COMMON NAME: Stevia or Seeni Tulsi
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Stevia rebaudiana
FAMILY: Asteraceae
SOIL: Grows well in sandy, loamy soil of acidic to neutral pH
WATERING: Weekly twice watering is enough.
ORIGIN: South America
PROPAGATION: Stevia can be propagated by seeds, division of suckers, vegetative cuttings and tissue culture
ABOUT PLANT: Stevia is a natural sweetener and tastes 200 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar.
- Seeni tulsi is a healthy alternative for sugars as it doesn’t affect blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is perfect for people with diabetes.
- Stevia has very low calories and is perfect for weight loss.
- It has kaempferol which is an antioxidant that can pancreatic cancer.
- It has cardiotonic actions that can regulate heartbeat and blood pressure.
- They are used in many commercial products like energy bars and drinks.
- Stevia has been found to trigger the hormone glucagon. This is the hormone that regulates blood glucose levels
- Stevia contains compounds that act as diuretics, increasing urination, facilitating the excretion of excess sodium and relaxing the blood vessels.
- stevia prevents cavities because it does not contain “fermentable carbohydrates”. When specific bacteria that are present in the mouth meet with fermentable carbohydrates such as sugars and starches, the bacteria metabolises these carbohydrates into organic acids which will begin the erosion of enamel.