Stevia - what is this? Stevia: useful properties, cultivation, care

Stevia - what is it? A perennial subtropical plant, which in the middle belt is grown as an annual. It is a fluffy bush, strongly branched. The height reaches about 70 cm. The leaves are simple, with a pair arrangement. Flowers white, small. The horse's system is very well developed, so if you decide to grow stevia in a pot, then you need to choose the right size. And now about the most important thing - why is so popular stevia? What is this substance contained in its leaves, which allows it to act as the best sugar substitute? Let's understand together.

Nature does not cease to amaze

Indeed, leaves of stevia contain glycoside - stevioside. This is a natural substance that is 300 times sweeter than sucrose. Hence, there is an outlet for sweet tooths - to use your favorite sweets, candies, pastries, and absolutely not worry about your figure, because unlike sugar, this substance does not contain calories. For diabetics, people with a violation of carbohydrate metabolism and cardiovascular diseases, a real find is stevia. That this is the only natural analogue of sugar, the world has learned not so long ago, although at home the plant has been cultivated for many centuries. Its leaves are used in fresh and dried form, and for convenience of use you can buy syrup or extract in a pharmacy.

Application in everyday life

Many are unaccustomed to use leaves instead of sugar, but in vain. They are added to various drinks, coffee, tea and cocktails. Despite the greenish shade and the specific taste to which you are accustomed, stevia makes it possible to consume sweets without harm to health and figure. In this case, the plant does not change its properties when heated, so it can be used to make baking, jam and other dishes. It is resistant to low temperatures, as well as to acids. So, for frost, as well as for the preparation of fruit juices and drinks, including with oranges and lemons, stevia also suits well. What is this plant and how to use it, so far few people know, but gradually popularity is growing, people pass on seeds to each other and tell how to grow their houses and in the country. Today we talk about how to grow and use honey grass.

Chemical composition

Before planting, and even less to use, it is not bad to learn what constitutes stevia. Every herbalist knows the healing properties of this plant, but let's first understand what useful elements it gives the body. To date, studies confirm that the leaves contain a large number of vitamins A, C, P, E, as well as trace elements, essential oils, polysaccharides, glycosides, fiber. The sweetness of the grass is given, as we have already mentioned, glycosides, steviosides, which are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. However, I would like to note here that this concerns only the powder produced with the use of special technologies, in fact, which is the production of concentrate or extract. Simple leaves that you will pluck from the plant, dry and grind in a coffee grinder, exceed the sweetness of sugar only 15 times, that is, a spoon of such a powder is not able to replace 300 tablespoons of sugar. But it has an undeniable advantage, it does not contain calories.

Stevia: medicinal properties of the plant

The chemical composition of this plant has the ability to save a person from many health problems. It is especially widely used in non-traditional medicine. Herbalists call her a plant-healer and a recipe for eternal youth. It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, bactericidal and choleretic effects. Such a composition allows to maintain the body's immune forces and effectively respond to disease-causing viruses and bacteria. In addition, note the antiallergic effect, which is also closely related to the body's immune system, as well as a pronounced diuretic and antifungal effect. The only thing that needs to adhere to a certain dosage is sedation. Abuse of stevia can adversely affect performance.

Unique amino acids

We have disclosed only a general list of useful properties, I would like to elaborate on a few more points. Stevia leaves contain an essential amino acid - lysine. It is one of the key elements of the process of hematopoiesis, it actively participates in the formation of hormones, antibodies and enzymes. Lysine plays an important role in the healing of skin defects, restoration of the musculoskeletal system after injuries. Another acid that contains leaves is methionine. It is extremely important for people who live in adverse environmental conditions. It is she who helps protect the body from the harmful effects of radiation. In addition, it is extremely important for the liver, as it prevents its fatty dystrophy.

Protection of the gastrointestinal tract

Stevia leaves contain exactly the set of microelements that is necessary for good work of the stomach and intestines. The plant has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. This is extremely important, since the walls of our stomach are often exposed to the negative effects of too spicy food, acid and enzymes. Any imbalance jeopardizes their integrity and threatens the formation of ulcers.

Regular use of stevia helps protect the stomach from the effects of strong alcohol, spices. In addition, a unique plant allows you to restore the microflora to the state of the norm after a course of antibiotics or poisoning (alcoholic, drug or food). Positively affects stevia and the pancreas.

The cardiovascular system

And here the stevia showed itself well. The plant is able to positively influence the condition of the heart, blood vessels and capillaries, which is easy to explain by the presence of flavonoids. It is these substances that provide strength to the walls of our vessels, help to overcome spasms. The presence of vitamin C only enhances the vasoconstrictive effect. Without it, a complete synthesis of collagen, which is necessary for the elasticity of the vessels, and the activity of the heart muscle, is impossible.

Stevia syrup provides the body with the necessary trace elements. This is potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. Thanks to this "cocktail" is prevented thrombosis, the amount of harmful cholesterol in the blood decreases. The risk of inflammatory processes decreases, which means stevia is a plant that effectively fights against heart attacks and strokes.

Musculoskeletal system

As already mentioned, Stevia extract contains a large amount of microelements. They are vital for the full development and functioning of cartilage tissues and bones. This is calcium and vitamin D, silicon and lysine, that is, a set that is able to compensate the body for minimal physical activity, passive rest, work in unnatural positions, excess weight. Stevia is recommended by surgeons and orthopedists for such diseases as osteochondrosis and arthrosis. As you can see, Stevia extract can be used not only for weight loss, but also for general healing, strengthening and healing of the body. This amazing plant can easily be grown on your windowsill. Let's look at the characteristics of growing.

Choice of land and soil

First of all, you need to get the seeds of stevia yourself. Today it can be done in specialized shops, from friends of summer residents or via the Internet. With the advent of spring, you need to choose a place for future planting. If you have a household plot, then choose the most sunny, sheltered place from the wind. In the shade, the leaves do not accumulate so much sweet stevia. It is best if legumes grew on the selected site last year. It is very important and the composition of the soil, it should be light and loose, with a weakly acid reaction. If the composition of the soil in your area is very different, take out some of the garden land and pour a special shop mix there. You can prepare yourself a mixture of peat, forest humus and river sand.

Planting of seeds

Seeds of stevia for seedlings are sown in late March - early April. In the middle band, it is used as an annual, 16-18 weeks after sowing, the leaves are harvested and the plant is excavated. Although in a pot it can grow all year round. Contrary to popular belief, stevia from seeds is grown quite easily. Seeds, of course, are small, but it does not matter. Mix them with fine sand and gently spread a light earth mixture over the surface. They do not need to be covered with earth, lightly sprinkled with water and covered with glass or polyethylene. As soon as the shoots appear, the glass is removed and the pot is transferred to the lightest place. With the advent of a pair of real leaves, it is necessary to make a pick.

Landing in open ground

With the onset of steady heat, the plants should be transferred to the bed. If you plan to grow stevia on the window, then choose a wide, not too deep pot of large volume, transplant one sturdy sprout into it and put it in the sunny and warmest place possible on the balcony. Usually the landing is done when the air temperature rises to +15-29 degrees during the day. It is advisable to plant the plant in the evening and cover plants from the bright sun the next day. Suspension is preferred. At once the plant should be bored to a height of 1/3 of the length of the trunk and well watered. This is practically all information about how to grow stevia. With regular removal of weeds, watering and top dressing you will have a good harvest of sweet foliage. Do not forget that this plant was originally a perennial, so it is advisable in the autumn to dig up the roots and store them in the cellar until next year. Part can be placed in pots, so that in winter you have fresh leaves.

Winter storage

After harvesting the rhizomes should be excavated along with the land and dried. After this, take a large box and fill in the earth, on top put the crust and fall asleep wet soil to the most penechkov. So winters stevia. Care is to withstand the correct temperature regime. At a temperature above +8, premature growth will begin, and a temperature below +4 is fraught with death of the roots.

You have the last task - to prepare the collected stems. To do this, they are simply collected in bundles and suspended to dry in a shaded place. After complete drying, you can put it in a linen bag and get it out as needed. The resulting raw materials are ground in a coffee grinder and added to various dishes to taste. Judging by the reviews, the herbal flavor in the drinks is almost invisible. This is an amazing stevia. Its application is very wide - cocktails and jelly desserts, drinks and favorite pastries (sweet, but without excess calories).

Stevia Extract

For your own convenience, prepare syrup or extract, which can be added to various dishes. For this, one needs to pour whole leaves with alcohol or ordinary vodka and leave for a day. Do not worry, you will not have to drink alcohol. The next day, carefully filter the infusion from the leaves and powder. If necessary, repeat this procedure. To evaporate all alcohol, it is necessary to heat the infusion obtained. To do this, pour into a metal container and put on a slow fire, boil the mixture should not. Alcohol substances gradually volatilize, and you still have a pure extract. Similarly, it is possible to prepare an aqueous extract, but the useful substances are not extracted as completely as in the case of alcohol. But, evaporating water, you can achieve high concentration. The properties of stevia from heating do not deteriorate.