Herbal sweetener launched for diabetics

Mumbai: In a bid to provide a healthy life to diabetic patients, a new sweetener made of herbs was launched here.

Zero Sugar -- made out of natural sweetener Stevia -- enables the patient to tackle obesity and satiate his sugar cravings also.

Stevia is extracted from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana.

"There is no nutritive value in sugar and when consumed in excess, one is likely to be prone to life threatening ailments. After lots of research Zero Sugar has been formed with herbal base," said Kanchan Patwardhan, Mumbai-based clinical nutritionist and dietician, at the launch.

India is home to nearly 62 million diabetics - second only to China which has over 92 million diabetics. A majority of diabetics are unable to keep their sugar level under control despite adequate medication and follow ups.

Patwardhan said Zero Sugar is a better solution because, being 200 times sweeter than sugar, it is the best sugar replacement.

According to medical science, eating sugar in excess sets up a relentless biochemical drive in the brain that in turn makes the person crave for more sugar, resulting in weight gain and diabetes.