Stevia : the safe sugar alternative for women with PCOS.

What is stevia?

Stevia, also known by the name Stevia rebaudiana is a herb that is sweet in taste and is in fact 250 – 300 times sweeter than sugar meaning very little is needed in a product or baking to create a sweet taste. 

What are the benefits of stevia?

No calories - Stevia contains no carbohydrates, calories and makes a healthy replacement for sugar. Due to its zero-carbohydrate content, stevia is often used by people who wish to lose weight or control blood sugar levels including diabetics and those with insulin resistance. 

Does not spike blood sugar levels - Stevia does not spike blood sugar. Normal sugar rapidly spikes blood sugar levels which causes many issues for the body such as increased testosterone levels in women, inflammation, a decrease in vital nutrient stores including magnesium - a nutrient often found to be low in women with hormone imbalance. And as most people know, excess sugar consumption contributes towards insulin resistance which is a major problem in a large proportion of women with hormone imbalances and PCOS. As stevia does not cause an increase in blood sugar levels, all of these problems associated with sugar are avoided, and food and supplements can be enjoyed without the risk of being detrimental to the person consuming it. 

Useful for those who are overweight – Some research has been conducted into the benefits of stevia in people who are overweight. The research found that stevia given to the overweight and obese has a favorable effect on insulin resistance and satisfied the appetites of those people. 

May help reduce cholesterol levels – Cholesterol levels and insulin resistance often go hand in hand. Research suggests that stevia may reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol in individuals with raised cholesterol levels. 

Great for those with excess inflammation – Although the mechanisms are still under investigation, some initial research suggests that stevia may have anti-inflammatory properties and is therefore much more than just a sugar replacement. Inflammation is a problem in many health conditions and can be a causative factor in disease as well as a result of disease. Breaking the cycle of excess inflammation is essential for many conditions including PCOS.  

What to watch out for

Some stevia-based sweeteners freely available on the market are mixed with artificial sweeteners which can be detrimental to health. So, if you plan on adding stevia into your baking, make sure you select a high quality one. Yoppie only uses the highest quality stevia free from artificial sweeteners and other contaminants, which creates a supplement that not only makes a delicious tasting supplement, but also allows you to enjoy it worry free. 

You can find out more about Yoppie’s Poly Complete support which targets the multiple symptoms of PCOS here.