Website content extracted from: Diabetes: The cancer-fighting herb that quickly slashes blood sugar levels by 25 percent - Sound Health and Lasting Wealth
Diabetes is proving an insurmountable challenge for health services, with rates rising at full tilt. Researchers have pointed to climbing obesity caseloads as a major cause of the diabetes crisis, but high sugar intake is another culprit. Fortunately, some foods have strong lowering effects on blood glucose, with one herb shown to lower levels by 25 percent when consumed on a regular basis.
Fenugreek has been touted as an antidote for centuries because its benefits are wide-ranging and potent.
It is mainly recognised for its anti-cancerous properties, with a string of studies showing it is able to inhibit the proliferation of malignant cells.
But the edible spice has benefits that stretch far beyond its anti-cancer properties, and some researchers have suggested it may also prevent diabetes.
A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition bears out such claims, showing that levels of blood sugar drop significantly after fenugreek intake.
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The research team noted: “The fenugreek diet significantly reduced fasting blood sugar and improved the glucose tolerance test.
“There was a 54 percent reduction in 24-hour urinary glucose exertion. Serum total cholesterol LDL and VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides were also significantly reduced.
“The HDL cholesterol fraction, however, remained unchanged. These results indicate the usefulness of fenugreek seeds in the management of diabetes.”
Research suggests these effects are attributable to the spice’s soluble fibre, which helps lower blood sugar by decelerating the absorption of carbohydrates.
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The researchers noted elsewhere in the paper: “The Fenugreek diet significantly reduced fasting blood sugar and improved the glucose tolerance test and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were all significantly reduced.”
The study was carried out to evaluate the lowering effects on both cholesterol and blood sugar of fenugreek over the course of eight weeks.
Diabetes patients were administered 10 grams of powdered fenugreek seeds daily mixed with yoghurt or soaked in hot water.
The researchers continued: “Findings showed that fasting blood sugar (FBS), Triglyceride (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) decreased significantly (25 percent, 30 percent, and 30.6 percent respectively) after taking fenugreek seeds soaked in hot water.”
“Whereas there were no significant changes […] in cases who consumed it mixed with yoghurt.”
In addition to the aforementioned benefits, researchers have suggested the seed may also be effective in the treatment of constipation, male impotence, hair loss and kidney ailments.
But as with other blood sugar lowering herbs, fenugreek could cause levels to drop to suboptimal levels if consumed too frequently, resulting in hypoglycaemia.
Other potential side effects of fenugreek consumption may include diarrhoea, nausea and other ailments of the digestive tract.
Source: | This article first appeared on Express.co.uk
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