Researchers unravel how stevia controls blood sugar levels

Status
Not open for further replies.

Northerner

Admin (Retired)
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
What makes stevia taste so extremely sweet? And how does the sweetener keep our blood sugar level under control? Researchers at KU Leuven (University of Leuven, Belgium) have discovered that stevia stimulates a protein that is essential for our perception of taste and is involved in the release of insulin after a meal. These results create new possibilities for the treatment of diabetes.

Stevia extract is very popular as a non-caloric substitute for sugar. The plant-based sweetener is also believed to have a positive effect on blood sugar levels, although nobody understood why. Koenraad Philippaert and Rudi Vennekens from the KU Leuven Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine have now revealed the underlying mechanism. They collaborated with other KU Leuven scientists and with researchers from Université catholique de Louvain and University of Oxford.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170411104441.htm
 
So only of interest to Type 2s. Just as well, I don't like Stevia. That doesn't make it any less interesting, though. But doesn't sugar stimulate the release of insulin as well?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top