Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that is divided into many categories. People use a variety of treatments to treat diabetes or hyperglycemia.
Many herbs and spices have been proven to improve blood glucose levels and provide other medical characteristics such as lowering high cholesterol, boosting insulin secretion, and enhancing renal function in some trials.
Some plants have therapeutic properties in their fruit, seed, leaf, flower, bark, and root. This article discusses ten such plants and spices that can aid with diabetes management.
Herbs and Spices that Help Lower Blood Sugar
When it comes to regulating sugar levels in the blood, a person with diabetes can benefit from various lifestyle changes. Consuming healthy meals and following diets such as the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet are examples of these changes.
Various herbs have also been used to treat diabetes, depending on the patient’s disease progression. The following are the most regularly used herbs and spices.
1. Aloe vera
According to preliminary studies, drinking aloe vera juice can help lower blood glucose levels, making it a viable treatment option for diabetes. In addition, regular usage of aloe vera tones up the hepatic-biliary system and controls sugar and fat.
Due to the presence of lectins, mannans, and anthraquinones, aloe has the following beneficial properties.
Patients with excessively high quantities of these molecules in their blood have their blood fats reduced.
Reduced swelling and faster wound healing: Leg wounds and ulcers are expected diabetes consequences, and they usually take longer to heal than in healthy non-diabetic people.
Side effects-
- However, if you’re currently on a blood sugar-controlling medicine, drinking a large glass of aloe vera juice or using another aloe vera product could cause your blood sugar to fall.
- You could get hypoglycemia, a dangerously low blood sugar condition that can cause loss of consciousness.
Where to Buy?
2. Cinamon
Cinnamon includes bioactive components that may aid with blood sugar control.
Cinnamon is suitable for persons with Type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the Annals of Family Medicine and Diabetes Care in 2013.
This study may help individuals with Type 2 diabetes lower their fasting plasma glucose, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
How to use
You can consume cinnamon tea in doses of 1 to 2 grams per day. You may also use it in cooking and baking, as well as in your oatmeal and smoothies.
Cinnamon supplements are another possibility. Always visit a doctor to determine the proper dosage for your situation.
Side effect-
- You should avoid cinnamon if you are on blood-thinning medication, or else it may adversely affect your health.
3. Ginger
Ginger’s anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic, and anti-oxidative characteristics help manage blood sugar levels. Ginger can also help with insulin sensitivity, oxidation, and cholesterol levels. It aids with weight loss as well.
How to use
Drink 2-3 cups of ginger tea each day and incorporate fresh or dried ginger into your recipe as well.
Another alternative is to take ginger supplements with your doctor’s consultation.
Side Effects-
- Pregnant women shouldn’t consume more than 1 gram of ginger per day.
- Ginger causes low blood pressure, which can lead to irregular heartbeats.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric is an excellent spice for lowering blood sugar levels. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, heart-protective, and weight-loss properties that assist people with diabetes to control blood sugar levels and prevent disease consequences.
A 2014 research published in the academic Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders demonstrates the function of turmeric in preventing diabetes-related kidney problems.
How to use
You can use turmeric, either raw or powdered, in your cooking. However, use a supplement only after checking with a physician.
Side effects-
- Taking high doses of turmeric can cause liver problems.
- You should avoid turmeric if you have gallbladder disease. It may make things worse.
5. Garlic
Garlic’s anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic qualities also assist people with diabetes in maintaining appropriate blood sugar levels. In addition, sulfur components in it defend against oxidative damage and even excessive cholesterol levels.
Garlic supplementation with a typical anti-diabetic drug improves blood sugar management in Type 2 diabetics.
Garlic may help treat diabetes and related cardiovascular disorders, according to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders.
How to use
After you chop it, you can use it in salads, dips, and savory spreads.
Allow chopped garlic to sit for at least 5 minutes to ensure that allicin, one of the herb’s primary components, is at its peak concentration and could increase its health benefits.
Side effect
- Garlic has a strong flavor as well as a strong odor. Although it is typically safe to consume, some side effects may include heartburn, gas, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- If you eat raw garlic, you may be more susceptible to adverse effects.
- Consult your doctor if you’re on any blood-thinning drugs. Garlic eating may increase the medication’s effects.
6. Fenugreek
People with diabetes should consume fenugreek as part of their daily diet. It can enhance glucose tolerance and lower blood sugar levels due to its hypoglycemic activity. Furthermore, the fiber in this food delays the absorption of carbohydrates and sugars.
Researchers concluded that fenugreek seeds have a favorable effect on blood glucose and lipid profiles in Type 2 diabetic patients in a 2009 study published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research.
How to use
Take 1 to two teaspoons of fenugreek seeds to reduce your blood sugar, soaked overnight in water. The following day eats the seeds and drinks the water on an empty stomach.
Use this remedy daily. You can use fenugreek flour in baked items. Another option is to visit a doctor and take supplements on the recommendation.
Side effect
- Talking about Pregnant women, when used in proportions more extraordinary than those found in food, fenugreek is likely unsafe. It may result in the baby’s abnormalities as well as early contractions.
- Fenugreek might reduce blood clotting. However, it may result in more bleeding during and after surgery. Therefore, at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery, stop taking fenugreek.
7. Curry Leaves
Curry leaves, which have a strong aroma, may also help to control blood sugar levels. Several minerals in this herb aid in the maintenance of a healthy blood glucose level.
It also has an impact on glucose metabolism. Additionally, it lowers the danger of oxidative stress.
According to 2013 research published in the International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Curry leaf powder has hypoglycemic effects, which can help people with diabetes control their fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels.
According to a 2007 research article published in the academic Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Curry leaf extract can help reduce the severity of diabetes.
How to use
You can eat eight to ten fresh curry leaves first thing in the morning, or the leaves can be juiced and drunk every morning. Then, to appreciate their deliciousness, add them to curries, rice dishes, and salads.
Side effect
- Although curry leaves are safe to eat, too much of them might cause digestive issues such as a burning sensation.
8. Bay Leaves
A 2016 research article published in the journal Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition found that taking 1 to 3 gm of bay leaves for 30 days improved insulin activity in persons with Type-2 diabetes.
Some phytochemicals and essential oils in the leaves have a low blood sugar impact on diabetics. In addition, Bay leaf consumption has been shown to improve insulin and glucose metabolism.
The active ingredient in bay leaves is a polyphenol, which aids with glucose regulation. Furthermore, they were discovered to enhance patients’ lipid profiles.
How to use
People with diabetes should take bay leaves together with their usual medicine and follow other healthy food and lifestyle guidelines to get the most out of it.
An individual can use bay leaves in soups and curries. You can also grind the dried leaves into a powder and use it in your meals to get the benefits of the herb.
A tablespoon of Bay leaves is all it takes to help control blood sugar levels.
Side effect
- When taken with anesthetic and other drugs used before and after surgery, there is fear that it will slow down the CNS too much. Therefore, stop using bay leaf medicine at least two weeks before your procedure.
9. Fennel Herb
Consuming a high-fiber diet, particularly soluble fiber, may assist in lowering blood sugar levels and hence the risk of type 2 diabetes. In addition, Beta-carotene, another antioxidant found in fennel seeds, may potentially help patients with type 2 diabetes lower cholesterol levels.
How to use
Fennel is an herb that can be eaten raw or used as a spice. Fennel oil, too, is used as a flavoring component in meals and beverages, such as broths.
Side effect
- According to WebMD, those who are allergic to particular plants such as carrot, celery, or mugwort may suffer allergic reactions to fennel when ingested in adequate levels over a short period.
Where to Buy these herbs and spices?
- Grocery stores
- Online shops
- Now Foods Herbal Products
- Mountain Rose Herb
The Takeaway
Before including these herbs and spices in your daily diet, you should be aware of the following safety precautions.
- Before you start using herbs to treat your ailment, talk to your doctor.
- Some herbs can interfere with the effectiveness of other medications. Enlist your doctor’s assistance in determining the optimum manner to combine them with your other medicines.
- Make sure you’re using high-quality, pure, and organic herbs.
- However, you should not replace medications with herbs and spices.
- Herbs might be a beneficial complement to your diabetes treatment plan. Their proper application has minimal adverse side effects and can help promote more excellent health.
Note: Seek advice from your health practitioner before adding these herbs and spices to your diet. Because some herbs and spices might contraindicate with prescription medications.
Disclaimer: The information given here is exclusively for educational purposes only. It should not be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be used in place of medical care from your doctor. Consult an appropriate healthcare professional on any issue concerning your health or well-being before engaging in any health-related activity.
