HERBS & SUPPLEMENTS FOR BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL
By
Debbie Markel, Certified Herbalist, Certified Natural Health Professional
3430-D Anderson Hwy., Powhatan, VA 23139
Type II Diabetes (non-insulin dependent) has become one of the most common mid- to late-life diseases in the United States. Unfortunately, diabetes is also becoming more and more prevalent in children, teens and young adults. More than 6% of the population has diabetes today, making it a serious epidemic with potentially dangerous side effects. Fortunately, it can be reversed by simply changing one's diet and lifestyle and adding a few helpful supplements.
Diabetes occurs when the body loses its ability to maintain adequate blood sugar levels. This happens when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, or when the body systems become insulin-resistant. Its primary causes are obesity, poor diets and lack of exercise. People who carry their weight around their middles are more susceptible to developing Type II diabetes than people whose weight is either more evenly distributed or located around the hips and thighs. Luckily, the risk factors can be easy to reverse for most people.
Losing weight can often make a very big difference in lowering blood sugar levels. Some people have been able to stop their medication after losing just 10 pounds. Exercising is another easy way to lower glucose levels in the blood. When we exercise, more glucose goes to the muscles to keep them active; therefore, less glucose is accumulated and stored in the blood. Also, regular exercise can help with weight loss. Finally, eating well can not only help with losing weight, it can lower blood sugar through the types of nutrients we ingest and absorb.
The University of Sydney in Australia has an online database that not only measures the change in blood sugar levels after eating a food that contains carbohydrates (the glycemic index, or G.I.), but also the glycemic load (G.L.) of the food, which measures the quality of the food's carbohydrate levels on the body. The higher the glycemic load, the worse the food will be for maintaining healthy glucose levels. Examples of high-glycemic load foods are white rice, white bread, baked potatoes, cooked carrots, French fries and sugar. A few low-glycemic foods are brown rice, whole wheat bread, sweet potatoes, raw carrots, fresh fruit and beans. Eating low-glycemic load foods will help maintain lower blood glucose levels. You can search any food item for its G.I. or G.L. rating at www.glycemicindex.com. Also, eating diets that consist mainly of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, quality proteins and healthy oils (olive, etc.) and low in fats, sugars and processed foods will result in many other health benefits as well.
Of course, there are supplements and herbs available to assist our bodies with blood sugar control in conjunction with diet, weight loss and exercise. A few of these are as follows:
Alpha-Lipoic Acid: This is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps counter the effects of diabetes on the nerves (diabetic neuropathy) and improves the glucose-lowering action of insulin, thus lowering blood sugar levels. Other studies show alpha-lipoic acid can also improve long-term memory, protect the liver and may possibly help prevent cancer.
American
ginseng: In a small pilot study, 3 grams of American ginseng was found to
lower the rise in blood sugar following the consumption of a drink high in
glucose by people with type 2 diabetes.
B-Vitamins: People with diabetes tend to be low in B vitamins, perhaps in part because the diabetes itself uses up B vitamins and because poorly controlled diabetes causes these nutrients to be excreted in the urine. Vitamin B6 deficiency, for example, has been linked to glucose intolerance. The usual recommendation is to supplement with 100 milligrams of a B-complex vitamin daily
Bilberry: Bilberry may prevent blood vessel thickening due to diabetes. It also supports vision and eye health.
Bitter melon: This member of the gourd family contains Gurmarin, a polypeptide considered to be similar to bovine insulin. At least three different groups of constituents in bitter melon have been reported to have blood-sugar lowering actions of potential benefit in diabetes mellitus. Some clinical trials have confirmed the benefit of bitter melon for people with diabetes.
Chromium picolinate: This supplement has been proved in many studies
to improve insulin sensitivity in obese individuals. It also helps cut down on
sugar cravings and raises "good" cholesterol levels in the blood.
Chromium hooks up with insulin to help escort sugar through the cell membrane
and into the cell. Deficiencies of chromium make cells resistant to insulin and
lead to high blood sugar levels. Of 15 studies that have looked at the effects
of chromium supplementation on the body's ability to use sugar, 12 show positive
results. Some researchers recommend daily doses of 200 micrograms of either
niacin-bound chromium or chromium picolinate or nine grams (two teaspoons) of
chromium-rich brewer's yeast.
Cinnamon: Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics, according to a study released in 2003. The discovery was initially made by accident, by Richard Anderson at the US Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland, and published in the journal Diabetes Care (Vol 26, p 3125).
Fenugreek: Preliminary and double-blind trials have found that fenugreek helps improve blood sugar control in patients with insulin-dependent (type 1) and non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes. Double-blind trials have shown that fenugreek lowers elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. This has also been found in a controlled clinical trial with diabetic patients with elevated cholesterol. Generally, fenugreek does not lower HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.
Gymnema sylvestre: This is an herb that works to lower blood sugar levels. It is a member of the milkweed family that when chewed, can block us from tasting things that are sweet. It has been proven in studies to work.
Hawthorn: This herb is cardioprotective and increases circulation. It may help prevent diabetic neuropathy. It also has antioxidant properties to support immune function.
Magnesium: May improve insulin production and decrease insulin resistance. In Italy doctors found that people with Type II diabetes who took 450 milligrams of supplemental magnesium a day produced more insulin and cleared sugar from their bloodstreams better than before they started taking magnesium supplements.
Medicinal mushrooms:
The
polysaccharides in medicinal mushrooms may have a positive effect on blood sugar
control. They also enhance overall immunity.
Quercetin: Quercetin blocks an enzyme that leads to accumulation of sorbitol, which has been linked to nerve, eye, and kidney damage in those with diabetes.
Vitamin C: Studies show that vitamin C helps prevent the sugar inside cells from converting to sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that cells can neither burn for energy nor move out. Vitamin C may also be effective in diminishing the damage to proteins caused by free radicals. Researchers found that 100 milligrams of supplemental vitamin C a day works just as well as 600 milligrams a day in people already getting at least the Daily Value (60 milligrams) from foods.
Zinc: Zinc helps to preserve vision. Never take more than 100mg daily from all sources.
(We carry an all-inclusive formula called GLUCO-SCIENCE by Source Naturals that includes many of the above and more.)
Most synthetic artificial sweeteners can have some serious side effects (see hand-out). Yes, even Splenda, whose brilliant advertising campaign has misled us all into believing it's totally harmless because it's "made from sugar." Chemically, Splenda bears no resemblance to sugar. It is made from sugar that has had chlorine bleach added to it, which completely changes its molecular structure. Fortunately, there are several natural alternatives.
Alternative Sweeteners:
Stevia: Stevia is one of the most health restoring plants on earth. What whole leaf stevia does both inside the body and on the skin is incredible. Native to Paraguay, it is a small green plant bearing leaves which have a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 30 times sweeter than sugar. Besides the intensely sweet glycosides (steviosides, rebaudiosides and a dulcoside), various studies have found the leaf to contain proteins, fiber, carbohydrates, iron, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, rutin (a flavonoid), true vitamin A, Vitamin C and an oil which contains 53 other constituents. Quality stevia leaves and whole leaf concentrate are nutritious, natural dietary supplements offering numerous health benefits. (From http://www.healthyshopping.com/SweetLeaf/)
Lo Han Fruit: Luo han guo is a very sweet fruit found in China. Extracts of luo han guo (also spelled Lo han guo, Luo han kuo, or lo han kuo) are now being marketed as a sweetener. Lo Han Kuo is the fruit of Momordica grosvenori, a plant cultivated in the mountains of southern China. Mogrosides, which are water extracted from the Lo Han fruit, offer a pleasant, sweet taste without elevating blood sugar. Lo Han Kuo Mogrosides are up to 200 times sweeter than sugar. (From http://www.physicianformulas.com)
Xylitol: Pure xylitol is a white crystalline substance that looks and tastes like sugar. On food labels, xylitol is classified broadly as a carbohydrate and more narrowly as a polyol. Because xylitol is only slowly absorbed and partially utilized, a reduced calorie claim is allowed: 2.4 calories per gram or 40% less than other carbohydrates. Xylitol has been used in foods since the 1960's. It is a popular sweetener for the diabetic diet in some countries. In the U.S., xylitol is approved as a food additive in unlimited quantity for foods with special dietary purposes. Xylitol bakes well. The only side effect is that too much xylitol can result in mild diarrhea in some people. Xylitol use reduces tooth decay rates both in high-risk groups and in low risk groups Sugar-free chewing gums and candies made with xylitol as the principal sweetener have already received official endorsements from six national dental associations. Other studies have shown that regular use of xylitol gum can reduce childrens' ear infections! (From http://www.xylitol.org)
Here in the store, check out Stevia Sweetleaf Plus and Sweet & Slender.
Stevia Sweetleaf Plus is made from stevia and inulin fiber (FOS), which is excellent for diabetics. Sweet & Slender is a low glycemic natural sweetener that promotes fat burning when used in place of sugar or other high glycemic sweeteners. When using Sweet & Slender you create a better metabolic environment that promotes fat burning by stabilizing blood sugar and insulin levels due to the low glycemic index of the product. This forces your body to burn stored fat instead of calorie laden high carbohydrate sugars
Sweet & Slender is a blend of fructose and an extract from the Luo Han Guo fruit. This product has a low glycemic index (about 20-sugar has 70) with only 2 calories per serving. Luo Han is an intensely sweet fruit native to southern China that has been used by people for centuries for both its sweet flavor and its medicinal properties. Fructose is a natural fruit sweetener. Because Sweet & Slender is 8-10 times sweeter than sugar and 5 times sweeter than fructose, you use it in small amounts.
One serving of either is only ½ of a pack.
STEVIA:
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