Get Acquainted With Stevia Sugar, The Sweet That Is Beneficial For Health

Stevia Sugar Illustration (Suzy Hazelwood / Pexels)

JAKARTA - Sugar is a flavor enhancer that is usually added to food or beverages. Unfortunately, sugar that is commonly used for consumption can cause side effects such as obesity, headaches, and hormonal imbalances.

Not only is it delicious, sugar can have an addictive effect and is quite difficult to get rid of. So, for that many people replace this habit of consuming ordinary sugar with stevia sugar.

Stevia is a sugar alternative that is extracted from the leaves of the Stevia Rebaudiana plant. Stevia leaves have a seminal flavor and have long been used as herbal remedies to reduce diabetes.

Reporting from Healthline, Tuesday, March 16, stevia sugar has a sweet taste 250 to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar. You can find stevia sugar in liquid form or in single-serving packages.

Even though it tastes sweeter, stevia sugar still doesn't contain calories and carbohydrates. Even so, stevia leaves contain various vitamins and minerals. However, some of these vitamins and minerals are lost when processed into sweeteners.

Some stevia products also contain additives, so their nutritional content can vary. Stevia sugar is suitable for those who are on a diet because it contains no calories. This sugar is also suitable for diabetics because even though it is sweet, stevia sugar can help lower glucose and insulin levels.

Some research also shows that stevia sugar can help reduce cholesterol levels without triggering side effects. However, you can only get these benefits if consumed regularly for a month.

Unfortunately, stevia sugar that is sold in the market has been produced with additives such as maltodextrin. Maltodextrin can inhibit the number of good bacteria in digestion by 83 percent. Also, consuming too much stevia sugar can trigger digestive problems such as diarrhea.

The report from LiveScience also shows that stevia sugar also reacts with drugs such as antifungal, anti-acne, anticancer drugs, to antimicrobials. That is why, before you decide to regularly consume stevia sugar, you should consult your doctor.