Enjoying life’s sweet stuff, the healthy way possible
When diabetics are asked what they really miss in life, it is the sweet things, particularly food. Perhaps not one diabetic would answer otherwise.
A lot of sugar substitutes have sprouted over the years, but none probably have truly satisfied that sweet longing diabetics desire when it comes to the food and drinks they consume.
Then came Stevia, a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the Stevia Rebaudiana plant. extracts from this plant are supposedly 300 times sweeter than sugar, where one teaspoon of Stevia is already equivalent to six teaspoons of sugar. But the best part is that it has zero calories and does not cause spikes in one’s blood sugar levels. It is also supposedly better and safer than chemical-based artificial sweeteners because it does not have any aftertaste or carries potential health risks.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2020 showed that deaths due to diabetes mellitus ranked fourth at 37,265, or an increase of 7.8 percent compared to the previous year. It is hard to imagine what a diabetic goes through to eat something that’s satisfying but can’t because it would be bad for their health.
“We have so many diabetics right now regardless of age. Our goal is to introduce even to the young ones the value of eating healthy and the value that Stevia brings to their health. even diabetics are now happy because they can enjoy sweet and delicious food without the guilt or worries. To us, nothing is sweeter than seeing diabetics, who have long been deprived of eating sweets because it will harm their bodies, eat or drink something that is sweet yet safe for them. Stevia is really a ‘sweetener that anybody can trust,’” explained Maura “Au” de Leon, President and Chief executive Officer of Glorious Industrial and Development Corp. (GIDC)-THE Stevia Company and dubbed the Queen of Philippine Stevia.
The plant
IT was almost 19 years ago when GIDC-THE Stevia Company ventured into Stevia farming, back at a time when nobody knew about the plant. The plant, according to de Leon, belongs to the sunflower family, which explains why it grows robustly with sunlight and when properly watered.
For the plants they use at their farm in Bocaue, Bulacan, these are sourced directly from Paraguay. “What we really want people, especially the diabetics, to know the benefits that Stevialaced products such as those we produce here at our farm they can get. Last year, we went nationwide so that more people can enjoy the benefits of Stevia in their everyday lives,” de Leon said.
Stevia as a sweetener is also safe for everybody because it has no side effects like for those who have acidity concerns, according to de Leon, although for those who have special circumstances like pregnant women, she advised to consult first with their obstetrician-gynecologist when attempting to consume Stevia-based products, just to be sure. “We follow the standards of the Food and Drug Administration with regard to the safety of our products that can be consumed by the public.”
GIDC-THE Stevia Company produces products that are safe for weight watchers, people with heart conditions, and help reduce the risks of diabetes. Their products include the Glorious brand of coffee blends, whether 3-in-one, 4-inone (malunggay-based coffee), 5-in-one and the 7-in-one, all sweetened with Sweet and Fit Stevia. They also have Iced Tea mixes that come in various flavors (Red Berries, Lemon, and Cucumber), some of which they launched this week.
The process
FROM the farm, the plants are harvested upon reaching a certain age, around seven months or when the plant is fully grown. After harvesting, the plants are then washed several times using plain water and alkaline water. The by-products include Stevia dried leaves that are made into tea and is 100-percent pure. The Stevia dried leaves powder is also placed into capsules. The Bocaue farm has several dryers and pulverizing machines to make both dried and powdered Stevia leaves. To make the Stevia sweeteners, the plant has two spray dryers, which is not common in the country. “That is where the Stevia extracts are made into powder form,” De Leon explains.
The company also became ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certified in 2017 and observes strict food manufacturing and processing standards such as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and HACCP (hazard Analysis Critical Control Point).
De Leon avers that research and development continues at GIDC-THE Stevia Company, given that before there was a licorice-like aftertaste, which she said is not friendly particularly for diabetics or for those who want to eat healthy and lose weight in the process. “Right now, we have the Stevia powder that anyone can use for dishes, either hot or cold, as a flavor enhancer even using a small pinch, even for desserts,” De Leon said, while pointing to their chocolate and ice cream products that are Stevia-based.
The best part is that since many people are inclined to eat fast-food fare, Stevia helps nourish the pancreas for it to produce insulin, which plays a major role in regulating blood glucose levels.
The advocacy that helps send kids to school
every Stevia product brought in the market, De Leon said, goes back GIDC-THE Stevia Company’s advocacy of helping send kids to school, an advocacy that started about 10 years ago. “It started by supporting the children of our local farmers and workers because all of our products are grown and manufactured here. The market’s continued support sends the children of our farmers and workers to school to help improve the quality of their lives,” she explained.
Then de Leon said they extended the advocacy outside of the farm, particularly choosing to support students who are already in college since they are the ones nearer to the finish line. She said the college students they supported have become engineers, flight stewardesses, and there were three scholars who became doctors.
“For us, it’s one way of giving back, and what better way to do it than with our workers and farmers, whom we are grateful to,” De Leon concluded.