Herbs for Controlling Diabetes

There are many common herbs that are useful when you are struggling with diabetes. Some herbs and spices that are resting on your kitchen rack may have properties that lower blood sugar levels. In recent years, several scientific studies have been conducted to identify what these herbs and spices are and how sufferers of type 2 diabetes can benefit from them. These studies were able to successfully identify a number of common herbs that can help Type 2 diabetics turn to more “natural” ways of managing their health condition.

Here are three among the many herbs scientists discovered that can aid in controlling diabetes:

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a derived from the prickly but succulent aloe vera plant which is native to the Carribean, South Africa and Latin America. For centuries, it has been used in herbal medicine because of its healing, rejuvenating and soothing properties. Many products in the market have aloe vera as their main ingredient. The plant’s leaves contain a clear gel that is used for creams, lotions, shampoos and ointments. Aloe latex, a liquid with bitter taste taken from the skin of the plant’s leaves, is used as an ingredient for beverages, supplements and dental care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash.

Several studies have been conducted to investigate the positive effects of aloe vera on sufferers of diabetes. Scientists discovered that regular intake of aloe vera juice helps improve blood glucose levels and is therefore, useful in the treatment of diabetes.

Some individuals with Type 2 diabetes suffer from abnormally high levels of lipids (fats) in their blood. They can benefit from aloe vera as it decreases the amount of blood lipids.

Additionally, diabetes brings on certain complications such as leg wounds and ulcers which take a longer period of time to heal than in healthy, non-diabetic individuals. Aloe vera provides relief for diabetic individuals by promoting faster healing and relieving swelling. All of these positive effects are caused by the presence of lectins, mannans and anthraquinones in aloe vera.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a sweet-smelling spice found in the inner bark of the branches of wild cinnamon trees. The trees commonly grow along tropical areas in Southeast Asia, South America and the Caribbean. Cinnamon is frequently used in cooking and baking but according to recent studies, it is also helpful in the treatment of health conditions including diabetes mellitus.

In 2003, a clinical study published in the Diabetes Care journal pointed out that cinnamon bark improves blood glucose and cholesterol levels in sufferers of Type 2 diabetes. After 40 days of regular cinnamon intake, the glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels of middle-aged diabetics were all reduced.

In another study published in the July 2000 edition of Agricultural Research Magazine, it was discovered that the regular consumption of 1 gram of cinnamon per day can increase an individual’s sensitivity to insulin and help manage or even possibly reverse type 2 diabetes.

A more recent study conducted in 2007 and published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that 6g of cinnamon after meals slows down stomach emptying and therefore, significantly reduces the occurrence of hyperglycemia in diabetics.

Because of these numerous findings, many health experts believe that cinnamon is beneficial for the management of blood sugar levels and treatment of Type 2 diabetes. However, like many other herbs and natural compounds, cinnamon is yet to be medically approved for prevention or treatment of any disease.

Ginger

Ginger is the thick knotted underground stem (rhizome) of the plant zingiber officinale which is native to Africa, India, China, Australia and Jamaica. For thousands of years, it has been used in Asian cuisine and herbal medicine. To this day it is still used as a spice or flavoring agent in cooking. It is also utilized as an herbal treatment for various ailments like nausea and indigestion. Ginger can be consumed fresh, dried and powdered, or as a juice. It has a strong aroma and adds a spicy flavor to food and beverages.

In the August 2012 edition of the natural product journal Planta Medica, a study suggested that ginger helps in the long-term management of blood sugar levels for individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia found that extracts from ginger can increase the uptake of glucose into muscle cells without using insulin. This makes ginger especially useful in the management of high sugar levels.

Meanwhile, a report published in the December 2009 issue of the European Journal of Pharmacology suggested that two different ginger extracts interact with the body’s serotonin receptors to reverse their effect on insulin secretion. Volunteers who were treated with ginger extracts experienced a 35 percent drop in blood glucose levels and a 10 percent increase in plasma insulin levels.

Ginger also helps with eye problems which are a common complication of diabetes mellitus. A study published in the August 2010 edition of Molecular Vision revealed that consuming even just a small amount of ginger every day helps delay the onset and progression of cataracts, one of the sight-related complications of long-term diabetes.

If you are one of the millions of Americans living with diabetes, there is a natural way for you to deal with your condition. Call us at McClellan Natural Health Wellness & Nutrition. Schedule your complimentary initial consultation by calling 770-865-7232.

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