Six Ingredients from Nature's Pharmacy for Healthy Blood Sugar

By Layne Lowery

If you're one of more than 20 million Americans struggling to control your blood sugar you may already know about the distressing health problems it can cause.

The pharmaceutical companies have plenty of drugs to help you deal with blood sugar imbalances. The trouble is... the side effects of some of these drugs can be WORSE than the disease they're supposed to treat!

For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently mandated the use of a "black box" warning on the diabetes drug Avandia®. This strong warning label emphasizes that the drug, "may cause or worsen heart failure in certain patients."

Despite this disturbing admission, a government agency advisory panel voted 22 to 1 in favor of allowing continued sales to U.S. patients!

But here's some good news. You can balance your blood sugar naturally, simply by using nutrients straight from Mother Nature's pharmacy.

Nature's Premium Nutrients for Healthy Blood Sugar
It might seem hard to imagine that a few herbs can help you win the battle of blood sugar imbalances but it's TRUE! Let's examine each of these super nutrients individually...

Gymnema Sylvestre
For more than 2000 years, people in India have used the herb Gymnema sylvestre to help
control blood sugar. In fact, the leaves of this climbing plant are prized by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine the holistic system of healing developed in India and practiced by the renowned doctor, Deepak Chopra.

The herb is also called "gurmar," which literally means "destroyer of sugar" in Hindi. This name describes the way that chewing the leaves interferes with your ability to taste sweetness. Because this amazing herb decreases the sensation of sweetness in many foods, it may reduce your cravings for sugary snacks.

Dr. K. Baskaran published a study¹ involving patients who took 400 mg of Gymnema sylvestre extract daily for 18 to 20 months along with their oral medications. This group showed a significant reduction in their fasting blood sugar levels.

Chromium
Another weapon in nature's arsenal of sugar fighters is the mineral chromium. Chromium aids in digestion and helps move blood glucose from the bloodstream into the cells for energy. It also helps turn fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy.

What's more, chromium is critical for healthy insulin function. Without enough chromium in your body, insulin just doesn't work properly.

Chromium exists in many foods including brewer's yeast, meats, potatoes (especially in the skin), cheeses, molasses, whole-grain breads and cereals, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Despite the wide availability of chromium from food sources, research² shows that 90% of American adults have a chromium deficient diet! This could be a key reason why an increasing number of Americans suffer blood sugar problems.

Cinnamon
Believe it or not your kitchen probably already contains a key ingredient to help you control unhealthy blood sugar levels. Recent scientific discoveries prove that a commonly used spice helps regulate blood sugar in ways previously unknown.

Scientists at the Maryland-based Human Nutrition Research Center were studying the effects of common foods on blood sugar.³ Dr. Richard Anderson, lead scientist and chemist, noticed that when patients ate apple pie...their blood sugar levels actually IMPROVED!

Further investigation revealed it was the CINNAMON in the apple pie that helped their blood sugar levels. Researchers discovered that cinnamon actually increases your glucose metabolism.^4-7 It contains a compound called methylhydroxy chalcone polymer, or MHCP for short, that works with insulin to help process glucose.

In fact, a laboratory test conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed MHCP increased glucose metabolism by roughly 20 times.

Banaba Leaf Extract
Traditionally, people living in the Philippines, South Asia, and India have brewed a banaba leaf tea to help regulate blood sugar.

Medical scientists believe that banaba leaf's beneficial effects on blood sugar are due to its high concentration of corosolic acid, a natural compound extracted from its leaves. Corosolic acid mimics insulin by moving sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells. And numerous scientific studies have proven banaba leaf's effectiveness.

In one study,⁸ patients with blood sugar concerns took a supplement containing banaba leaf or a placebo three times a day for four weeks. The placebo group had no change, but the banaba leaf group achieved very good results for blood sugar balancing.

Fenugreek
Modern science is shedding new light on another traditional folk remedy which delivers excellent health benefits. Fenugreek is an herb native to the Mediterranean, Ukraine, India, and China.

Practitioners of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine have used the herb for more than 2000 years. Modern scientists now know fenugreek helps balance your cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose.

Fenugreek seed stimulates insulin release. This helps food sugars reach your cells properly. In one study,⁹ patients with blood sugar concerns were divided into two groups. Group One received one gram of fenugreek seed extract and Group Two received a combination of dietary control, exercise, and a placebo capsule for two months.

The results? Group One patients saw more positive results for blood sugar, insulin resistance, cholesterol, and triglycerides, compared to Group Two.

And, three more studies confirm that fenugreek seed extract helps stabilize blood sugar in patients with blood sugar and insulin problems.^10-12

Bitter Melon
Although it may be unknown to most people in the West, bitter melon has long been used in South America, the Caribbean, East Africa, and the Orient as both food and a natural medicine. And scientific studies prove its value for treating blood sugar problems.

For example, two studies^13-14 show bitter melon could play a key role in helping to balance insulin in your body which of course means healthy blood sugar control. And another study¹⁵ showed bitter melon had positive effects on the serum glucose levels of those taking it, following both fasting and eating.

So if you've resigned yourself to a life filled by downing daily prescription medications, jabbing yourself with insulin, and praying that you don't succumb to kidney failure or a brain disaster...

You need to be aware that this doesn't have to be YOUR fate now that you know about nature's premium nutrients for balancing blood sugar.

References

1. Baskaran, K., et al. J Ethnopharmacology. 30(3):295-305, 1990.
2. NEW ORLEANS, Jun 16, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE). Study Results from the University of Vermont Medical College Presented at American Diabetes Association Scientific Session.
3. Anderson R.A., et al. Diabetes. 1997 Nov;46(11):1786-91.
4. Anderson, R. A., et al. J Agric Food Chem. 52(1):65-70, 2004.
5. Khan, A., et al. Diabetes Care. 26(12):3215-3218, 2003.
6. Mindell, Earl R. Earl Mindell's Food as Medicine. Simon & Schuster, New York, USA. 1994:116.
7. Imparl-Radosevich, J., et al. Horm Res. 50(3):177-182, 1998.
8. Ikeda, Y. The clinical study on water extract of leaves of Langerstroemia Specious L. for mild cases of diabetes mellitus. 1998 (unpublished).
9. Sahelian, R., Report on study conducted at the Jaipur Diabetes and Research Centre in India.
10. Sharma R.D., et al. Eur J of Clin Nutr. 1990; 44:301-306.
11. Madar Z, et al. Eur J of Clin Nutr. 1988: 42:51-54.
12. Raghuram T.C., et al. Phytother Res. 1994; 8:83-6.
13. Leatherdale B.A., et al. Br. Med J (Clin Res Ed). June 1981:282 (6279):1823-24.
14. Welihinda J, et al. J Ethnopharmacology. Sept 1986: 17(3): 277-82.
15. Ahmad N., et al. Bangladesh Med. Res. Counc. Bull. 1999: 25, 11–13.

[Ed. Note: Layne Lowery is the President of Health Resources™, a manufacturer of high-quality nutritional supplements. In the health business since 1995, Layne's passion is providing affordable natural health solutions and educational tools based on the best scientific research available to empower his customers to make wise decisions on matters of personal health.]

Healthy Recipes: Blackberry and Apple Crisp with Walnut Topping By Kelley Herring

Don't let the old-fashioned looks of this home-style crisp fool you. It's a functional dessert packed with fiber and a powerful cancer-fighting nutrient from blackberries called cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G). Studies conducted by the USDA found that C3G significantly reduces skin cancer in lab studies and may also help prevent cancer from spreading.¹

Time To Table: 1 hour
Serves: 6

The Benefits:
Excellent source of fiber
Good source of magnesium and selenium

Ingredients
3 cups slices organic Fuji apples
1 1/2 cup frozen organic frozen blackberries
1/4 cup organic erythritol
1/3 cup organic rolled oats
1/3 cup whole organic walnuts, coarsely chopped
3 Tbsp organic erythritol
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 Tbsp organic butter, softened
1/2 cup whole grain flour
2 tsp organic vanilla

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350°. Oil an 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish. In a bowl, toss the apples with the blackberries, 1/4 cup erythritol, and 2 tablespoons of the flour. Scrape the filling into the baking dish. In a bowl, toss the oats with the remaining flour and the nuts, 3 tablespoons erythritol, vanilla, and cinnamon. Add the butter and rub it in thoroughly. Sprinkle the topping over the filling and bake for 35 minutes, until the filling is bubbling and the topping is browned. Let the crisp cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information
195.47 kcal Calories, 27.67 g Carbohydrate, 15.05 mg Cholesterol, 8.5 g Total Fat, 5.68 g Fiber, 4.21 g Protein, 42.12 mg Sodium, 10.54 g Sugars, 3.86 g Saturated fat, 0 trans Fat, 2.16 g Monounsaturated fat, 1.69 g Polyunsaturated fat

Reference

1. USDA, Benefits of Compounds in Blackberries Studies, September 2006.

[Ed Note: Do you love dessert, but not the sugar? Kelley Herring's new company, Wellness Bakeries, has created all-natural, protein-packed, high-fiber, low glycemic dessert mixes that you can enjoy without a moment's guilt. To learn more and try a delicious slice for yourself,
click here.]

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 09-05-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/