Years ago, when I was diagnosed with type II diabetes, the doctor who attended me I was a treatment that was initially based only on the control diet and the same deletion in all types of sugars.

As I’ve always been drawn to natural remedies (where the disease is not severe enough to more aggressive use of drugs), I immediately became interested in herbal compounds form of teas recommended to control blood glucose level.

By checking the composition of herbs, which I always do to avoid surprises, I noticed that a small percentage of the compound was a plant called stevia, “plant that I know so far, because that in Europe there was almost no books on plants medicine in what was described, so my curiosity led me to investigate and ask questions about it, to know that object is added to the tea mentioned above, check that was used to mitigate the bitterness of the other plants constitute formula, already intensely bitter, and this way I came to the attention of this wonderful herb that restrictions imposed by some official bodies, is almost unknown by the general public in European countries.

What is it?

Stevia is a plant native to South American flora was raised spontaneously in the arid habitat of the mountain slopes of Paraguay.

Stevia is gaining popularity outside of the EU. after thoroughly tested the absence of toxicity, and most of the world is considered completely safe for human consumption.

The plant is incredibly sweet. The sweetener (Stevioside), which is extracted from it is approximately 300 times sweeter than sugar, tender leaves have a pleasant licorice flavor and can be used to replace refined sugar. In fact, the leaves contain glycosides of sweet but not metabolizable and contain no calories. Most molecules consist glycosides stevioside. The dried leaves are between 20 and 35 times sweeter than sugar.

Many uses of stevia are known, such as a tabletop sweetener in beverages, confectionery, in sweets, preserves, jams, in yogurts, in chewing gum, etc. etc.

Although the Spanish conquerors learned of stevia in the sixteenth century, it attracted the attention of Europeans until the late nineteenth century thanks to Dr. Bertoni. Before having knowledge in Europe, the plant was already known logically from antiquity by the Guarani Indians of which was native fields, called her “Kaa-hee,” which in that language means “sweet herb.” This plant has great medicinal and sweetening properties, highlighting its anti-diabetic action.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni has successfully completed laboratory studies, so that in many countries have licensed their extracts.

The cultivation can be done in most soils warm and temperate countries.
Stevia natural, unrefined, containing over 100 items and volatile oils identified. I already took advantage from pre-Columbian times the Guarani Indians, who used it to sweeten their drinks or just chew the leaves by way of a treat, as children do today when they lick the nectar from the flowers of the plant called “language ox “or more popularly” of tongue “(Anchusa azurea), nectar is also sweeter than sugar and for which no known studies.

In the U.S., the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved in September 1995, stevia, but only could be sold in health food stores and not interfere with the interests of the industries producing other natural sweeteners.

This plant whose scientific name is Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, can be used in many forms, each with a different purpose: as a simple infusion, liquid or soluble crystals, and each of these will have different properties and applications .

Although widely used in many countries as an alternative to sweeten the Stevia rebaudiana is unfamiliar to most people, however, is now becoming known, although Europe has banned its “advertising and selling” arguing that prohibition to the potential consumer, that “it will further study” and so his knowledge no doubt be delayed. But thanks to the efforts of botanists and specialists in health food diets and environments, this problem is about to be overcome.

The plant can grow relatively well and can be adapted to a variety of terrain and climate, the information for it, is generating officially in several South American countries, which certainly is helping its farmers, as well as in Japan and Canada.

The leaves are also used as medicines.

In its original habitat in Paraguay, is now cultivated in large areas around the world and more extensively in countries such as Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Israel, etc., In these countries is used as sweetener in all foods and drinks including coca-cola popular, especially because it seems to have the side effects of other sweeteners and, moreover, does not decompose.

The main glycoside of the plant used commercially, it is called stevioside. Stevioside is not an artificial product obtained in any laboratory, is a completely natural extract from the plant leaf.

The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin because exposure to it is one of the most common forms of procurement. We may also be found in certain foods such as salmon, tuna, sardines, milk and cod liver oil. The consumption of supplements is also a way to integrate it into our bodies. Here we present the main reasons for using vitamin D.

First, an adequate level of vitamin carries less likely to suffer heart problems. Each time we present more evidence that low vitamin D levels can lead to heart failure and stroke.

Lower risk of diabetes: vitamin D deficiency alters immune function and hormone levels. This can increase the chances of developing this disease.

Reduced risk of premature death: According to a study published in Archives of Internal Medicine, people taking vitamin D had a 7% less likely to die prematurely.

Lower risk of infectious and autoimmune diseases: multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diabetes type-1 and even the flu seem to be more common in people who suffer from a deficiency of vitamin D.

Reduce chronic pain. There seems to be a relationship between vitamin D and decreased chronic pain. To learn more about you can go here. Prevent skin infections. The use of vitamin D supplements may help prevent these infections. Also, you can help our body produce collagen, which help our skin stay soft and healthy.