Stevia is a natural herb that grows in Asia and South America, and natives have used Stevia for centuries. NOW Stevia Extract is made with a high glucosylstevioside content and has a pleasant, non-bitter aftertaste. It's 300 times sweeter than sugar, so it only takes a small amount to produce the same sweet taste. Stevia has been used as a sweetener in many cultures for centuries, but is only recently gaining acceptance in the US as a sugar substitute.For dieters, stevia is carbohydrate free, and contains no calories. This makes it possible for dieters to satisfy sweet cravings and used as much stevia as they enjoy, without ruining their eating plans. Some studies have shown that stevia can lower blood pressure. One double-blind, placebo controlled study demonstrated that stevia taken at doses of 250 mg, three times a day for one year resulted in significant and lasting decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with moderate hypertension. For people with high blood sugar levels, stevia does a great job of lowering blood sugar levels. This makes it a wonderful sugar substitute for anyone with blood sugar and/or insulin problems, including diabetics. It is advisable for diabetics to continue to monitor their blood sugar levels and insulin levels after using Stevia, just to be safe. Stevia stabilizes blood sugar levels, helps insulin resistance, may even promote insulin production by promoting the pancreas health, discourage glucose absorption in the blood, and inhibit candidiasis, a yeast infection that flourishes when fed sugar. It has also been shown to inhibit the craving for sweet and oily or fatty foods. Other studies have shown that the antibacterial properties of Stevia may help with gingivitis, cavities, tooth decay and mouth sores, and suppresses the development of infectious organisms in the gums and teeth. Stevia also inhibits the growth of plaque and improves overall oral health. People who have used Stevia as a mouthwash has reported significant decrease in gingivitis, bad breath, bleeding gums, and other mouth infections.