Natural Products Like Stevia
And Cinnamon May Support
Normal Blood Sugar
Levels In Diabetics
Author:
Darrell Miller
Blood sugar regulation is a major health concern, as almost 21 million
Americans are diagnosed diabetics. Additionally, the American Diabetes
Association believes that 54 million more Americans can be characterized
as pre-diabetic, meaning they have blood glucose levels that are higher
than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as diabetic.
The condition of imbalanced blood sugar levels can lead to a number of
other health risks including blindness, heart disease, and loss of feeling
or peripheral pain leading to possible amputation of peripherally-damaged
tissue, impaired kidney function, and nerve damage. One must remember that
risk not only lies in the development of diabetes, but in the increase of
risk factors.
Preliminary studies on vitamin C and its ability to improve insulin resistance
have not given much evidence to support the safety or efficacy of nutritional
supplements in helping diabetic-related conditions. However, there are several
foods and nutrients that need further investigation such as DHEA and EGCG,
which mimic and augment beneficial metabolic and vascular actions of insulin.
Additionally, nutrients such as dark chocolate, magnesium, and glucosamine are
also being looked into. Efforts are being made to raise the level of knowledge
on scientific development of dietary supplements as related to health promotion,
health maintenance, and disease prevention. Research is being encouraged on
natural compounds and many studies are quickly being published.
A shift in how products are viewed is leading to an increased acceptance
of nutritional supplements in the medical community. A study combining a
cholesterol-lowering drug with a B vitamin proved to lower heart attack
risk by up to 90 percent in some patients. With over half of the population
using a combination of prescription, a blended approach may offer real benefits
and help to increase the overall acceptance of supplements.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral which is necessary for normal insulin
function and proper protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism. It can provide
the critical help that is needed to support healthy blood sugar levels.
However, chromium on its own is poorly absorbed and has little effect on insulin.
Instead, chromium nicotinate or polynicotinate is said to dramatically increase
not only the efficacy, but also the safety of chromium. This combination demonstrates
significant health benefits to those who have problems regulating blood sugar.
One study has even proven that chromium picolinate may reduce the risk of insulin
resistance, therefore, possibly reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
There are hundreds of products that claim to support healthy blood sugar levels
by increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing the onset and progression of
type 2 diabetes and its associated problems. In addition to the previously
discussed nutrients, there are other natural options available. Cinnamon has
been proven to have significant effects in reducing blood sugar in pre-diabetic
men and women. Corosolic acid has been shown to possess anti-diabetic properties
as well as significant amounts of tannins, which are shown to act as activators
of glucose transport in fat cells.
This nutrient has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels and support small,
amounts of weight loss. CoQ10 has been shown to reduce oxidative damage to
LDL-cholesterol and improve glucose utilization. Fiber has been shown to lower
after-meal blood sugar levels by approximately 20 to 40 percent and is also
believed to lower insulin secretion by about 40 percent.
Pycnogenol significantly
lowers high blood sugar levels in a dose dependant manner by inhibiting enzymes
of the digestive system which break down complex sugars into basic sugars such
as glucose. Pycnogenol delays the absorption of sugars in the blood stream and
prevents the high blood glucose peaks that typically follow meals.
Omega fatty acids significantly changes insulin-related function.
Medicinal mushrooms lower both blood sugar and insulin levels.
Lastly, natural sweeteners such as stevia and Luo Han is available in a number
of products including many types of candy, and has been proven to not elevate
blood sugar levels all the while sweetening the foods we love most.
About the Author:
More information on blood sugar support supplements like cinnamon and stevia is available at VitaNet, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/ Article
only, and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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