Stevia is a green leafy plant which is native to South America and has been used for medical treatments since ancient times. Still, stevia is popularly grown in Brazil and Paraguay and cultivated in China. Besides, the word “stevia” refers to the entire plant and will be used interchangeably to refer to “steviol glycosides” which is the sweet components purified from stevia’s leaves. Moreover, this plant is known to have the strong and sweet flavor so that it is being used as a natural sweetener.

Being such a natural sweetener, stevia provides a healthy alternative for those people who wants to lower their sugar consumption. Even, the extract has 200-300 times more sweetness than table sugar. However, you do not need to worry about the presence of high sugar since stevia has a lower calorie compared to other sweeteners. Indeed, it is 100% natural with zero calories contained which have two major sweet compounds of sweetness, Stevioside and Rebaudioside A.

Consequently, as a natural sweetener, stevia provides health benefits you may have never expected before. Then, to know more, check the followings below to ensure what are the health benefits of stevia leaf.

1. Your Favorite Natural Sweetener

Using stevia as your favorite natural sweetener is such a very good idea. Besides, the reason why you should choose stevia instead of having artificial sweeteners is because stevia derives from a plant. And most of the plant foods are rich in nutrients. For the tips, you can add stevia to your favorite foods such as cakes, yogurt, ice creams, pudding, and another kind of delicious desserts. Thus, not only give you best health benefits of stevia leaf as the natural sweetener but also it provides natural sweetness which can boost the taste of the meal.

2. Lowers Blood Pressure

People have to watch their blood pressure level. This is a must since there will be a certain health problem due to both of low blood pressure and high blood pressure. To recover these conditions, you need to consume healthy foods. Indeed, the foods you have to eat must contain good nutrients that can support your body health.

On the other hand, the first benefit you can get from consuming stevia is the way it lowers the blood pressure. This benefit is linked to the presence of stevioside which relaxes the blood vessels and promote the cardiovascular system. Also, the stevioside plays a role in lowering the risk the of the enlarging heart caused by elevated blood pressure. Indeed, by having stevioside, it works to lower the blood pressure level and help to prevent certain diseases including stroke.

3. Prevents Heart Disease

The heart is the main part of our body. To keep the heart healthy, we must prevent to consume any foods which contain high level of bad cholesterol. Then, as described before, stevia has stevioside which helps to lower the cholesterol level in the body. Furthermore, the cholesterol which is being reduced is the oxidized LDL cholesterol that indicates the heart disease. Thus, if you consume stevioside foods regularly, it will lead you to prevent heart diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

4. Prevents Risks of Diabetes

There health benefits of stevia leaf as the natural sweetener for diabetes patients. By consuming stevia regularly, it helps to reduce blood sugar by about 18% due to the work of stevioside contained. With this great benefit, it helps to prevent the risks of having diabetes type II which is included as one of biggest health problems. Diabetes itself is known as a condition caused by elevated blood sugar in the context of insulin resistance or an inability to produce insulin. Hence, consuming stevioside foods also help to increase the production of insulin which has a role in lowering blood sugar levels at the same time.

5. Acts as Anti-inflammatory

Consuming anti-inflammatory foods help you to prevent illnesses. Also, by having anti-inflammatory nutrients help you to boost the immune system which protects against viruses and bacteria. To fulfill the needs of anti-inflammatory nutrients, you can do several ways including to consume more fruits and vegetables. Further, you have to minimize the intake of processed foods and fast foods. For instance, you can eat beets, broccoli, and blueberries together with stevia to support the anti-inflammatory functioning in the body.

6. Acts as Anti-cancer

There are many research and studies done to provide the exact information about how to prevent and to cure cancer. As a result, the regular intake of fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidant nutrients help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. In another hand, studies have shown that stevia has antioxidant compounds such as kaempferol, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, isoquercitrin, and isosteviol. One of them which is kaempferol help to reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer by 23 percent.

7. Helps to Lose Weight

People nowadays doing a healthy diet by eating good foods and good drinks. The foods they consume are high in nutrient and also is beneficial to support their diet. For instance, people like to consume fiber foods and low-calorie foods as their diet food menu. They eat salad, grains, and drink herbal tea to fulfill the nutrients while dieting.

Then, as you have read above, stevia contains no calorie and it means very good for those who wants to lose some weight. You may have worried to add sugar to your tea, coffee, or any beverages which need the sweetener to add the flavor. However, as stevia provides you the natural way, then you can enjoy your sweet food without any worry to gain some weight.

8. No Allergic Reactions

Some people may suffer from allergies if they are consuming specific foods such as nuts, grains, and another kind of foods. Moreover, people who suffer from allergies may have various symptoms including itchiness, redness on the skin, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and even can lead to the death. On the other hand, it is shown that there is no potential for allergic reactions to the stevia. Moreover, steviol glycosides are not reactive and not metabolized to reactive compounds. Then, to summarize, you do not need to have any worry if you want to consume stevia as a substitute for sugar.

9. Source of Antioxidant Compounds

As stevia is a kind of green plants, it has great antioxidant compounds, such as flavonoids, triterpenes, tannins, caffeic acid, kaempferol, and quercetin. These nutrients are very beneficial to maintain the health. Flavonoids which is polyphenolic compounds found in plants to reduce risks of certain health problems. In the same way, quercetin, the powerful antioxidant nutrient which is beneficial to be anti-inflammatory compound and to prevent free radical damage.

10. Contains Gluten-free

Gluten is known as a protein found in wheat and often found in many kinds of processed foods and junk foods like bread and pizza. The symptoms of celiac disease may come in various ways such as bloating, nausea, and diarrheas. At this point, people who suffer from this disease should avoid any gluten foods. As a result, if you are the one who suffers from celiac disease, then you are free to consume stevia. Indeed, as stevia do not contain any gluten, it will be safe to everyone.

11. Promotes Oral Health

Eating sugary foods including candy and soda can lead to the presence of tooth decay. Next, the pH amount contained in certain foods may break the tooth’s enamel. Further, if you love to eat candy or drink soda, it is a must for you to keep maintaining the oral health. As a result, using stevia as your toothpaste and mouthwashes is beneficial to reduce bacterial formation in the mouth. What is even greater is stevia helps to prevent cavities and gingivitis. For the tips, you can consume calcium foods to strengthen your bones as well as consuming carrots which also help to reduce cavities.

12. Prevents Gingivitis

Who wants to have a healthy and bright smile? Well, one of the ways to achieve that is by maintaining the dental health. As explained before, stevia can be used as a natural mouthwash. It helps to prevent the infectious organism in the gums and teeth as well as inhibiting the growth of plaque. For the tips, you can use the mixture of a few drops of stevia extract with a lukewarm water then just gargle it daily. Therefore, using stevia can help you to prevent gingivitis and lead you to have good breath smell.

13. Promotes Bone Health

Many of people consume calcium foods to improve the bone functioning and strengthening the bone structure. As a matter of fact, studies show that a regular intake of stevia can promote the calcium nutrient inside the body. This means you do not need to consume milk only to provide calcium nutrients in the body but also stevia as green plants also has a role in it. Then, by having the ideal amount of calcium, you have succeeded to build strong bones and prevent the risks of getting osteoporosis.

14. Prevents Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a kind of bone health problems which makes the body loses too much bone. Indeed, it minimizes to the bone structure and bone density functioning as it lowers the bone strengthening. As a matter of fact, more than a million women have osteoporosis especially after the menopause when their levels of estrogen fall.

Consequently, as we are talking about the health benefits of stevia in this article, then one of health benefits of stevia is the way it prevents osteoporosis. Studies have shown that consuming stevia help to promote the calcium absorption in the body so that it is beneficial to prevent osteoporosis. Adding stevia to your tea or coffee for two or three times daily help you to strengthen the bone density and the bone structure for sure.

15. Source of Fiber

As stevia contains fiber, it helps you to control blood sugar level, promote heart health and prevent risks of strokes. Fiber can be found in green vegetables and many kinds of fruits including in lentils, peas, and avocados. Then, why we should take fiber foods to consume? Well, the answer clearly stated that fiber foods are very beneficial to promote your digestion system health. As the consequence, the healthier your digestive system, then the better absorption of nutrients you will have in your body.

16. Source of Protein

It could not be denied that we are as human need protein to support our body functioning. With the protein or body regenerate some new cells as well as it replacing the broken cells in the body. Also, it strengthens the muscles and promotes body muscle greatly. Not only for that, protein has a role in improving the smooth functioning of enzymes and are beneficial to lose some weight. Therefore, by having stevia as your natural sweetener, then you have added the special healthy gift for the sake of your body.

17. Source of Iron

Iron, one of the important minerals to our body health. The main work of iron includes providing the oxygen to organ systems through the red blood cell production. Also, another function of iron is to prevent anemia which its symptoms are having chronic fatigue. Consequently, to prevent certain health problems caused by the deficiency of iron nutrients, then you need to consume iron foods including stevia as well.

18. Source of Potassium

Everybody wants to have great body muscle. As a result, they go to the gym to do exercise to support the muscle growth. However, it will not be a complete way if you just take an exercise daily. Indeed, you need good nutrients which contribute to building body muscle. Then, by having stevia to consume, you can fulfill potassium needs as well as this nutrient help you to promote the muscle health and maintaining the blood pressure.

19. Source of Magnesium

Magnesium as the essential nutrient is contained in stevia. This nutrient has potential benefit to improve insulin sensitivity and maintaining the bodily nerves, muscles, and bones. In fact, you need to consume magnesium foods in order having a healthier body.

20. Source of Sodium

Sodium totally plays a role in maintaining the enzymes operations and muscle contractions. Still, you have to take this nutrient in moderate since everything that is too much has to lead to the bad effects, right? Consequently, an ideal amount of sodium will help to promote the body health while deficiency of sodium can impact to the presence of low blood pressure, headache and weight loss. For the tips, you can consume apples, common salt, turnips and other leafy vegetables to fulfill sodium needs.

After reading the health benefits of stevia, then we also provide the benefits of stevia as beauty treatments below. Check it out!

Stevia as Beauty Treatments

21. Promotes Skin Health

Many people use natural treatment to promote their skin health. For instance, the use fruit mask to be applied on their face or drinking fruit and vegetable juice to have best nutrients for the skin. Also, by having the antibacterial function, it is beneficial to prevent certain skin problems including eczema and dermatitis.

22. Promotes Beauty Skin

If you want to have beauty skin, try to consume stevia regularly. With the antioxidant properties, it helps with wrinkles, skin blemishes, dermatitis, eczema, acne outbreaks, scarring, rashes, and itchiness. Also, antioxidant nutrients prevent earlier aging by smoothing the wrinkles. For the tips, use the natural face mask by combining stevia leaves with coconut oil to have an elastic and fair skin.

23. Promotes Hair Health

Add the stevia extract to your daily shampoo to get rid of dandruff, dry scalp, and dull, dry and thin hair. With daily uses of stevia, it helps to strengthen the hair, promote the hair growth and at the same time, help to make the shiny and beauty hair. For the tips, you can also use olive oil as your natural hair treatment.

In summarize, stevia is a very great plant that gives us a range of health benefits. Not only for providing the health benefits but also stevia has a role to be your natural beauty treatments. Indeed, if you can save your money as well as you use the natural treatments, then why don’t you take stevia as the alternative?

As the consequence, we also list the tips for consuming stevia below.

Tips for Consuming

• While shopping stevia, it is recommended to choose the one that is organic and has no unnatural additives. Then, you can choose between the powder and liquid form. The powder is usually used for beverages while the powder is for baking.
• Next, as it is being used as the natural sweetener, then adding stevia to your smoothie, yogurt, tea, coffee and other beverages is such a very great idea. Further, you can also add stevia into the baking dough to make a cake, pastry, and other desserts.
• Since stevia is sweeter than sugar, then you can just add 1 tablespoon of stevia per food serving. Still, the amount depends on the recipe and the stevia brand itself.
• Last, it is advised to consume stevia in moderate to get the best benefits of it.

To conclude, there are many kinds of sweeteners that are divided into two types. There are the artificial sweeteners and the natural sweeteners which derive from plants. As the consequence, it is recommended to consume natural sweeteners since it has provided many great health benefits. Then, as stevia is included as a natural sweetener, you may need to consume it regularly to maintain the body health. Hence, have the stevia to keep your body fit and healthy!