BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Stevia Council (ISC) in collaboration with the Calorie Control Council (CCC) will address dietitians and nutritionists at the IUNS 21st ICN International Congress of Nutrition on 15-20 October 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center. As a no calorie sweetener, stevia is a great ally to support nutrition and health by helping to reduce sugar and calorie intake. It plays an important role in addressing the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes around the world.
Increased demand for low-calorie foods and beverages has driven research and development around new products containing stevia, a naturally-derived no calorie sweetener. Blends of the different steviol glycosides, the sweet component of stevia, are tailored for a variety of applications to provide more options for consumers.
The symposium "Stevia: An Ally to Support Nutrition and Health" -- scheduled for 17 October 2017 -- is supported by the ISC and CCC. It is aimed at providing an overview of the benefits of stevia sweeteners as part of a healthy and balanced diet. The session describes the latest innovation in stevia leaf extract applications, and the safety and science behind stevia. Speakers will include: Keith Ayoob, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA; Ashley Roberts, Ph.D, Senior Vice President - Food & Nutrition at Intertek; Dr. John Fry, Director at Connect Consulting; and Maria Teresa Scardigli, Executive Director, ISC.
"ISC and CCC are enthusiastically collaborating at the IUNS's 21st International Congress of Nutrition to educate scientists and other stakeholders on the added value of stevia leaf extracts in helping consumers control sugar and calorie intake. This Congress gathers nutritionists from all over the world and it was important to educate them on the benefits of stevia which has become the sweetener of choice for food & beverage manufacturers and for consumers," remarked facilitator Susana Socolovsky.
Maria Teresa Scardigli, ISC Executive Director said, "ISC and CCC are very pleased to have brought together the most highly regarded experts to present on the safety and benefits of plant-based stevia leaf extracts. As consumers are more and more health conscious, they show an increased interest in naturally-derived sweeteners such as stevia. It is important for dieticians and nutritionists to knowledgably respond to consumer questions on how stevia can help them limit sugar and calories in their diet." Robert Rankin, CCC's President echoes the sentiment saying, "Staying up-to-date on the latest science on stevia is important for dietitians as they play an important role in helping individuals set and achieve weight and health goals."
The ISC continues to support the stevia industry at all levels. To learn more about nutritional information visit http://www.internationalsteviacouncil.org/index.php?id=219. For more about Calorie Control Council, visit www.caloriecontrol.org.
SOURCE International Stevia Council