stevia plant also known as candyleaf, sweetleaf or sugarleaf

Описание: Stevia is a plant native to South America. It's commonly known as candyleaf, sweetleaf, or sugarleaf.

🌱 The plant is well-known for the sweet-tasting compounds found in its leaves called steviol glycosides. These glycosides, especially stevioside and rebaudioside A, are significantly sweeter than sugar, with estimates ranging from 200 to 450 times the sweetness of sucrose. This makes stevia a popular natural, calorie-free sweetener, particularly for those managing sugar intake or diabetes. 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

🌱Stevia in the home garden

🌱Growing stevia at home is possible, but it requires some attention:

🌱Soil: Stevia thrives in well-drained, sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH.

🌱Sunlight: It prefers full sun or partial shade, with full sun being ideal for optimal growth.

🌱Watering: Maintain consistently moist soil, but avoid overwatering or waterlogging.

🌱Temperature: Stevia prefers warm and sunny conditions and cannot tolerate frost.

🌱Harvesting: Harvest mature leaves before the plant flowers to maintain the best taste and sweetness. Pinching off flower buds can also promote more bushy growth and leaf production. 

Uses and benefits of stevia 🌱🌱🌱

🌱Natural Sweetener: Stevia leaves can be used fresh or dried to sweeten beverages and food items.

🌱Sugar Substitute: Stevia extracts are widely used in commercial food and beverage products as a sugar alternative.

Potential Health Benefits: Studies suggest stevia may offer health advantages such as:🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

🌱Blood sugar control.

🌱Antioxidant properties.

🌱Potential benefits for blood pressure control and weight management.

🌱Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, potentially aiding in dental health by inhibiting bacterial growth responsible for tooth decay.