Stevia: One Sweet Native Tradition
Stevia: One Sweet Native Tradition
The Guarani Indians, aboriginal natives of Paraguay knew the leaves of
the wild stevia shrub (indigenous to the Amambay Mountain region) to
have a sweetening power unlike anything else. They used the leaves to
sweeten just about anything. They even chewed stevia leaves as the
precursor of the modern candy.
The widespread native use of stevia was chronicled by the Spaniards in
historical documents preserved in the Paraguayan National Archives in
Asuncion. By the 1800s, daily stevia consumption had become well
entrenched throughout the region -- in Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina.
If you've ever tasted stevia, you know it's extremely sweet. To give you
an example, you'll need only a drop of powder to sweeten your morning
cup of coffee (as opposed to one full teaspoon of regular sugar)! These
days, the herb is commonly sold as "Stevia extract" and is commonly
bought in powder form. The good news is that it has no calories, and it's
natural, too.
Since the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act
(DSHEA), stevia can be sold legally in the United States, but only as a
"dietary supplement." While it's sold in most health food stores, it's illegal
to call it a "sweetener". The FDA's caution is only understandable. If the
herb becomes a popular sugar substitute, it could certainly undermine the
sugar industry!