Bitter Melons – Image Courtesy: Pixabay
A lot of people who suffer from diabetes are on the lookout for natural ways to manage their diabetes, that are better and healthier than their present treatments. In fact, such natural remedies do exist in the form of herbal diabetes remedies that my help one control and regulate one’s blood glucose level. The herbs used for these natural remedies are devoid of any chemicals and substances that may be harmful to your body.
A Note of Caution:
However, before going any further, it must be noted that if you choose to use any such herbal remedy to treat your diabetes (or any other health problem, for that matter), you must do so in consultation with your health professional. It is so because although herbs are an all natural product, they may have interactions with your prescribed medications, or even with other herbal products.
Also, please try to avoid gathering herbs from the wild on your own, as a common person is not an herbalist by training and may end up confusing a poisonous plant for a beneficial herb!
Okay, now on to some of these herbs and remedies for diabetes:
1. Bitter Melon Tea
Bitter melon is a fruit that looks like a pockmarked cucumber. However, despite being a ‘fruit’, it can not be consumed in its raw form because of its unpleasant taste and is mostly used in Chinese soup recipes.
Bitter melon contains four compounds that, according to a study by researchers in Australia, China and Germany, activate an enzyme called AMPK that is responsible for transporting glucose from the blood into the cells. It is the same enzyme that is activated when we exercise.
Isolating these compounds could lead to medications that someday could control obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Does this mean that all those claims that tout bitter melon as a cure for diabetes are for real? That may be an exaggeration, but this study does prove that at least there are legitimate compounds in bitter melon that do help move glucose into cells.
Can Bitter Melon Really Help Type 2 Diabetes? – By Debra Manzella, R.N.
One cup of bitter melon tea in the morning as well as in the evening may bring down your fasting glucose level. You can get hold of the bitter melon tea at a local Asian grocery store.
2. Cinnamon and Honey Herbal Tea
An easy and tasty way to control your blood glucose level is to consume a herbal tea made with cinnamon and honey. Cinnamon is known to help in mild health conditions like bloating and digestion problems too, and this herbal tea also helps treat any cold induced sore throat and viral infections. Grocery stores stock cinnamon in powder and stick forms and you may buy what’s suitable for you.
Natural health products stores also sell cinnamon as a dietary supplement, but it is always good to consume any herb in its most natural form, of course.
3. Fresh Garlic
It is well known by now that garlic has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and helps the body fight various infections as well as harm producing bacteria and viruses. So, it is a good idea to add fresh garlic cloves to make your diet healthier as it will help control and regulate diabetes and even blood pressure.
Make sure to use only fresh garlic in your cooking as it is more potent fresh and a great way to lower your high blood sugar numbers.
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