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Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes Naturally with Banaba Extract!
Unfortunately, type 2 diabetes increases risk of serious long-term complications including cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, and loss of vision.
The good news is that many people with blood sugar disorders and type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose by eating a diet of fresh, whole foods—including lean poultry, meat and fish, and little or no carbohydrates—exercising regularly, losing excess weight, and taking nutritional supplements, including Banaba Extract.
Banaba Extract:
- Balances blood sugar
- Regulates insulin levels
- Supports healthy weight loss
Banaba is a botanical extract that comes from the leaves of the banaba tree. In Southeast Asia and the Philippines, the leaves are traditionally used as an herbal medicine to treat diabetes and hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar).
Corosolic acid, a triterpenoid found in the leaves, helps regulate blood sugar by stimulating glucose uptake. This blood sugar lowering effect is similar to that of insulin—which induces glucose transport from the blood into body cells.23 Animal studies have shown it to be effective for treating both diabetes and obesity.345
Researchers have found that corosolic acid is not the only active ingredient in banaba leaves. Studies show that Banaba extract contains at least three other active ingredients—lager-stroemin, flosin B and reginin A. These natural phytochemicals regulate glucose uptake, and could be responsible for lowering blood glucose levels.67
Scientific studies
The blood sugar regulating properties of banaba have been demonstrated in cell culture, animal and human studies. In diabetic mice, banaba reduced elevated blood sugar and insulin levels to normal.345 Additionally, total blood cholesterol levels were lowered.7
In a study of humans with type 2 diabetes, Banaba extract showed a 30% reduction in blood glucose levels.8
Induces weight loss
For some people, fluctuations in blood sugar and insulin are related to appetite, hunger, and food cravings, particularly for carbohydrates such as bread, pastries, and desserts. By keeping blood sugar and insulin levels in check, Banaba extract may be an effective supplement for promoting weight loss in certain individuals. Researchers theorize that modulation of glucose and insulin levels reduces total caloric intake somewhat and encourages moderate weight loss.
A Japanese study done on overweight mice found that the mice fed Banaba extract had a significant decrease in weight and body fat, and a decrease of up to 65% in blood lipids.3
Lower your risk
Even if you have a genetic predisposition for diabetes, you can lower your risk. Consider adding Banaba extract to your health regimen, and other nutritional supplements such as Salacia Reticulata, Lipoic Acid, Chromium Picolinate, Carnosine, and Green Tea extract which have all been shown to help normalize glucose levels.
Exercise actually helps the body use insulin better, and a new study suggests that regular exercise alone cuts pre-diabetes risk.9 And if you're really serious about controlling your blood sugar and weight, it's essential to eat an "insulin smart" or low-carb diet.
How safe is Banaba?
Prescribed diabetes treatments may produce side effects or low blood sugar, but there are no known negative side effects associated with Banaba extract at suggested doses. It does produce the positive effects of lowering trigyceride and LDL cholesterol, which aid in weight loss!
Recommended dosage
Although doses of Banaba extract as low as 48 mg per day are effective in reducing blood glucose and insulin levels in humans, much higher doses have been used in animal studies, resulting in significant weight loss. For best results, begin with 100 mg daily and slowly increase the dosage to 100 mg three times daily with meals.
Editor's Note:
The natural health solutions described in this article are available through many on-line retailers including those listed below. By clicking these links you help support the important alternative health research we provide.
Visit www.amazon.com – a great way to find competitive deals on supplements offered by many different manufacturers.
Visit www.hfn-usa.com – when commitment to quality and freshness is important, this factory direct solution is preferred by many of our readers.
This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program.
References
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American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/national-diabetes-fact-sheet.jsp (29 July 2004)
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Hattori K, Sukenobu N, Sasaki T, Takasuga S, Hayashi T, Kasai R, Yamasaki K, Hazeki O. Activation of insulin receptors by lagerstroemin. J Pharmacol Sci. 2003 Sep;93(1):69-73.
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Suzuki Y, Unno T, Ushitani M, Hayashi K, Kakuda T. "Antiobesity activity of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves on female KK-Ay mice." J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 1999 Dec;45(6):791-5.
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Liu F, Kim J, Li Y, Liu X, Li J, Chen X. An extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. has insulin-like glucose uptake-stimulatory and adipocyte differentiation-inhibitory activities in 3T3-L1 cells. J Nutr. 2001 Sep;131(9):2242-7.
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Hayashi T, Maruyama H, Kasai R, Hattori K, Takasuga S, Hazeki O, Yamasaki K, Tanaka T. Ellagitannins from Lagerstroemia speciosa as activators of glucose transport in fat cells. Planta Med. 2002 Feb;68(2):173-5.
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Hosoyama H, Sugimoto A, Suzuki Y, Sakane I, Kakuda T. [Isolation and quantitative analysis of the alpha-amylase inhibitor in Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. (Banaba)] Yakugaku Zasshi. 2003 Jul;123(7):599-605. [Article in Japanese]
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Kakuda T, Sakane I, Takihara T, Ozaki Y, Takeuchi H, Kuroyanagi M. Hypoglycemic effect of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves in genetically diabetic KK-AY mice. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1996 Feb;60(2):204-8.
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Judy WV, Hari SP, Stogsdill WW, Judy JS, Naguib YM, Passwater R. Antidiabetic activity of a standardized extract (Glucosol) from Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves in Type II diabetics. A dose-dependence study. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Jul;87(1):115-7.
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American Diabetes Association, Inc. "Physical Activity/Exercise and Diabetes Mellitus." Diabetes Care, 2003, vol. 26, no. 3