Stevia Leaf Extract: The Power Behind the Sweet Leaf

Stevia Leaf Extract: The Power Behind the Sweet Leaf |Body360 Fit

In our ongoing coverage of sweeteners, we here at Body360 have been informing you, our dear readers, of the health benefits and warnings about artificial sugar substitutes and weighing in on the health benefits and alternatives of natural sweeteners like stevia leaf extract.  One of these many such sweeteners is stevia leaf extract.  According to WebMD, stevia is a plant that is found in South America.  Native peoples of the continent have cultivated and used stevia as a food additive to increase its sweetness for centuries.  The natives also used it as a medicine.  Modern people use stevia not only to flavor their food but also for such purposes as blood pressure control and for weight loss.

Despite its benefits and being used as an additive to food, many people complain about—or even actively dislike—the taste of stevia. Business Insider reports that those surveyed on its taste often report that stevia has a flavor of “cough syrup” or “chemicals.” Business Insider goes on to explain that stevia reacts with both the tongue’s sweet and bitter receptors, which is why many people report it as having a somewhat unpleasant taste or bitter aftertaste.  This may explain why products flavored with stevia also balance out the bitterness quotient with other sweeteners as well.

Because stevia use has been linked to blood sugar issues, it is a good idea to ingest it in moderation.  According to National Geographic, stevia, like other sugar substitutes, may actually raise blood sugar levels—while not as appreciatively or as precipitously as real sugar, the changes are notable.  Research has shown a tentative link between artificial sweetener consumption and the body’s natural microbial balance being thrown off, but those findings are inconclusive, National Geographic reports.  National Geographic also found that while sweeteners may lead to elevated blood sugar levels and associated problems like diabetes, they made sure to point out that many study participants already led lifestyles that often lead to conditions like heart disease and pre-diabetes.

As we’ve discussed in this blog, cutting back on sugar is a great thing for your general health picture, and natural sweeteners like stevia can be a good way to reduce sugar intake while still getting some sugariness flavor in your foods.  Our BodyOne protein shakes include a patented stevia leaf extract that adds a zing of flavor but without piling on the calories.  This way you can add that crucial protein into your diet regimen for muscle-construction while simultaneously not ramping up your sugar intake (many other protein shakes might as well have labels saying “Hi, here’s 10 scoops of sugar!”).  Because at Body360, we want to offer you a great taste so that you enjoy our products, ingestion of which will put you on the road to getting that killer bod!

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