophylls;
- xanthophylls;
- essential oils.
Did you know? Stevioside is three hundred times sweeter than sugar, but at the same time, it has a low calorie content, does not lead to an increase in blood sugar levels, and has an antibacterial effect.
Stevia is used to make essential oils, which include over 53 active substances. Such oils have a healing, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic effect.
Benefits for the body
Useful properties of stevia for humans deserve special attention. Syrups and herbal infusions are indicated for many diseases various types. Systematic use plants allows you to stabilize cholesterol levels, speed up metabolism, normalize blood pressure. sweet grass contributes to the natural cleansing of the body, the removal of toxins, increasing the body's resistance to negative external factors.
Since it suppresses appetite, helps break down fats, it is used for obesity. varying degrees. People who take stevia experience a significant increase in activity, performance, and endurance. The components that make up its composition allow you to fight microorganisms, viruses and infections. This property led to the fact that the plant is used for the production of toothpaste.
Regular use of infusions and tea from stevia restores vitality person, gives him cheerfulness and confidence, cheers up. Grass stimulates activity, fights fatigue, making it very fond of people who are actively involved in sports and others. physical activity. Significantly improved condition skin, hair, nails. Stevia extract is able to heal wounds, scars, burns, remove rashes and inflammation. Beneficial features
The beneficial properties of the plant have been known since the time of the Aborigines. They used it for almost all ailments. Modern scientists are actively studying the functions of stevia, conducting various experiments regarding the use and benefits of the herb.
The main property of the double leaf is a replacement for sugar. It has a positive effect on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, allows you to activate metabolic processes and accelerate the breakdown of fats. The plant reduces cravings for sweets, reduces appetite, which makes it possible to quickly lose extra pounds.Did you know? At the moment, the world leaders in the consumption of stevia are the Japanese. They have long forgotten about the use of sugar and switched to the product in industrial quantities.
Honey grass, in addition to replacing sugar, is able to cope with various diseases. It has choleretic and diuretic functions, thereby allowing you to relieve swelling, remove excess liquid from cells, which can cause fatigue, lethargy and apathy. The antimicrobial properties of the plant make it possible to use it as a remedy for colds, increase the body's resistance, strengthen the immune system. 
Application
Sweet double leaf is used in many spectrums: folk medicine, cosmetology, cooking. He excelled in the treatment of such diseases:
- hypertension;
- diabetes;
- various skin diseases;
- violations at work cardiovascular systems s;
- allergic manifestations;
- frostbite or burns;
- seborrhea and dandruff;
- diseases associated with the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- physical and mental fatigue;
- nervous exhaustion.
Important!To use the plant for the purpose of healing, you need to consult a doctor. He will determine the treatment regimen and the required dosage, taking into account the age of the patient, the course and complexity of the disease.
For preventive purposes, stevia syrup is consumed daily, 4-5 drops per glass. clean water. Tea is recommended to drink one cup daily. It normalizes intestinal peristalsis, speeds up metabolism, promotes the rapid breakdown of fats. You can also use stevia in powder form. However, it must be remembered that it is the most concentrated. To replace sugar, just take the tool on the tip of a knife. 
Experts advise children to take stevia to prevent colds, treat bronchitis or obesity. For this purpose, an infusion is prepared: 2-3 tbsp. l. leaves pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and insist for several hours. Take the remedy 3 times a day. If not individual intolerance, pregnant women can also take decoctions and infusions of stevia. They significantly strengthen the immune system, fight fatigue and depression, and normalize sleep.
Possible harm and contraindications
Stevia is generally safe for human health does not cause allergic reactions and other side effects. The only contraindications to the use of the plant are individual intolerance, pregnancy and lactation. Stevia should be used with caution in people with diabetes. When dieting and losing weight, it is also better to minimize the intake of this natural sweetener. For children, sweet two-leaf can be consumed under the strict supervision of adults.
Stevia is a healthy, safe plant that has virtually no contraindications and can be used by adults and children at any age. It will be an excellent tool to sweeten teas, infusions, decoctions, when baking desserts and cakes, and can also help in the fight against many ailments.The problem of dealing with overweight worries many people around the world and is moving from the category aesthetic defect to a serious illness requiring medical intervention. One of the means of dealing with the unfortunate kilograms is the use of the drug "Stevia" instead of regular sugar.
Why is sugar bad and how can it be replaced?
Scientists agree that sugar can destroy the human body and causes many dangerous diseases, including diabetes, metabolic disorders and, as a result, obesity. The average daily intake of sugar per person is no more than 50 grams, taking into account all sources - tea, juices, sweets, muffins, chocolate and the like. Unfortunately, people are so addicted to sweets that they violate this norm several times. In Russia, the average consumption of this product per person exceeds 90 grams, and in the USA - over 150 grams. As a result of exposure to sugar, there is a violation of the functions of the insular apparatus of the pancreas. In addition, sucrose destroys connective tissues, bones, teeth, blood vessels in the human body, which leads to the appearance of diseases such as caries, heart attack, hypertension, stroke, hyperglycemia. Since this substance belongs to carbohydrates, when splitting, it turns into fat, and with its excess, subcutaneous deposits are formed. The peculiarity of this product is that it becomes a kind of drug for people, since when it is used, hormones of joy are produced - endorphins, and you want sweets again and again. That is why people began to look for a way out of the situation and develop substances that would replace this product. A sweetener based on stevia was also developed.
What is "stevia"?
"Stevia" (sweetener) is a natural sweetener that is extracted from honey grass. This plant was originally discovered in Paraguay, but today it is grown in many countries around the world. "Stevia" is much sweeter than regular sugar, but has almost zero calorie content, so it is actively used as a means to combat excess weight. The advantage of this product is that it tastes very pleasant unlike other sweeteners. Today "Stevia" has already become constituent element diet for diabetics, as it allows you to normalize body weight and promotes the production of insulin. This sweetener is considered one of the best in the world, as it is healthy and is made only from natural ingredients. natural ingredients. Due to the ubiquity of this product, the question of where to buy the Stevia sweetener does not arise for anyone, since it is commercially available in almost any retail store.
The composition of the drug
"Stevia" (sugar substitute) is made from a perennial herbaceous plant, which has been known for more than 1.5 thousand years. Honey grass grows in bushes, each of which collects up to 1200 leaves. It is the leaves that represent special value. stevia grows naturally in the northeastern part of Paraguay, but after the discovery of its unique properties, it began to be grown on an industrial scale in many countries of the world with favorable climate(China, Korea, Japan, USA, Ukraine, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel) on special plantations. China is the largest exporter of this herb. Stevia is 10-15 times sweeter than sucrose. This is due to its unusual composition, which includes diterpene glycosides, including stevioside, rebuadiosides. These substances have a persistent sweet taste that lasts much longer than that of sucrose. In addition, they have antibacterial effect. The sweetener is extracted from the leaves of honey grass by extraction, resulting in a suitable for use in the form of Stevia powder (sweetener). Photos allow you to see what the plant looks like before and after processing.
Therapeutic effect
"Stevia" (sugar substitute) contains saponins, which cause a slight foaming effect and have increased surface activity, therefore it is widely used as an expectorant for the treatment of diseases of the lungs and bronchi. This drug improves digestion, as it enhances the secretion of glands. It is used as a diuretic. Stevia improves the condition of the skin surface, increasing its elasticity, therefore it is widely used for treatment skin diseases. The tool helps to relieve swelling, has an anti-inflammatory effect, improves the process of assimilation of substances in the body. Thanks to the flavonoids contained in honey grass, which are strong antioxidants, the immune system is activated. In addition, Stevia strengthens the walls of blood vessels, capillaries, normalizes cholesterol levels in the blood, breaks down fatty plaques and blood clots. The drug contains more than 53 different essential oils that suppress viruses, pathogens, have an anti-inflammatory effect, tone up the work of the gallbladder, stomach, liver, and intestines.
Beneficial features
"Stevia" (sugar substitute) has the following unique properties, which isolate this drug from total weight other sweeteners:
- 150-300 times sweeter than regular sugar;
- has zero calories;
- is not a favorable environment (unlike traditional sugar) for the development of bacteria, but, on the contrary, causes an antibacterial effect;
- normalizes blood glucose levels;
- dissolves well in water;
- a small dosage is required due to the high level of sweetness;
- widely used in cooking, as it is not exposed to high temperatures, acids and alkalis;
- sweetener is safe for human health. This fact was tested by the Guarani tribe over a 1000-year history of using the plant;
- is an exclusively natural product.
Indications
- patients with diabetes;
- people suffering from overweight and obesity;
- people with high blood sugar;
- for the treatment of dysfunctions gastrointestinal tract, including, with ulcers, gastritis, a decrease in the level of enzyme production;
- for the treatment of viral and infectious diseases;
- at high level blood cholesterol;
- to activate the body's immune forces;
- at allergic reactions, dermatitis and other skin diseases;
- in diseases of the kidneys, thyroid and pancreas.
For those who are interested in where to buy the Stevia sweetener, it is important to know that the drug can be found in many places today. Yes, it is sold in retail stores, pharmacies, retail chains of health products, dietary supplements, vitamins.
Sweetener "Stevia": contraindications
Stevia, like any other sweetener, has a number of contraindications. Therefore, keep in mind the following information:
- before using the drug, you should consult with your doctor about the presence of individual intolerance to its individual components;
- Since "Stevia" lowers blood pressure, strong jumps can be observed with excessive doses. Therefore, it is better to refuse the use of a sweetener for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases and problems with blood pressure;
- at reduced content blood glucose at overuse"Stevia" may experience a hypoglycemic state.
To avoid harm to health, it is important to adhere to a strict dosage.
Stevia for weight loss
Millions of people around the world are overweight, the cause of which is improper and unhealthy nutrition - the abuse of too sweet, fatty and heavy foods. That's why this problem takes on a global scale. Sweetener "Stevia" in tablets is used by those people who thus seek to give up the use of sugar, leading to the accumulation of body fat. When using sweeteners, people do not feel disadvantaged in sweets, but at the same time, the calorie content of dishes is significantly reduced, since Stevia contains almost 0 kcal. The peculiarity of the product lies in the fact that the substances contained in its composition are much sweeter than sugar, so a small dosage is required, and besides, they are not absorbed in the intestines, which only benefits the figure. However, it is worth noting that the side effects of Stevia are not yet fully understood, so you should not get too carried away with the use and exceed the dosage in order to avoid unforeseen consequences. The sweetener can not only be added to tea or coffee, but also used in cooking.
Application for diabetic patients
According to the results of a study by a Moscow laboratory, the natural sweetener "Stevia" with constant use reduces the level of glucose, cholesterol in the blood. In addition, this product improves the functioning of the liver, pancreas and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. The drug can be used in the treatment of diseases of the joints, in which it is required to exclude the use of sugar. Honey grass serves as a means of preventing the development of hypoglycemic conditions that occur when diabetes. It can be used in diseases of the heart, skin, teeth, in violation of work digestive tract, atherosclerosis. The sweetener stimulates the adrenal medulla and, with regular use, increases the quality and standard of living. According to research, Paraguayans who used stevia instead of sugar do not have diseases such as excess weight and diabetes. According to statistics, each Paraguayan eats about ten kilograms of honey grass per year.
How to take Stevia and what is the dosage?
Sweetener with stevia is sold in various types- dry leaves, tablets, liquid, tea bags. Dry leaves are brewed into tea. The dosage is 0.5 grams per 1 kilogram of body weight. 0.015 grams of stevia in liquid form replaces one sugar cube. When using stevia in tablet form, it is enough to dissolve one piece in 1 glass of drink.
Side effects
The conducted studies made it possible to establish that when taking the natural sweetener "Stevia" there is no side effects And negative impact on the human body, subject to compliance with the dosage, even with prolonged use, unlike synthetic sweeteners. If the dosage is violated, palpitations may also occur. It is not recommended to use a sweetener for diabetics in conjunction with additional drugs to lower sugar levels.
Sweetener "Stevia": harm or benefit?
There is a lot of controversy in the world community about replacing ordinary sweets with stevia. Opponents of Stevia claim that for the stevioside that is part of the sweetener human body does not have enzymes for cleavage, so it removes the substance unchanged. In the intestine, this element breaks down into steviol and glucose. It is believed that steviol in its properties is similar to, therefore, it can cause hormonal imbalances, reduce sexual activity. However, studies conducted on chickens that were given a stevia solution at a concentration of 5 grams per 100 milliliters instead of water showed that the violation reproductive function the sweetener does not cause. And also those consumers who have already tried the Stevia sweetener agree with this. Reviews about him confirm that there are no violations in the sexual sphere.
Customer opinion
Those who have already used a sweetener leave ambiguous. So, some buyers note that the drug has a pleasant taste. Others claim that it can be slightly bitter, which is not common after drinking regular sugar. Consumers use "Stevia" not only as an additive to drinks, but also used in home preparations for the winter, in baking, making jam. However, there are difficulties with correct dosage, you have to use the table for a more accurate calculation.
Amazing stevia has been used as healing remedy from various diseases and just as a sweetener in South America back in the 17th century, when no one knew about ordinary sugar. Its unique healing properties became known much later, when scientists were able to study its composition. The plant is used for food modern world not so long ago, for example, in Japan - the last 50 years. Sweet grass in the diet is one of the reasons high rate Japanese life expectancy.
The amazing stevia has long been used as a remedy for various diseases.
Stevia belongs to the Compositae family and is a perennial plant. Flower white color, small. Grass is a distant relative of dandelion and chamomile. But, unlike them, it is very thermophilic and dies at temperatures below + 10ºС.
This plant is now very popular, as it is a natural substitute for regular white sugar, exceeding its sweetness by about 30 times. Makes it a leader among sugar substitutes low calorie and the ability to lower blood glucose levels. healing properties endowed with a variety of stevia rebaudiana. It is used as a natural sweetener.
The plant is used as food in the modern world not so long ago, for example, in Japan - the last 50 years Stevia means "honey" in the Mayan language. From ancient legend it is known that this is the name of a young girl who fearlessly sacrificed herself to save the people of her tribe. The gods generously endowed the girl for her devotion to her fellow tribesmen with amazing emerald grass with small white flowers, which bestows great strength and eternal youth.
This honey grass was brought to Europe quite recently, in the 20th century. And in the 17th century, the Spanish conquistadors, while in America, learned that the natives used it in the preparation of healing drinks. These drinks were used various diseases to relieve fatigue. Due to its sweet taste, this plant complements the composition of Paraguayan matcha tea.
For the first time, the scientist Antonio Bertoni from South America wrote about him in 1887. After a detailed study of the properties of the plant received world fame. This herb first came to the USSR in the 1970s. It was supposed to supplement the diet of astronauts, intelligence officers, and submarine crews.
It is not known exactly whether these plans were realized, but after studying it was scientifically proven positive impact sweet plant on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.
This honey grass was brought to Europe quite recently, in the 20th century. In 1990, stevia was named the most important plant for the fight against diabetes. Medicinal properties it has the widest spectrum of activity. Now this plant is grown not only in America and Brazil, but also in China, Japan, Korea and the Crimea. And not only in the summer in the ground, but also in winter time as a house plant.
Gallery: stevia herb (25 photos)
Stevia: benefits and harms (video)
Medicinal qualities of sweet grass
The ability to replace ordinary sugar is not the only advantage of this plant.
Stevia does not increase blood glucose, but, on the contrary, helps to reduce this indicator. Therefore, it is recommended for people with diabetes. Grass for diabetes is absolutely safe, unlike other sweeteners containing carcinogens.
Such a sugar substitute has a positive effect on blood pressure indicators, bringing them back to normal. Helps eliminate "bad" cholesterol and prevents clogging blood vessels. Positive impact on work thyroid gland and helps to eliminate toxins. The use of herbs in food tones the body, stopping the aging process. It has a rejuvenating effect on the skin, slows down the appearance of wrinkles. The plant has a positive effect on health oral cavity, protecting teeth from caries, and gums from periodontal disease.
Such a sugar substitute has a positive effect on blood pressure indicators, bringing them back to normal. Grass has wide range actions. This is due to the amazing richness of its composition. It contains the following trace elements:
- magnesium;
- copper;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- selenium;
- silicon;
- phosphorus;
- zinc.
The use of the plant has a beneficial effect on the functions of the stomach and pancreas. When taking medications that Negative influence on the gastric mucosa, this herb reduces possible adverse reactions. This sugar substitute is rich in antioxidants, which allows you to cleanse the body of toxins. It has a calming effect on the skin, relieves inflammation. Its use is very effective for losing weight, normalizing the metabolic process and increasing immunity. This amazing tool is perfect for those people who:
- take care of their health;
- are sick with atherosclerosis;
- are overweight;
- have metabolic disorders;
- suffer from diabetes;
- need sugar substitutes.
The use of stevia instead of sugar reduces the manifestations of allergies in the human body, for example, unlike honey, which is a strong allergen. Compared to honey, this remedy is also less caloric, which is very important for people with a tendency to gain weight.
Contraindications for use
Stevia leaf extract is called stevioside. It makes honey grass sweeter than sugar. The substances that make up the stevioside are not broken down by the body due to the lack of the necessary enzymes. They pass through the digestive tract without digestion. Some glycosides that enter the intestines are processed by bacteria, as a result of which steviosides are transformed into steviols. In their structure, the latter are similar to steroid hormones. Scientists have concluded that this substance can affect hormonal background and suppress sexual activity. According to this assumption, studies have been carried out, after which it turned out that it is almost impossible to achieve such an effect. To do this, you need to use grass in unrealistically large quantities.
Contraindications for the use of stevia include pregnancy and lactation to avoid possible adverse reactions, as well as personal intolerance, so as not to cause allergies. You can not eat this herb with diathesis and gastroenteritis, it is undesirable for people with low blood pressure, as this can cause an even greater decrease in pressure. Do not combine it with milk - an upset stomach may occur.
Be sure to follow the expiration dates on the package, and store ready-made decoctions and infusions in a cool place for no more than 5 days. Contraindications to the use of the plant are insignificant, but it is still worth paying attention to these data so as not to harm health.
The use of honey grass in moderate amounts will not harm your health. Active substances plants will strengthen the immune system, increase protective functions organism. But its use should be cyclical: periodically it is worth replacing with other organic sweeteners - honey or maple syrup.
The use of stevia for food purposes
You can use sweet grass in cooking wherever regular sugar is used. You can even bake sweets in the oven bakery products- grass tolerates heat treatment about +200ºС. Thanks to low content calories - 18 kcal per 100 g (for comparison: white sugar - 387 kcal per 100 g) - it can be used as food for people suffering from extra pounds.
Often the herb is used in the preparation of drinks. Its leaves, when infused in cool water, give off even more sweetness than in hot water. If a cool drink is allowed to brew, it will become even sweeter. The herb goes well with drinks and fruits that have sour taste: oranges, lemons, apples. Can be used with frozen food - it will not lose its medicinal properties. It can also be used in alcoholic beverage production.
You can use sweet grass in cooking wherever regular sugar is used. Stevia herb can be bought at a specialty store, pharmacy or supermarket. It comes in the form of dried leaves, ground as a powder, in the form of tablets or liquids (syrups, tinctures). How to make drinks or culinary specialties usually listed on the package. If the herb is purchased in the form of dried leaves, then you can make an infusion from it yourself. To do this, 20 g of the plant should be poured with 1 cup of boiling water. Bring this mixture to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Leave the decoction for about 10 hours. Filter - and you can use. The infusion is stored for 3 to 5 days in a cool place.
Sugar substitute (video)
Cultivation and care
You can grow honey grass outdoors or at home. This plant is from the tropics, so with the onset of cold weather it must be brought to a warm place, otherwise it will die. Important conditions are warm and a large number of Sveta. In low light or low temperatures, the growth of grass is greatly slowed down, and the accumulation of sweetness is reduced. In the house, it is better to place it on the south or southwest window.
Stevia propagates in two ways: seeds and cuttings. The pot needs a volume of at least 2 liters. It is necessary to provide drainage with a thickness of 2 cm. Optimum soil: about 50% peat soil, 25% ordinary garden soil and 25% coarse sand. First, the pot is half filled with soil, then the cuttings or seedlings are planted. As the plants grow, soil is sprinkled on top.
When the honey grass grows up to 20 cm, it is necessary to prune in the middle of the internode. Pruning stimulates active growth twigs and leaves, the plant will look like a bush. The cut top can be rooted. After pruning, you need to make a greenhouse for the plant by putting a plastic cap or bag on top of the pot, and remove it from a sunny place. If pruning is not done, then the plant will stretch strongly upwards and leaf growth will slow down.
Growing from seeds begins by sowing in plastic pots in mid-April. After 1.5-2 months, seedlings can be transplanted into a separate pot. The pots are taken out into the street not immediately after transplantation, but first for 2 hours a day for hardening. Then you can take it out for good or even dig it in the garden. It is possible to grow honey grass in open soil until about the beginning of September, it should be brought into the house when the temperature drops to + 10ºС.
You can grow honey grass outdoors or at home. Caring for is easy. Regular watering and spraying is required. It is impossible to allow the drying of the earth or its waterlogging, otherwise the plant will die.
Overestimate the merits this plant very hard. Grass increases the bioenergetic abilities of the body. She is absolutely harmless and does not lose her medicinal qualities when heated. It contains a lot of different trace elements, amino acids, flavonoids, essential oils, antioxidants. This herb has so many advantages that the inclusion of stevia in your diet, replacing regular sugar with it, is correct solution And Right way to health, beauty and long youth.
Despite the many benefits, uncontrolled use of stevia is prohibited.
To date, stevia is the only plant-based sugar substitute that does not negative impact on the body, but, on the contrary, beneficial. It improves immunity, normalizes the activity of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems and some internal organs. So what exactly is stevia?
It's perennial herbaceous plant, the stems of which annually die off and are reborn again. Stevia grows in South America, in the favorable subtropical climate of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. The height of this cultivated plant reaches one meter.
Stevia is a non-decorative plant. In autumn, during the dormant period, it gradually dies off and does not look very presentable, and in summer and spring it is nice to look at these curly bushes. Stevia is similar in appearance to chrysanthemum and mint. The plant blooms continuously, especially during intensive growth. The flowers are quite small and collected in small baskets. In a temperate climate, stevia is able to bloom only in summer, its seeds germinate very poorly, so it is bred with seedlings.
Beneficial features
The Japanese were the first to talk about the beneficial medicinal properties of stevia. In the eighties of the last century in Japan, they began to collect and actively replace sugar with stevia. This has had a beneficial effect on the health of the whole nation, thanks to which the Japanese live the longest on the planet.The Guarani Indians were the first to use the leaves of the plant as food to give a sweet taste to the national drink - mate tea.
In Russia, the study of the beneficial properties of this plant began a little later - in the 90s. Numerous studies were carried out in one of the laboratories in Moscow, which found that stevioside is an extract from stevia leaves:
- lowers blood sugar levels,
- improves blood microcirculation,
- normalizes the functions of the pancreas and liver,
- has a diuretic, anti-inflammatory effect,
- reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
Stevia is indicated for diabetics, as the plant prevents the development of hypo- and hyperglycemic conditions, and also reduces the dose of insulin. At simultaneous reception herbs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduces the pathogenic effect of the latter on the mucosa of the digestive tract. Stevia herb - a sweetener that should be used for angina pectoris, obesity, diseases digestive system, atherosclerosis, pathology of the skin, teeth and gums, but most of all - for their prevention. This is a herbal remedy traditional medicine can stimulate the work of the adrenal medulla and prolong the life of a person.
The stevia plant is ten times sweeter than sugar due to the content of a complex substance - stevioside. It consists of glucose, sucrose, steviol and other compounds. Stevioside is currently recognized as the sweetest and most harmless natural product. Thanks to a wide therapeutic effect it is good for human health. Although stevioside is pure form much sweeter than sugar, low in calories, does not alter blood glucose levels, and has a mild antibacterial effect.
In addition to sweet glycosides, the plant contains antioxidants, flavonoids, minerals, vitamins. The composition of stevia explains its unique medicinal and health properties.
medicinal plant has a number of the following properties:
- antihypertensive,
- reparative,
- immunomodulatory,
- bactericidal,
- normalizing immune defense,
- increasing the bioenergy capabilities of the body.
To normalize the function of the gastrointestinal tract, stevia is also used, since it contains inulin-fructooligosaccharide, which serves nutrient medium for representatives normal microflora intestines - bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
Contraindications to the use of stevia
The beneficial properties of the plant are clear and proven. But in addition to the benefits of stevia, it can harm the human body. That's why self-treatment herbal remedy Absolutely forbidden.
The main contraindications to the use of stevia herbs:
- individual intolerance,
- changes in blood pressure,
- allergic reactions.
All materials on the site are presented for informational purposes only. Before using any means, consultation with a doctor is MANDATORY!
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