Stevia Nutrition facts

Stevia

Stevia plant is a small, sweet, leafy herb of South American origin.
Is stevia a safe alternative to the common sugar in a carbohydrate-controlled diet? Does it have any real phytonutrient profile safe enough for human consumption in line with other herbs such as basil, mint, thyme, etc.?
The use of Stevia as a culinary herb was known to the native Guarani tribes of Paraguay for centuries. Recent scientific trials firmly establish that this sweetleaf herb has, indeed, many health benefiting plant-derived phytochemical compounds that help control blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure in addition to its worth as a natural sweetener. Together with the rise in demand for low-calorie food alternatives, stevia has drawn the attention of health-conscious fitness lovers all over the planet.
Stevia is a small perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family, in the genus Stevia. Its scientific name is Stevia rebaudiana. Some commonly referred names are honey leaf plant, sweet chrysanthemum, sweetleaf stevia, sugarleaf, etc.