Stevia Leaf (90% Steviosides)

History:

Stevia Leaf is a perennial shrub that is native to the northern regions of South America and is now grown commercially in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Central America, the United States, Israel, Thailand and China. The plant had been used in its South American habitat for centuries as a natural sugar substitute and was "discovered" by the Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century, when the local Guarani and Mato Grosso tribes revealed its use as a sweetener for their medicines and teas. They called the plant caa-hee or Ka-he, which means "honey leaf," and soon the word was sent back to Europe that the native tribes had been using the plant since ancient times as a natural sweetener. Shortly thereafter, the European settlers in the area began to use Stevia to sweeten their Maté tea (a popular bitter herbal drink). Modern scientific studies didn't begin until the turn of the twentieth century, when Dr. M.S. Bertoni, the American Trade Commissioner to Paraguay, noted in a letter that although Stevia Leaf was known to science since 1899, nothing was being done to introduce the plant commercially. He said it was due to a lack of interest on the part of capital and to the difficulty of cultivation. He noted, "The principal importance of Ka-he is due to the possibility of substituting it for saccharine," and went on to describe it as non-toxic, highly sweet and cheaper than saccharine. It is said to be at least fifty times sweeter than sugar, and people who ingest Stevia daily as an herbal supplement often report a decrease in their desire for sweets and fatty foods. Today in Japan, Stevia is being used (and has been since the 1970s) as a safe, natural, low-calorie sweetener; and major food companies, like Coca Cola and Beatrice foods, convinced of its safety, use Stevia extracts to sweeten food products sold in Japan. In December, 2008, the USFDA approved the use of Stevia as a natural, zero-calorie sweetener in the United States as "generally recognized as safe." Stevia is also used in many modern, industrialized countries as a table-top sweetener, in soft drinks, baked goods, pickles, fruit juices, jams, jellies, candies, yogurts, chewing gum, sherbets, toothpaste and even in tobacco products. Some chemical constituents in Stevia include rebaudioside-A, stevioside, sterols (stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and campesterol). The primary active constituent in Stevia Leaf is the glycoside called stevioside.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Currently, there are no known warnings or contraindications with the use of Stevia Leaf Herbal Supplement, and it has been approved by the USFDA as safe.

Capsule Information:
Our Stevia Leaf (90% Steviosides) supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 400 mgs.

Special Note:
If any medical terms on our website are confusing or unknown, we have compiled a small dictionary of terms for you. Click here for our Definitions, and go directly to the word in question for further information.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.