Stevia is a plant species which belongs to family Asteraceae. It is maybe novel among diet components since it’s most esteemed for what it doesn’t do. It does not have any additions to the calories content. In contrast to other artificial sweeteners used by patients, stevia is plant extracted so it has no negative effects on the human body.

Artificial sweeteners are used as substitutes of sugar by the diabetes patients in their daily diet to keep their sugar level in controlled range but not at the cost to avoid the sweet taste. But these artificial sweeteners cause an increase in body weight and many other diseases which may have a serious effect on human health in later stages. So there should be an appropriate substitute of sugar which not only give sweet taste to the patients but also have no dangerous effects on human health.

Stevia is a plant species which belongs to family Asteraceae. Its is maybe novel among diet components since it’s most esteemed for what it doesn’t do. It does not have any additions to the calories content. In contrast to other artificial sweeteners using by patients, stevia is plant extract. So it has no negative effects on the human body.

However, there are some controversies regarding its effectiveness as it helps to lower the body weight, helpful for patients or not?

History of stevia

Stevia is an old days flowering plant native to New Mexico, although people use its leaves from many years due to its beneficial effects and to sweeten the many foods when there was no easy availability of sugar. In conventional medication in many areas, stevia filled in as a treatment for ulcer, colic, stomach issues and here and there as a preventative. Later on many farmers started to grow it on large scale and from wild plant it become extensively accessible plant for consumption.

Now days, stevia is a member of substitutes using for sugar. US FDA (federal and drug administration) declare that extract from its name as steviol glycosides is harmless to human body if it is in highly pure form. But its consumption in the form of leaves may have negative impact on patient health.

Stevia consumption have no calories addition and at the same time it is two hundred times more sweetener with additional beneficial impacts to the body. According to recent reports it is helpful to cure the several diseases like diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

Several other studies by the plant scientists concluded that stevia is helpful for the treatment of diabetes type-2. The food that is made with it can not be overeaten as compare to the foods which have sugar. After consumption of that meal cook with stevia a decrease in blood sugar is seen. Decrease in insulin level is also happen in the patients as compare to those who consume sugar meal.

Medicinal advantages

For diabetes patients, sugar is a worst enemy. Stevia is 100% natural with zero calories is helpful for them. Because, it gives sweet taste but have no sugar contents. In this way, blood sugar level not rises and helps the patients to fight against diabetes.

The compound present in stevia extract don’t break down in the body and not become part of any metabolic reactions in the body, instead it excretes from the body. It also help to resist the glucose absorption by the body of diabetes patients.

A tea made from the stevia leaves also reduces blood sugar level. It’s consumption controls and lowers the high blood pressure, especially in hypertension patients. Diabetes has a tendency to join by hypertension and edema, and moderate mending wounds. While, it is appear to encourage every one of these manifestations.

Research has demonstrated that stevia is extremely helpful in repressing the development of certain normally happening life forms. Because of this property it is an incredible method to treat wounds and minor skin diseases. Naturopaths trust that it has the ability to recuperate wounds speedier. It can also lessen the torment related with injuries and even treat an athletics player foot.

Stevia reduce the LDL cholesterol level in the blood. Thereby, it is helpful to overcome the risk of heart attack and other heart diseases.

Many studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Side effects

Steviosides from the stevia sometimes can affect the stomach and can cause problems in our digestive system resulting in diarrhea. Intake of stevia in high amount with blood sugar medication can result in lowering the blood sugar level. This effect of this plant proves to be very dangerous.

Stevia may have negative effects on the kidneys due to its stress on them. Substances released from it with in the body after its intake can interact hormones and affect the reproductive system. If someone has ragweed allergy, this plant can allergies to that person. A large intake of stevia can cause swear pain in muscles.

There are always some side effects of all the things alongside their benefits. But, one can avoid those side effects if intake is in proper amount, time and as per recommendation. So, as diabetes patient to avoid the negative effects of stevia follow the recommendations made by their doctor. And don’t overuse it so you can get its maximum benefit to your health. Stevia has many benefits to the human body and its functions so its use is beneficial but with care.

This article is jointly written by Nasir Ali 1, ImdadUllah 2, Nadeem Akbar 1, Muhammad Ishfaq 1, and Abdul Hafeez 1. The authors are from 1 Agrobiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad.
2 Crop Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad.