Stevia (also known as Meethi Tulsi in Hindi) is an all-natural, zero-calorie sugar substitute derived from a plant called Stevia rebaudiana. It is naturally sweet in taste and does not affect blood sugar levels. The Guarani people of South America have used the leaves of the stevia plant for over 1500 years as a sugar replacement in herbal tea and medicines.
The sweetness in the stevia plant comes from compounds called steviol glycosides comprising stevioside and rebaudioside. These compounds are extracted from the leaves, which are known as stevia extracts. The high-purity stevia extracts are different from whole leaves and consist of steviol glycoside compounds, among which the most common is rebaudioside-A. This is up to 250-300 times sweeter than sugar.
The stevia extracts are not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and this is why they do not contribute to any calories. It is metabolized by the liver and excreted in urine. Moreover, the stevia extracts are heat-stable and pH-stable. These properties make Stevia a perfect sugar substitute.
To know more about Magicleaf Stevia Sweeteners, click here.
