| Diabetes is a quite common disease that happens | | | | Cinnamon is another herb that is found to be |
| when the person has a high level of blood sugar or | | | | effective against diabetes. Cinnamon is not actually a |
| glucose. This may be due to the body producing not | | | | plant but is the inner bark of a tropical evergreen |
| enough insulin or to the cells not reacting properly to | | | | tree that can be found in India and Sri Lanka. It has |
| the insulin. Either way, diabetes is a serious disease | | | | the ability to decrease the blood sugar levels of |
| that affects so many people and often have | | | | diabetics (especially for type 2 diabetics) as well as |
| complications that may lead to death. | | | | unwanted triglycerides and cholesterol because of its |
| Okay I'm not scaring you, I'm just stating the facts | | | | insulin-like properties. |
| here. Anyway, there are three type of diabetes. | | | | It has been found that just adding half a teaspoon of |
| Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to | | | | cinnamon into the meals of a patient suffering from |
| produce the hormone insulin, which requires the | | | | diabetes can already reduce his blood sugar or |
| patient to take insulin as medication. Type 2 diabetes | | | | glucose levels. Even non-diabetics can benefit from |
| is a condition when the cells are not able to use the | | | | cinnamon as it can be bought practically anywhere |
| insulin properly, while the third type, gestational | | | | and is also proven to increase sugar metabolism, |
| diabetes, occurs in pregnant women who have | | | | completely helpful to your health. |
| increased levels of blood sugar. | | | | Onion |
| Diabetes has become rampant in today's society so | | | | Onion is a widely used spice which also doubles as a |
| you would expect so many medications and drugs | | | | life saver because it is found to cure many diseases, |
| available in pharmacies designed to treat the said | | | | and the list now includes diabetes. Before, it was only |
| disease. However, some people here would like to | | | | found in Eurasia but now you can see onions virtually |
| try an alternative diabetes treatment that is not | | | | anywhere on the globe, because people who have |
| potentially harmful to the body: herbal medicines and | | | | lived before brought onions with them as food |
| remedies. Here are some herbs which are said to be | | | | whenever they traveled or migrated. |
| effective in curing diabetes. | | | | Now that you have known its history, it's time to |
| Bitter melon | | | | know how they can treat diabetes. According to |
| Bitter melon, which is also called bitter gourd, balsam | | | | some clinical studies conducted, onion has a |
| pear or bitter cucumber, is well a bitter vegetable | | | | compound called allyl propyl disulphide or APDS which |
| that is grown and used in the tropical areas of the | | | | is found to block the breakdown of insulin in the liver. |
| globe such as Asia, Africa and South America. It has | | | | It can also possibly stimulate insulin production in the |
| been used to treat diabetes for a long period of time | | | | pancreas and at the same time reduce the levels of |
| because it contains many compounds that have | | | | blood sugar in the body. |
| anti-diabetic properties. | | | | Studies were conducted wherein experts |
| These compounds include charantin and polypeptide-P | | | | administered 125mg/kg dosages of APDS to fasting |
| or plant insulin, a protein that exhibits the same | | | | humans. Results show a remarkable decrease in the |
| properties as that of the human insulin. These | | | | participants' blood sugar levels. It is also found that |
| compounds make the bitter melon an effective cure | | | | there was an increase in serum insulin due to the |
| against disorders in the pancreas and even on | | | | APDS. The dosages were then increased but what |
| non-pancreatic cells. Clinical trials have proven that | | | | the researchers found out was that even the small |
| consuming this bitter vegetable will have a sweet | | | | dosages in our meals can have great effects. |
| effect on our health. | | | | What is good about onions is that it barely has side |
| However, too much consumption of this vegetable | | | | effects (aside from wreaking havoc to your breath) |
| may cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. Also, bitter | | | | so you can consume as much as you want. Patients |
| melon should not be consumed by people who are | | | | with diabetes are actually encouraged to consume |
| suffering from hypoglycemia as it can trigger and | | | | liberal amounts of onion. Combined with its eternal |
| even worsen low blood sugar. Diabetics who are | | | | partner, garlic, the duo are effective in combating |
| taking medication and insulin should also avoid taking | | | | even cardiovascular diseases and can reduce |
| this herb to avoid adverse effects on the body. | | | | hypertension. |
| Cinnamon | | | | |