Stevia (Seeds) سٹیویا کے بیج

Quantity: 50-60 seeds per packet ( imported from India)

Germination: 30%

Suggestion: Buy grown plant of Stevia instead of growing from seeds, if you are not an experienced gardener.

Sowing Season:

• Mid November, December, January, February, March in hot climates like Punjab ( When the maximum temperature is stable to 26 Degrees Centigrade or less)

• February, March, April, May in cold climate like Murree, Quetta
• Summer Season for Northern Areas like Gilgit, Skardu

DESCRIPTION:

Stevia is an intensely sweet-tasting plant that has been used to sweeten beverages and make tea since the 16th century. The plant is originally native to Paraguay and Brazil but is now also grown in Japan and China. It is used as a non-nutritive sweetener and herbal supplement.

Stevia is a sugar substitute made from the leaves of the stevia plant. It’s about 100 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar, but it has no carbohydrates, calories, or artificial ingredients. Not everyone likes the way it tastes. Some people find it bitter, but others think stevia tastes like menthol.

ARE STEVIA SWEETENERS SAFE TO CONSUME?

YES. High-purity steviol glycosides are Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS), a regulatory review process category used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). GRAS requires expert consensus that a food ingredient is safe for its intended use.

Side effects:

Risks and side effects. According to the FDA, the acceptable daily intake for steviol equivalents is 4 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of body weight . That equates to about 12 mg of high-purity stevia extracts per kilogram of body weight per day.
When taken by mouth: Certain chemicals in stevia, including stevioside and rebaudioside A, are likely safe when used as a food sweetener. Side effects might include bloating, nausea, dizziness, and numbness.

It is recommended to use Stevia after consulting your physician if you are suffering from any acute disease.

Does the Doctor recommend Stevia ?

Due to the fact that they can be supportive of metabolic health, many experts now recommend zero-calorie sweeteners such as stevia for those with obesity, prediabetes and diabetes.

HOW TO SOW:

• Sprinkle seeds on a leveled surface of soft moist soil and cover lightly with thin layer of soil. DO NOT COVER WITH THICK LAYER.
• Keep the soil moist until germination.
• Seeds will germinate in 7-14 days.
• Thin seedlings 12 to 18 inches apart when they have three or four true leaves.
• Stevia prefers soil that is rich in organic material and well-draining. 50% Bhall , 50% leaf compost will be the best soil mix for mint.

(Note: germination rate of Stevia seeds is one of the lowest and needs special care )