Insight
Asia
with Almendra Chief Executive Officer Mr. Inder Singh
Executive Interview
Weight control
Stevia can be part of a well-balanced diet to help reduce energy intake. Replacing just 25g( about 6 teaspoons) of nutritive sweeteners in foods and beverages can provide a 100-kilocalorie reduction.
Other potential benefits
Advocates also claim other potential health benefits of stevia, such as inhibiting atherosclerosis, antimicrobial activity and as a possible aid in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Stevia – the future
According to Mintel, the presence of nutritionally beneficial compounds could see stevia-based sweeteners of the future that combine functional benefits as calorie-free sweetness.
Stevia, a zero-calorie sweetener with possible additional health benefits
M any consumers are looking for healthy many low-calorie sweeteners on the market, most of them are artificial. Stevia, a 100 % natural, zero calorie sweetener has recently become increasingly popular with a number of health benefits that have been confirmed in human studies. The two major sweet compounds that are isolated from the leaves are called stevioside and rebaudioside A.
Stevia may lower blood pressure
Studies have shown that taking stevioside as a supplement can reduce blood pressure. The mechanism is not well understood, but some researchers have suggested that stevioside may act by blocking calcium ion channels in cell membranes, a mechanism similar to some blood pressure lowering drugs
Stevia may lower blood sugar levels and help fight diabetes Type II diabetes, characterised by elevated blood sugar in the context of insulin resistance or an inability to produce insulin is a major global health problem. In one study of type 2 diabetic patients took either 1 gram of stevioside with a meal, or 1 gram of maize starch. The group taking stevioside had a reduction in blood sugar by about 18 %. Another study compared sucrose( regular sugar), aspartame and stevia. It found that stevia lowered both blood sugar and insulin levels after a meal, compared to the other two sweeteners. Other studies in animals and in vitro have shown that stevioside may increase production of insulin, the hormone that drives blood sugar into cells, so this appears to be the mechanism behind the blood sugar lowering effects, as well as make the cells more sensitive to its effects.
Almendra CEO sees big market potential for stevia
Based in Singapore with a state of the art manufacturing facility in Thailand, Almendra is known as“ the stevia people”. Almendra Chief Executive Officer Mr. Inder Singh, said“ Stevia is generally sweeter than sugar by a factor of 30-15,000. 0.1 gram of the natural sweetener stevia can replace 30 grams of sugar. With global beverage consumption( carbonates, juices, RTD teas and coffee, functional drinks and concentrates) of around 300 billion litres, this 30 % replacement of sugar would result in a potential global demand of 30,000 tonnes of stevia, excluding other applications such as desserts, yogurt, pickled foods, breads and as a table top sweetener.”
Mr. Singh noted that the main drivers of stevia market growth are;
• Obesity – which has become a global issue, resulting in some governments imposing taxes. For example a 10 % tax on soft drinks translates to a 30 % cost increase for beverage manufacturers.
• Mistrust of artificial- consumers prefer natural ingredients
• Negative sugar perception – calories from sugar have proven to be one of the main reasons to cause health issues that go beyond obesity. Although consumers are moving away from sugary drinks, they would like to retain the sweet taste they are used to.
“ Almendra’ s high purity, zero calorie STEVIOSE™ 100, sourced from non-GMO stevia leaves is set to become the food industry’ s sweetener of choice, especially in beverages such as juices and carbonated soft drinks. Unmatched in the industry, STEVIOSE 100 consistently offers the cleanest and highest sweetening intensity, while remaining cost competitive. It can be used up to 100 % sugar replacement,” he commented.
Fast facts on stevia
► Stevia is much sweeter than sugar- the extract can taste 250- Q300 times sweeter than table sugar.
► Since stevia is so much sweeter than sugar, recipes require less of it.
► The extract is contained in a number of food items such as energy bars, candies, protein drinks and some teas.
► Stevia does not brown and caramelise the same way sugar does.
► Stevia is calorie-free, but that does not necessarily mean you will lose weight if you swap sugar for stevia.
► The stevia leaves contain potassium, zinc, magnesium and vitamin B3
► Based on the stevia nutrition facts, it is the 10.77 % fiber which helps in curing constipation and promotes proper digestion.
► One of the benefits of stevia is that it contains a 702 ppm level of iron which can stimulate the production of hemoglobin.
► Stevia and other artificial sweeteners that have been approved for use in the US do not appear to pose any health risks when used in moderation.
Based on www. medicalnewstoday. com
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