Stevia Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends Analysis and Forecast to 2020

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/14/2015 -- Stevia is a natural, plant-based, zero-calorie, and high-intensity sweetener. Stevia is extracted from the leaves of the plant species Stevia Rebaudiana, which is most-widely grown in Brazil and Paraguay. Around 40 years ago, stevia found commercial use, when Japan started consuming it as a sweetening agent. Steviacan be utilized in processed food, as it remains stable when heated. It is 200- to 300-time sweeter than sugar. Stevia measures zero on the glycemic index (a measurement carried out on carbohydrate-containing food to measure their impact on our blood sugar), which is important in the diabetic market .Growing consumer awarenessregarding the value of low glycemic diet drives the market for stevia. Growing consumer preferences for all-natural products and increasing incidences of obesity and diabetesdrive demand for stevia. Due to its growing popularity as 100% natural sweetener, Stevia is edging over other high-intensity sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose. According to estimates from theWorld Health Organization WHO, stevia is expected to replace 20-30% of all dietary sweeteners in future.