Taking a Look at Stevia

Thesis: Overall, recent studies have shown that sugar substitutes isn’t and can cause potential health problems.

The origin of stevia is from two main glycosides, stevioside and rebaudioside A. Steviol glycosides, found in the leaves, are, most simply, the different sweet-tasting components. “Rebaudioside A is the sweetest (350-450 times the sweetness of table sugar) and least bitter part of the leaf, while stevioside (250-300 times the sweetness of table sugar) has that bitter aftertaste many people complain about (Elya).” Stevioside is over twice as common, in leaves, as rebaudioside A. Only about 3% of each stevia leaf is made up of rebaudioside A. While still being generally sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), stevia remains

The use of artificial sweeteners in beverages and food has been on a steady rise since 1969, the year it was authorized in the United States of America. The popularity of artificial sweeteners has been on a rise because of the benefit that it is a zero calorie sweetener .Even though artificial sweeteners have some great benefits many scientists believe that it causes adverse effects such as cancer, weight gain and depression. I strongly believe that consumers are not aware of the side effects of artificial sweeteners hence the increase in consumption since 1969.

Obesity and its subsequent ailments are regarded as the leading cause(s) of death in the United States and many other parts of the world. As such, much deserved attention and controversy has been brought worldwide. Many people place blame for this relatively recent epidemic on the shoulders of high-fructose corn syrup, an artificial sweetener whose use has increased for many years alongside the rates of childhood and adult obesity. While they are not entirely incorrect in assuming a widespread increase in added sugars would result in more calories per product, more calories consumed, and therefore more calories stored in bodily tissue, high-fructose corn syrup alone is not solely to blame for this phenomenon.

In this study, one group of male rats were given water sweetened with HFCS in addition to their standard diet and another group of male rats received water sweetened with table sugar with their standard diet for a period of 6 months. The proportion of HFCS used in the study was half the amount of the sugar used. The study “monitored weight gain, body fat and triglyceride levels in rats”. The male rats that had HFCS in their diet gained about 48 percent more weight (characteristic of obesity). They also had substantial increases in abdominal fat and circulating triglycerides (i.e. a “fatty liver”). "In humans, these same characteristics are known risk factors for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cancer and

Diabetes is a common health condition among many Americans today. As of 2014, 29.1 million people or 9.3 percent of the American population have diabetes and 86 million, or one out of three, Americans have pre-diabetes which increases one's risk for developing diabetes1. Since diabetes is a top health concern for a great number of Americans, many are open to integrative practices including dietary supplementation. With half of the American population using at least one dietary supplement and as an increasing number of Americans look to integrative medicine2, it is no surprise many opt for dietary supplements to aid in diabetes management. Cinnamon is a common household spice used in many culinary preparations and can be found as a dietary

The Radio Lab program "Gut Feelings" showed the correlation between our gut bacteria and our feelings. In response to this answered question, another question is raised about the opposing effects of sucrose on our gut health and how this effects emotional stability. The studies examined involved experiments with rats and mice that were fed high sugar diets compared to control groups. These studies also included the aspect of stress with the high sugar diet.

High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener used mostly in food industry as an alternative to sugar. There are several facts about this sweetener stating that it is fatal to our lives and may be the cause of several disease. In a study, researchers examined the effect of consuming beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup at zero, low (10%), medium (17.5%), and high proportions (25%) of energy requirements on circulating lipid/lipoprotein risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and uric acid in adults aged 18–40 years old with a body mass index ranged between 18–35 kg/m2. 1 Researchers observed that the consumption of beverages containing either low, medium or high concentration of high fructose corn syrup increased proportionally lipids/lipoproteins,

The spike in blood glucose levels after ingestion of simple sugars is thought to be related to some of the heart and vascular diseases which have become more frequent in recent times. Simple sugars form a greater part of modern diets than formerly, perhaps leading to more cardiovascular disease. The degree of causation is still not clear, however.

Each member of the Steviart staff should keep integrity, honesty and respect in the relationship between colleagues. By doing it we will promote a safe environment for everyone.

For example, flan, “quesitos”, cakes, “tornillos” and guava dumplings are all included in our cultural sweets. Generally made with flower and sugar, if they are consumed in excess it may be considered life threatening. The high concentrations of sugar in our blood is the leading reason for the development of diabetes. This disease is not only caused by the consumption of sugar directly, but it can be summed up to the carbohydrates that are broken down from starchy foods that get turned into sugar by our body to be stored as

Sucrose is a disaccharide by two simple sugars, fructose and glucose, bonding. It is commercially derived from cane sugar, sugar beets and corn, which go through refinement processes such as bleaching and crystallisation, and lacks in vitamins and minerals. The consumption of fructose throughout history has remained at a stable low level, however humans grew accustom to the addition of sucrose in their diet as it became extensively accessible. With new technologies of the 1960s, the development of high fructose syrup was implemented and introduced into the market. This inexpensive mixture containing approximately 55% of fructose and 45% of glucose, became an enticing alternative to sucrose derived from cane sugar. Today, a large portion of our fructose intake is sourced from these two forms of sugar.

The debate between naturally derived sugars and low-calorie artificial sweeteners has been going on for years now. As our population’s obesity rate grows every year and health concerns related to weight-control grows along with it, natural sugar is scrutinized and we are told to keep away from it as it is our enemy. Over the last couple of decades, we have been introduced to more and more varieties of artificial sweeteners promising to deliver the same sweetness or even more sweetness than natural sugar (some offer as much as 200 times more sweetness than sugar) but with a much lower calorie content, or some even no calories at all. Artificial sweeteners such as Splenda, Sweet n’ Low, NutraSweet, and Equal have become popular as “better alternatives” to table sugar, promising to help battle weight gain and actually assist in losing weight. However, does this make it the healthier option? As with all things, both natural sugar and artificial sugar have their pros and cons, but in order to find the best option in regards to our health and futures, it’s important to weigh them according to scientific findings and research.

Advertisement and commercial industries portray table sugar, and other artificial sweeteners as fuel needed by the body. Though body and body cells need sugar as fuel source. The body mechanism is just like the case of engine, there are bad fuels which can destroy engine. Table sugar is just a bad fuel for the body. Several research studies have arraigned sugar first culprit for the epidemics of complicated health problems such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer. Worst of it, several research now ranking sugar as addictive substance as drugs.

“Artificial Sweeteners: Sugar-Free, but at What Cost?” Harvard Health Blog, Harvard Medical School, 12 Dec. 2016, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030. Accessed 28 Feb. 2017. Holly Strawbridge is an author for Harvard Health Blog. Strawbridge’s purpose in writing this article was to inform the general public of the dangers of artificial sweeteners. The article mainly briefs over the negative effects of consuming artificial sweeteners, specifically the diseases potentially caused by them. This article speaks more negatively of artificial sweeteners than any other source used. It is also fairly short and direct. It can be determined unbiased and credible due to the fact that it was published through Harvard Medical School. This source would not be optimal for this essay because it provides information showing that artificial sweeteners are unhealthy and lead to weight