It began to be used due to its natural origin and positive effects on health. Details below.
In a world where the excessive sugar consumption is linked to health problems such as obesity and diabetes, the search for healthy alternatives It’s a priority. Stevia, a natural sweetener extracted from the Stevia rebaudiana plant, is gaining popularity as a sugar substitute.
Recently, a study conducted by a team of Chinese researchers and published in Neuroscience Research revealed that Stevia can trick the brain in a similar way to sugar. Researchers from Shanghai University of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) found that the neuronal response to stevia and sucrose is strikingly similar.
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The effects of stevia on the brain
In the study, the scientists focused on how the mice’s brains respond to different sweeteners. For six weeks, the mice were fed six different diets: one normal, one high in sucrose, one high in stevioside (a component of stevia), xylitol, glycyrrhizin and mogroside. It was observed that The mice notably preferred diets high in sucrose and stevioside.
The anterior paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (aPVT), a specific region of the brain, showed significantly increased activity in mice that consumed sucrose and stevioside. Advanced imaging techniques demonstrated that this area of the brain was quickly activated by these sweetenersbut not with xylitol or water.
Stevia is a great viable alternative that not only takes care of the body, but also satisfies the brain. This not only reinforces the value of stevia as a sweetener, but may also inspire the food industry to develop healthier products that do not compromise the desire to consume something sweet.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
