Type 2 diabetes is a disease that has been affecting more and more people in the United States in recent years; according to some reports, more than 20 million Americans now suffer from the condition, and this shows no signs of slowing down. This, of course, has meant that more and more people have had to undergo treatment for the disease, something they have to do for the rest of their lives. However, many people are wary of taking certain medications because some of them are known to have different side effects, some of which make us want to avoid them. An alternative is to take herbs to lower blood sugar.
This has led many people with diabetes to look for different treatments for the condition. While some of these may not be effective, taking herbs and supplements has been shown to have a fairly significant impact on blood sugar. Despite gaining popularity in recent years, many people may not know what herbs to take to lower their blood sugar. This is mainly because there are a significant number of herbs on the market to lower blood sugar, which can be an overwhelming choice for many people.
That doesn't have to be that big of a deal, though, as there are a few that are more effective than others when it comes to treating and managing the symptoms of diabetes. However, this does not mean that you cannot use the herbs if you do not suffer from the condition, as it is recommended to take them if you are at risk of developing the disease. Therefore, almost everyone can benefit from it.
It should be noted that if you already have diabetes or other diseases, you may need to discuss whether or not you can use certain herbs, and in what dosage. This is mainly because some herbs can affect various conditions, as well as their related medications. In addition, consuming the herbs in the form of a supplement, or different foods and meals, can offer several benefits. While lower blood sugar is a big part of this, there may be some other benefits depending on which supplement you use.
WHICH HERBS SHOULD TAKE TO REDUCE BLOOD SUGAR
CINNAMON
Cinnamon is perhaps the most obvious spice to lower your blood sugar and can be taken in powder or extract. Several studies have been done on how effective it has been with the disease, whether it is fully developed or if you are prediabetic, meaning you have a blood sugar level of 100-125 mg / dl. For people who are prediabetic, a 250-milligram dose of the herb saw an 8.4% reduction in their blood sugar levels by taking it twice a day; once for breakfast and once for dinner.Most of these studies have been done over a three-month period, so you may see bigger results if you consume cinnamon for a longer period of time. For people with diabetes, this impact is even greater: most studies report a drop in blood sugar levels between 11% and 14%. This is driven by the fact that cinnamon can promote your cell's response to insulin, which is one of the main areas where your body deals with sugar in your body.
GINSENG
Ginseng has been shown to have a significant impact on post-meal blood sugar levels, and studies show it can lower these levels by as much as 20%. This has been seen for both people with diabetes and those who don't have the condition, so everyone will be able to take advantage of it. For this to be effective, experts have noted that you should consume the ginseng up to an hour before each meal and no longer than that; this is because if you take it too long in advance, your blood sugar level may become too low.It is also noted that you should consume at least one gram and no more than three grams each time, as anything outside this range may not offer many benefits. The positive effects of ginseng have only been seen in the North American herbal variety, while others have not yielded much of the same results.
FENUGREEK
Fenugreek has been a popular medicine in the Middle East for generations, but it is only with recent studies that medical professionals have determined what benefits the herb can provide. One of the most notable of these has been seen how it affects blood sugar and insulin levels. This has been shown in both animal and human studies, where the herb has a fairly significant effect on blood sugar control.This means that your body can better control these levels, which can be beneficial for people who are most at risk of developing diabetes. Despite how popular it has been in several countries, relatively few studies have been conducted on fenugreek, although studies conducted in several areas have shown promising results.
TUMERIC / CURCUMIN
Tumeric is a spice that has been common around the world for centuries, mainly because of the flavor it offers. However, it has become increasingly popular in recent decades due to the health benefits it offers, much of which is driven by curcumin, one of its active ingredients. This has been seen in both type 2 diabetic patients and prediabetic patients. Some studies have shown that people who are prediabetic can prevent the development of the disease, which is one of the key areas where it can be beneficial. It has also been shown to significantly reduce blood sugar, although different studies have shown different results.ALOE VERA
aloe, aloe vera plantWhen many people think of aloe vera, they may think of washing off liquids or other products first, because it has been used in quite a number of areas. However, it has been proven to play a role in stimulating insulin production, which is essential for your blood sugar levels. While relatively few studies have been done on aloe vera compared to many other herbs, it does have some benefits.
These benefits were seen in nine studies, ranging in time from four to 14 weeks. Despite being relatively short, they have shown that they can lower blood sugar levels by 46.6 mg / dl. This was further enhanced in patients with blood sugar levels above 200 mg / dl. While further studies have yet to be done, it appears that the spice may become increasingly effective the higher your blood sugar.
There are some other herbs that have been shown to affect blood sugar, although more studies need to be done to determine how effective they are. These include:
Holy basil;
Bitter melon, which relieves many of the symptoms of diabetes;
Milk thistle, also known as silybinin, is the active ingredient, and;
Psyllium, which must be taken in large amounts, can have a laxative effect
RISKS
While using herbs to lower blood sugar can have several benefits, it should be noted that there may be some risks and side effects, as we mentioned above. As with many medications, much of this is determined by how much you take and how often you use them. This is the main reason most experts have noted that you should talk to a medical professional about how high or low a dose of the herbs to take.
Depending on the herb you use, there may be some side effects. Garlic, which has often been helpful in lowering cholesterol, for example, has been known to affect how thin your blood is, resulting in increased bleeding from any cuts. While this may not be a big deal for many people, you should be aware of it. Ginseng has the same effect, especially at higher dosages.
Cinnamon can have quite a substantial effect on your liver and begins to affect how it works, especially if you use it in large doses. It also suppresses your anti-immune system and reverses many of the effects of immunosuppressants. This means that you are more likely to experience certain illnesses ranging from the flu and the like. Therefore, if you are affected by autoimmune diseases, you should avoid cinnamon.
Like cinnamon, many spices can interfere with a variety of medications, something we all want to avoid, with aloe vera being one of the most prominent of these. While this can depend heavily on the medicines you take, research what herbs interact with any medicines you take and what kind of effects they will have. Much of this can be done in collaboration with a medical professional or dietician, who will have a significant amount of expertise in this area.
Keeping all of the above in mind, you can ensure that you are using the right herbs to lower blood sugar. However, as we said, research is often the first port of call to take them. This does not stop once you have determined which herbs to take, because you have to look where you buy herbs or supplements. This is mainly because different products will have different doses, which of course is important to keep an eye on.
In addition, you should read the instructions that come with each of these supplements as some may need to be taken once a day while others may need to be taken multiple times. By doing this, you can be sure to keep your blood sugar under control without worrying about what you eat and drink.
CONCLUSION
With the information available about herbs and their effects on blood sugar, it can often easily become overwhelmed. That no longer needs to be the case with the information we highlighted above. Do you know someone who could benefit from adding more herbs to their diet? Then why not share it on social media?
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health