Reducing sugar intake is a commonly discussed topic. High levels of sugar in our body are responsible for diabetes, and sugar is also associated with obesity and being overweight.
Alternatively, sugar can have many negative effects on our health and well-being. It causes inflammation and is known to induce erratic firing of brain cells, in which communication between brain cells is disrupted. Sugar could even be addictive.
Excessive sugar consumption has been linked to headaches, hypertension, fluid retention, and even depression. But with today’s dietary patterns, it can sometimes be difficult to avoid consuming too much sugar. A large part of sugar consumption does not come from our food, but from the beverages we drink, and these can include coffee, alcoholic beverages or even fruit juices.
According to a study conducted by the American Heart Association, on average American adults consume 22 teaspoons of sugar per day. And sugar consumption rates are even higher for teens in the United States. On average, American teenagers consume 34 teaspoons of sugar per day.
One can minimize sugar intake, without having to cut back on sweets!
But one can minimize sugar intake without having to cut back on sweets. You have to bet on Stevia, a natural sweetener that has gained much prominence in recent years. Stevia is a 100% natural sweetener. And even though it’s 30 times sweeter than sugar, it’s zero calories, zero carbs, and has zero effect on our glycemic index. So it doesn’t raise insulin or blood sugar levels in our bodies at all!
Stevia is an herb. It is naturally sweet and is originally from Paraguay. Although stevia has no calories, it has been used as a sweetener and even a flavor enhancer for centuries. The popularity of stevia can be further highlighted by the fact that while stevia is finding increasing acceptance throughout the world, in Japan around 40% of the sweetener market is based on stevia. So if one has a craving for sweets, Stevia is definitely the answer.
One of the facts that makes Stevia even more advantageous is that it is a 100% natural sweetener. If you opt for artificial sweeteners, like diet sodas, they manipulate your body’s ability to recognize how much you’ve eaten. So one tends to overeat without realizing it.
There are many mechanisms by which Stevia works to allow us to avoid sugar. Stevia has zero sugar content, so it ensures that cravings for sweet or fatty foods are reduced. Also, being 100% herbal, Stevia keeps our body supple with nutrients. Then one does not feel hunger pangs. Consuming Stevia in some form about 20 minutes before meals is said to reduce hunger pangs.
