Q5: How widely is STEVIA being used? |
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STEVIA extracts are currently widely used in different applications and formulations in food & beverages, pharmaceutical, agriculture, animal feed, personal care and skin care industries. |
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Q6: What is the difference between a natural sweetener and artificial sweeteners? |
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A sweetener is a substance used to make food or drink taste better, used instead of sugar. |
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Nutritive sweeteners include the natural sugars — sucrose (table sugar; a compound of glucose and fructose), fructose (found in fruit as well as table sugar), and galactose (milk sugar) — as well as the polyols, which are a group of carbohydrate compounds that are not sugars but provide about half the calories of the natural sugars. The polyols are sometimes called sugar replacers, sugar-free sweeteners, sugar alcohols, or novel sugars. Polyols occur naturally in plants but can also be produced commercially. They include such compounds as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates. Now, watch and listen to Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D. sharing with you the benefits and safety of consuming STEVIA. Watch about a TV programme (in German) speaking about the contributions STEVIA can make to our everyday life. |
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Q7A: How do we compare a natural sweetener & some artificial sweeteners? |
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A comparison of STEVIA, sugar and other major sweeteners in the market can be found below. |
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Q7B: Which one should we prefer and choose? |
Dr. Ray Sahelian M.D. has the following opinions and advice regarding the choice of sweetener. Since the beginning of human history, man has been looking for a natural sweetener to make food more palatable. There are several available in nature, and in recent decades many artificial sweeteners have been created. Most Americans [people] are not aware of certain natural sweeteners that can be as good as the artificial ones in terms of taste and potency. In my opinion, many alternative or natural sweeteners are healthier and have less potential to cause long term health problems. Low calorie choices can help consumers cut down on calories and control weight, help to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, and potentially prevent cavities. My favorite natural sweetener is STEVIA liquid. I use three drops in my herbal tea each morning and it is calorie free. Natural sweeteners are certainly a better option than refined sugar and some artificial sweeteners. However, they all have fructose which has four calories per gram, and has the potential to raise blood sugar levels. The advantage of natural sweeteners such as STEVIA is that it also naturally contains carotenoids, flavonoids, and other plant substances that have antioxidant properties which limits some the potential harm from the use of fructose. STEVIA has no calorie and is a good option. |
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Q8: What is Gylcemic Index (GI)? |
Gylcemic Index or GI is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates in food on blood sugar levels. It estimates how much each gram of available carbohydrate (total carbohydrate minus fiber) in a food raises a person’s blood glucose level following consumption of food, relative to consumption of glucose. Glucose has a gylcemic index of 100, by definition, and other food have a lower glycemic index. |
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