The FDA has finally approved the use of the all natural, zero calorie sweetener Stevia in food, soft drinks and other drinks. The most interesting point about this sweetener is it has been available in natural food stores for many years and has been actively promoted as one of the safest alternative to sugar.

This all natural sweetener may not work in all soft drinks, it’s quite strong – but, companies such Coca Cola (using the name of Rebiana) and Pepsi Cola (using the name of PureVia) may already have products ready to bring to market and the manufacturer Cargill (using the name of Truvia) already has a ‘table ready’ product available.

It’s rather interesting to many that the FDA has taken so long to approve Stevia for use in food and beverages since it’s been readily available since the late 1950s and has long been used by those who are very conscious about ‘healthy’ additives.

There are limits to the approval by the FDA, the current approval is specifically geared towards the highly purified form of Stevia known as Rebaudioside A which some argue is the reason for the strong taste of Stevia.

It’s been documented that because of the strong flavor that Stevia drinks may initially be mostly flavored waters and citrus drinks (Coke’s first product will be a 50 calorie version of Sprite) while others claim this simply isn’t the case.

The most significant attraction for companies such as Coke and Pepsi is that soft drink consumption has declined considerably over the years and there are hopes (and expectations) that this will revive this market among teens and young adults.

It remains to be seen if Stevia will be able to promote additional sales in the soft drink wars and if it will begin replacing currently very popular non-sugar sweeteners that people have already been using for many years.

The leaf with zero calorie, which is 20 times sweeter than sugar and about 200 times sweeter than sugar in the form of extract, has been approved by the medical and food scientists as a better substitute for sugar in daily usage. The herb has its importance in the treatment of diabetes, obesity, weight management, insulin secretion, skin toning and healing, while it is equally an ingredient in Japanese style pickles, dried sea foods, cakes, breads and confectioneries. Stevia has a role in other areas also like, it can be boiled down into soya sauce and can be added to any beverages, including soft drinks.

In India, the trend is positive for the herb in the food market, as more and more companies are thinking about the better option instead of the calorie friendly sugar. With a wide market for various forms of Stevia, as leaf (raw material), crystal powder, crystal tablet, crystal liquid, and candies in the form of Indian Penny Court for better memory power, dry ginger for digestion and holy basil, obviously in cough soothing products.

Stevia and Diabetes

Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, an increase of over 3 million in just two years. That translates to about 8% of the U.S. population that is affected mainly with Type 2 diabetes. Even more alarming, roughly 57 million people are pre-diabetic, a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet to be classified as diabetic.

Diabetes is a disease wherein the body does not produce or use insulin properly. Type 1 Diabetes is when the body does not produce insulin, the hormone needed to convert sugar (or glucose) and starches into energy for use. Type 2 Diabetes, the most common form, is when the body does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 Diabetes is worsened by obesity, lack of exercise and a poor diet. There are no known cures for diabetes.

Voluminous studies have linked diabetes and heart disease and its attendant complications such as stoke, hypertension, high cholesterol and heart attacks. The most severe complications also include blindness, kidney failure, nervous system damage, lower limb amputations and diabetic coma.

This social epidemic also carries a heavy economic burden. The American Diabetes Association reported that as of 2007, the total annual economic cost of diabetes was estimated at $174 billion. Medical expenditures were estimated at $116 billion, including $27 billion for direct diabetes care and $58 billion for complications arising from diabetes. A person with diabetes spends $13,243 yearly in health expenses to manage this disease.

Despite the daunting statistics, diabetes is preventable or can be delayed. The single greatest factor that can prevent the onset of diabetes is lifestyle modification. That means people who lose weight, exercise regularly, and maintain a proper diet can delay or even prevent the onset of diabetes.

The key to managing diabetes is control of blood sugar, or glucose levels. Controlling what the body takes in can have a significant effect in regulating the blood sugar. The latest research shows that carbohydrates affect blood sugar levels the same way. So it is not the type of sugar per se, but the number of carbohydrates in the food that matters.

It is not a sin to crave for sweets. The practical solution for diabetics is to use calorie-free sugar substitutes that contain no carbohydrates. Calorie and carbohydrate-free sugar substitutes will not raise blood glucose levels. Artificial sweeteners help people regulate sugar intake by metabolizing energy more slowly, ensuring more stable blood glucose levels. However, despite containing artificial sweeteners or a “Sugar-free” seal, some foods can still affect blood glucose because of other carbohydrates in the food.

Studies have shown that artificial sugar substitutes may also disrupt with the brain’s ability to discern sweetness and calories. These sugar substitutes interfere by making the body unable to count calories based on sweetness, thus making people more likely to overindulge. So, ironically, artificial sweeteners could be helping obese people gain more weight.

Of all the natural sugar substitutes, the South American herb stevia presents the best case against artificial sweeteners. First, it is natural, native to Paraguay and used by the Guaraní Indians as a natural sweetener for centuries. Now, stevia is cultivated in Central and South America, Mexico and East Asia including China. Second, over 200 extensive studies have been conducted on this herbal sweetener attesting to its safety, non-toxicity and ability in managing diabetes.

For years we’ve been told that reducing our food intake and proper exercise will help us lose weight. However, more and more we are seeing diet plans that recommend cutting down on our sugar intake to reduce not only our weight but our chances of developing diabetes symptoms.  Diets such as the Hypoglycemia/Low Sugar Diet, the No Flour, No Sugar Diet, and others are forcing us to take a look at our overall sugar consumption.

It has long been accepted that we consume far too much sugar, in our coffee, our soft drinks and certainly in our desserts.  Today, we have hundreds of options for low calorie sweeteners, including Stevia.

Stevia is one of the newer ‘sweeteners’ that is known as a sugar substitute that is available today.  The extracts of Stevia (which is created from a group of herbs and shrubs) is widely known for having more than three hundred times the sweetness of sugar, making it an attractive alternative for a sweetener for many, especially those who suffer with diabetes.

If you are searching for an alternate sweetener to compliment your diabetes routine, to cook with more natural sweeteners or if you’re diet calls for a reduced or no sugar diet, Stevia could be the answer for you!   Unlike aspartame and other non-sugar sweeteners, Stevia has a distinct benefit of not only being calorie and carbohydrate free, but is also natural – it’s not manufactured – it does take some processing but isn’t laced with chemicals.

With the ever growing concern that we’re becoming an overweight society, more and more ‘sugar free’ diets are coming onto the market. You’ll find fat and sugar free diets, gluten and sugar free diets, and there is even evidence that a diet that is low in sugar and carbohydrates will reduce our risks of developing cancer.  The American Diabetes Association says that all of us should do a better job of monitoring our sugar intake, leading to a potential drop in blood sugar, to help ensure we do not develop Type 2 Diabetes which has serious other health risks in addition to a potential lifetime of care. 

As a society, we are far behind our counterparts – Asian countries including China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia have been using Stevia for many years.  Japan has been using Stevia as an alternate to saccharin and other artificial sweeteners since the early 1970’s and today, consumes more Stevia than any other country in the world. 

While the use of Stevia in the United States is limited, it is currently sold only as a supplement – it is currently in the hands of the FDA being placed there by Coca Cola and Cargill – it is anticipated that it could gain approval as a food supplement in both the United States and Canada as well. 

For those who are concerned about their sugar intake, Stevia allows us the option of having a sweetener that is all natural rather than one of the more chemical sweeteners that so many of us depend on today.

Taking advantage of Stevia is a sensible way to maintain our weight, enhance our weight loss plan and allows us to better control our sugar intake as is recommended in so many of todays popular diet plans.