What are the effects of stevioside?

What is stevioside?

Stevioside, also known as steviol glycoside, is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves, stems, roots, and other parts of the stevia plant of the Asteraceae family. It is a low-calorie, high-sweetened plant sugar. Stevia is native to Paraguay and Brazil and is now also grown in China, Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries. Stevia does not contain sugar and calories and is considered to be the third natural sweetener with development value and health promotion after sugarcane and beet sugar.

What are the effects of stevioside?

Preventing diabetes

Stevioside cannot be decomposed and digested by enzymes in the human digestive tract. The ingested stevioside enters the colon through the stomach and small intestine, and is fermented and utilized by intestinal microorganisms to produce short-chain fatty acids. The calorific value of stevioside is indirectly generated by short-chain fatty acids, which is about 6.3kJ/g. The indigestibility of stevioside will not cause an increase in blood sugar concentration after its intake, nor will it promote an increase in insulin concentration in the blood, making it suitable for diabetic patients.

Regulating blood lipids

According to reports, stevioside can reduce the content of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, reduce the concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the body, and does not affect the concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), so that the HDL/LDL ratio increases. It is speculated that the reason may be that the reduction in cholesterol in the blood is because stevioside effectively increases the elimination of bile acid and inhibits the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A, thereby reducing the biosynthesis of cholesterol in the liver; the reduction of triglycerides is related to the reduction of lipid absorption and fatty acid synthesis.

Inhibit pathogens

Many studies have shown that stevioside can promote the proliferation of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the human body and inhibit the growth of pathogens such as Escherichia coli. Its mechanism of action may be that the acetic acid and lactic acid produced by stevioside fermentation lower the intestinal pH value and prevent the proliferation of pathogens and spoilage bacteria in the intestine. In addition, the short-chain fatty acids produced by fermentation also inhibit the production of bacterial toxins.

Promote mineral absorption

Many researchers have found that stevioside can promote the absorption of minerals, especially calcium. This is because the fermentability of stevioside reduces the intestinal pH value, causing calcium, magnesium, etc. to become soluble and easy to be absorbed by the human body through epithelial cells.

Prevent hypertension

Stevioside has a certain anti-hypertensive effect, and it has been proven that this effect of stevioside may be related to its inhibitory effect on calcium ion influx.

Sweetness replacement

Stevioside has a sweetness intensity many times higher than sucrose, so it can be used to replace sucrose with a smaller dose, thereby reducing calorie intake, which is suitable for people who want to lose weight and control their weight.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory

Stevioside has certain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which can prevent problems such as oral inflammation and tooth decay.

Effect of stevioside on blood sugar

Some studies have shown that moderate intake of stevioside has no effect on blood sugar and may even be beneficial for diabetics because it does not cause an increase in blood sugar levels. This is because stevioside is very sweet but low in calories and will not be broken down and digested by enzymes in the human digestive tract, so it will not cause an increase in blood sugar concentration.

On the other hand, there are also studies showing that long-term excessive intake of stevioside may cause blood sugar fluctuations, which may increase the burden on the pancreas. This shows that although stevioside itself has a small effect on blood sugar, excessive intake may still have adverse effects on diabetics.

However, there is also information that stevioside does not affect blood sugar balance, which contradicts some claims. This may be because although stevioside is sweet, its metabolic process is different from that of ordinary sugars, so it does not directly lead to an increase in blood sugar levels.

Metabolic process of stevioside in the intestine

Not digested and absorbed: stevioside cannot be decomposed and digested by enzymes in the human digestive tract, and the ingested stevioside enters the colon through the stomach and small intestine.

Intestinal microbial fermentation: stevioside is fermented and utilized by intestinal microorganisms to produce short-chain fatty acids. This process indirectly generates the calorific value of stevioside.

Affecting blood sugar: Due to the indigestibility of stevioside in the intestine, it does not cause an increase in blood sugar concentration or promote an increase in insulin concentration in the blood, so it is suitable for diabetic patients.

Metabolite generation: In the colon, stevioside is fermented by intestinal microorganisms, and the metabolites are excreted from the body with feces. This process does not produce energy, so it does not interfere with blood sugar fluctuations.

Regulating intestinal microecology: The indigestibility and non-fermentation of stevioside help maintain normal intestinal ecology, increase stool volume, and reduce stool pH, and have a good preventive effect on constipation and anal and rectal diseases.

The role of stevioside calories in weight management

Stevioside is a natural sweetener that can be used in smaller amounts in foods and beverages to achieve the same sweetening effect because its sweetness is much higher than that of ordinary sucrose. Importantly, stevioside is hardly metabolized by the human body, so it does not provide calories and does not cause blood sugar levels to rise. This means that stevioside is a beneficial choice for people who need to control blood sugar or reduce calorie intake.

Stevioside can be used as a sugar substitute to help reduce the intake of high-sugar foods, thereby helping to reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity. In terms of weight loss and weight management, using stevioside instead of traditional sugar can reduce calorie intake, thereby helping to control weight.

In summary, the role of stevioside calories in weight management is mainly reflected in its characteristics as a low-calorie or zero-calorie sweetener, which helps to reduce overall calorie intake and thus has a positive impact on weight control.

What can stevioside be used for?

Food and Beverages

Stevioside is widely used in the food and beverage industry due to its high sweetness and low-calorie characteristics. It can be used as a sweetener to replace traditional sucrose in the manufacture of various foods and beverages, such as cakes, candies, juices, carbonated drinks, etc. The use of stevioside can reduce the sugar content of the product, reduce calorie intake, and maintain the sweetness of the food. In addition, stevioside also has good high-temperature resistance, can remain stable during processing, and will not cause browning reactions or fermentation rancidity.

Seasonings and pickles

Stevioside can also be used in the production of seasonings, which can extend the shelf life of the product and improve the flavor of the product. At the same time, stevioside can also be used to process pickles with a high salt content, which can suppress the problem of excessive saltiness. In addition, stevioside can also suppress the excessive saltiness when used to process pickles with a high salt content.

Baking

In the field of baking, stevioside can be used to make cakes, bread, snacks and other products. It can replace traditional sucrose, improve the texture and taste of the product, and reduce calorie intake. Stevioside has high thermal stability and can remain stable throughout the baking process. It can be heated to 200°C without causing browning reaction and can well maintain the flavor of the product.

Dairy products

Stevioside can also be used in the production of dairy products, such as liquid milk, ice cream, cheese, etc. It can still maintain stability after heat treatment, making it a suitable choice for dairy products. The use of stevioside can reduce the calorie content of dairy products while maintaining the taste and flavor of the product.

Medicine

Stevioside is not only a sweetener but also has a variety of health benefits. It can be used as a source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and antibacterial properties, and has many positive effects on human health.

Cosmetics

Stevioside can also be used in cosmetics, as a sweetener in toothpaste, or in skin care products to provide nutrition to the skin, promote skin cell regeneration, increase skin elasticity, and reduce wrinkle formation.

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