What Is Stevia Glycerite?

Stevia glycerite is a preparation from Stevia rebaudiana, which is a small, perennial bush native to Brazil and Paraguay in northern South America. The stevia plant belongs to the Asteraceae family, and is also known by other names, such as sweat leaf of Paraguay, honeyleaf, candy leaf and sweet herb. The main part of the plant used is the leaves.

Identification

• Stevia glycerite is commonly used for its sweetening properties, as it is known to be up to 400 times more intense in sweetness than processed cane sugar.

Significance

• It is also used to help lower blood pressure and blood sugar, and it can increase urination and cause a reduction in inflammation.

Function

• It also has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

Benefits

• Its popularity as a sweetener is both based on its nutritional properties, as well as the fact that the body does not process sweet glycosides, so it just passes out of the body. This makes a promising sweetening alternative to diabetics and other people suffering from sugar-related conditions.

Considerations

• Stevia was first blocked from import into the United States in 1991 by the FDA. The ban was later lifted in 1997, with conditions and restrictions preventing it from being labeled and sold as a sweetening agent.