Many people are curious about what exactly the steviol glycoside in Yakult products is. Actually, steviol glycoside is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant. It's incredibly sweet, approximately 200-300 times sweeter than sucrose. But surprisingly, its calories are extremely low, practically negligible. This is a boon for those trying to control their calorie intake, such as those trying to lose weight or those with diabetes.
In terms of taste, steviol glycoside has a pure sweetness with a slight licorice aftertaste. It's very stable, maintaining its sweetness even under typical food processing conditions, such as heating and pH fluctuations.
In terms of applications, steviol glycoside is widely used in the food industry as a sweetener in a variety of products, including beverages, baked goods, and dairy products. It can also be used to enhance the taste of medicines and oral hygiene products.
In the past two years, the use of steviol glycoside in nutritional supplements has become increasingly common. This is primarily due to its low calorie content, which is more beneficial for health management. With a caloric value of only about 1/300 of that of sucrose, it provides virtually no calories, making it suitable as a sweetener in nutritional supplements, particularly for those struggling with calorie control. This is particularly important for those with obesity, diabetes, or other conditions requiring weight and blood sugar management.
Furthermore, steviosides do not significantly increase blood sugar levels or insulin levels, satisfying the sweetness cravings of diabetics and others while mitigating blood sugar fluctuations and helping to stabilize their condition.
Furthermore, numerous pharmaceutical trials have demonstrated that steviosides have beneficial effects on human health, including preventing diabetes, hypertension, and tumors, regulating blood lipids, inhibiting pathogens, and promoting mineral absorption. As a nutritional supplement additive, they can enhance health benefits to a certain extent.
The chemical structure of steviosides is relatively stable under varying environmental conditions, maintaining their sweetness and properties during processing, storage, and use, extending product shelf life and ensuring consistent quality and effectiveness.
In an era of widespread health and well-being, steviosides, extracted from the herb stevia (Asteraceae), are natural sweeteners that meet consumers' demand for natural, healthy food additives and are therefore more readily accepted.
