All about the Stevia sugar substitute

What is Stevia?

Steviol glycoside is a calorie-free sweetener that is extracted from the stevia plant.

The stevia plant belongs to the chrysanthemum family and originates from the north east of Paraguay. Hundreds of years ago, the native inhabitants of Paraguay and Brazil recognised the strong sweetening power of the plant and since then have used the leaves to sweeten their food and drink. Stevia is also known as a honey herb in these countries because of its irresistible sweetness. Today, stevia is cultivated in large parts of the world, including South America, Asia and Australia, and has been approved as a calorie-free sugar substitute in many countries.

You can find more information on stevia here.

Superfood from South America

The natives of Paraguay and Brazil have known for a long time: The leaves of the stevia plant are great for sweetening drinks and food. For hundreds of years, they have been using the plant, which they know as the "honey herb", for their teas and food. In 2008, the sweetener steviol glycoside was authorised by the Food Authority in Switzerland. Two years later SteviaSweet came onto the market and since then has enjoyed increasing popularity.

Here you can find out more about Stevia.

Is Stevia Healthy?

Steviol glycosides have been authorised in the EU since 2011. But is the natural sugar substitute really healthier than sugar? And are there any health side-effects? We take a closer look.

Read everything about is Stevia healthy here.

Living without sugar

Is it possible to live completely without sugar? Stefanie, a nutritionist at Natural Health Coaching, helps us find out.

Read everything about the full interview here. 
 

Sugar alternatives

  • The per-capita consumption of sugar in Germany is 4 times higher than the WHO recommendation. We urgently need to reduce our sugar intake. But how harmful is sugar really? Are there healthy alternatives? And how do I use sugar substitute products?

    We would like to provide you with answers to these questions.

The hidden poison in our food

The World Health Organization recommends a maximum intake of 25 g of sugar per day. However, many of us far exceed this amount, often without suspecting it. A wide variety of foods contain sugar and it is not always easy to identify in the list of ingredients. Would you like to know where you can find hidden sugar? We will show you the pitfalls and suitable alternatives that help you avoid a high sugar intake.

Read the entire article here.

Healthy body, healthy mind

 Working from home, restricted options to exercise and a lack of social contacts are all aspects which are challenging many of us. It is therefore vital to take care of ourselves. This includes a balanced diet, exercise and a healthy mind. We want to give you some tips to help you stay healthy in these uncertain times.

Read on to find out how to keep body and mind healthy.

The low-carb diet

A low-carb diet means eating as few foods containing carbohydrates as possible. There is no clear definition of the term “low carb”. Countless types of low-carbohydrate diet have emerged since William Banting’s experiences were published. Here we give an overview of the various diets and make a few delicious menu suggestions that are suitable for a low-carb diet. 

Explore the low-carb diet here.

Ketogenic diet

The ketogenic diet is an extreme form of low-carb diet. In the diet, the proportion of fat and protein is increased, while the intake of carbohydrates is massively reduced.

You can read about exactly what the ketogenic diet means here.

Clean eating: a recipe for a healthy diet?

We took a closer look at trend of clean eating and have compiled some insights and helpful tips, as well as some menu ideas.

Read everything about clean eating here. 

The desire for sweet things

Everyone has had cravings before. Some of us crave sweet treats, while others prefer salty snacks. But why do cravings occur? And are there different types? Cravings can also be a symptom of a deficiency. We took a closer look at this topic and have some helpful tips for you.
 
Find out everything on cravings here.

Taking a closer look at detox programs

 
Whether a juice-fast, fasting in general, or a kombucha fast, the methods here all have one thing in common: they are believed to help the body detox. Other reasons for a detoxification program may include alleviating digestion issues, or losing weight, while many religions include a period of fasting firmly established at some point in the year. But what does a detox program really do and what do you have to be aware of?

Read on to find out more about detoxification.

Do superfoods really give you superpowers?

Açaí berries, avocado and chia seeds are very special exotic foods which are also known as superfoods. But what’s behind the big words? And do the miracle products really have to travel so far or are there regional superfood options?

The entire article on superfoods is available here.

Information on fructose intolerance 

The number of people suffering from fructose intolerance is increasing. Despite these growing numbers, not much is known about this subject, and it is not as widely accepted as a debilitating condition as lactose intolerance. We hope to bring more attention to the topic and have compiled a few essential facts on fructose intolerance.

Read on to find out more about fructose intolerance.

What exactly is caries?

We all know that tooth decay occurs as a result of poor dental hygiene. But the word “caries” means more than just holes in our teeth. How can we protect our teeth?
 
Here you can find all information on the subject of tooth decay and tips on preventing it.
 

From plant to product

Extracting the steviol glycoside sweetener from the stevia plant is no piece of cake. For this purpose, an elaborate process is necessary in which, in simple terms, the water is first removed from the leaves. The steviol glycosides are then purified and filtered. The crystallised and dried steviol glycosides are mixed with natural aromas. This is necessary because Stevia has a peculiar flavour, which some people find unpleasant. The mixture with natural aromas gives SteviaSweet its rounded, sugar-like taste.