Do you know that there is a natural sweetener that gives you zero calories? It can even help keep your blood sugar level steady. And unlike other artificial sweeteners like aspartame, it does not harm your body but in fact can bring you other health benefits.

This natural sweetener is Stevia.

Stevia comes from a sweet leaf of the chrysanthemum family and originates from Paraguay.

Containing vitamins A and C, proteins and minerals, Stevia has been traditionally used by tribal Guarani Indians for sweetening teas, improving digestion and healing wounds.

For those with a sweet tooth but suffer from candidiasis, the intake of stevia does not encourage the growth of yeast and bacteria, unlike the intake of conventional sugar. In fact, the sweet compound has been shown to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans.

Preliminary studies are suggesting that stevia could even help those with high blood pressure.

References
[1] Collins, Elise Marie. An A-Z Guide to Healing Foods: A Shopper’s Companion. San Francisco, California: Conari Press, 2009. Print.

Cindy L. TJOL is trained in Psychology, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has several years of experience writing on natural health on the internet. Follow her on her blog and read her other articles at Insights On Health.com.