A “metal” armors cinnamon in the anti- Metabolic Syndrome battle

The exact mode of action of cinnamon’s blood sugar lowering power hasn’t been determined yet. But Dr. Anderson and other researchers have identified several of the water-soluble components that are responsible for cinnamon’s anti-Metabolic Syndrome activity.

One of these components—and a very crucial one for your supplementation program—is the metal chromium.

Anderson’s research showed that people with Type 2 diabetes given supplemental chromium displayed improved glucose levels and insulin sensitivity, decreased visceral adipose tissue and body weight compared with the placebo group. ³⁰

“… cell culture, experimental animal, and human studies demonstrate that improved chromium nutrition leads to improvements in abnormalities associated with the Metabolic Syndrome.”

Anderson summarized his research on chromium as an effective anti-Metabolic Syndrome agent this way: “… cell culture, experimental animal, and human studies demonstrate that improved chromium nutrition leads to improvements in abnormalities associated with the Metabolic Syndrome.”

Chromium in its triple valence state (as picolinate or polynicotinate) is generally accepted as being safe.³¹ However, overuse of any mineral in a supplementation program is inadvisable. Dosages not exceeding 400mcg per day are both safe and effective for protection against Metabolic Syndrome.

Southeast Asian remedy reduces blood sugar by a whopping 20-30%!

Banaba leaf extract is a traditional remedy from Southeast Asia, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, and the Philippines.

Not to be confused with banana (to which it is not related), Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa L.) has been used for more than 1,500 years for treating edema, dropsy, ulcer, high blood sugar, and diabetes.

One key anti-Metabolic Syndrome component in Banaba is a substance called corosolic acid, which has a strong blood glucose lowering effect.

In one randomized clinical trial Type 2 diabetic individuals took a standardized corosolic acid supplement each day for two weeks. After that time, their blood glucose levels had decreased by 20-30%.³²

But Banaba doesn’t just fight Metabolic Syndrome by lowering blood glucose levels. It also fights it very effectively along a number of different metabolic pathways.

Banaba extract contains components called gallotannins. These substances have insulin-like glucose transport capabilities that facilitate glucose transport across cell membranes and into the cells where it is needed.³³ Circulating glucose is lowered, and insulin resistance is significantly diminished.
Tannins from Banaba also appear to inhibit the expression of key genes for adipose tissue (fat cell) production.³⁴ Banaba fights Metabolic Syndrome and induces metabolic rescue by reducing dangerous concentrations of adipose tissue especially around the belly … with the welcome “side effect” of helping users lose weight.

“ Banaba fights Metabolic Syndrome by reducing dangerous concentrations of adipose tissue … with the welcome “side effect” of helping users lose weight.”

In a study of rats with the rat equivalent of Metabolic Syndrome, corosolic acid derived from Banaba lowered blood pressure by 10% in eight weeks. It also reduced free fatty acids by 21% after only two weeks. In addition, the corosolic acid also decreased levels of several oxidative stress and inflammatory markers.³⁵

The 1,500-year history of Banaba’s safe and effective usage is a good indicator of its safety as a metabolic rescue supplement to combat Metabolic Syndrome.

Battling Metabolic Syndrome on two fronts: Blood sugar and stress

We saw a little bit ago how stress induces and maintains Metabolic Syndrome. So, if you can reduce the impact of stress in your life, you’ll find you’re on the path to metabolic rescue and should be able to reduce some of the severity of Metabolic Syndrome.

The root of a flowering herb that grows readily in the cold parts of the world does just that. Rhodiola, particularly Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea) has been used for centuries as an adaptogen—an herb that increases the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue.

Russian, Asian, and western researchers have studied Rhodiola extensively since the 1940s, especially in its application as a non-stimulant based energizer and a non-narcotic stress reducer.³⁶

For instance, Researchers at the Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Italy studied the effects of Rhodiola on mice put into stressful circumstances. They concluded:

“This study thus provides evidence of the efficacy of R. rosea extracts after a single administration, and confirms many preclinical and clinical studies indicating the adaptogenic and stimulating effects of such R. rosea extracts.”

In other words, Rhodiola helped calm the mice physically and emotionally without the side effects prescription drugs bring with them.

But Rhodiola goes beyond protecting you from Metabolic Syndrome by moderating the damage caused by stress. Recent research has shown that it also has significant blood sugar lowering power.³⁷

One experiment offers a possible explanation for how Rhodiola moderates blood sugar. In vitro (“test tube”) experiments performed at the Laboratory of Food Technology, University of Massachusetts, showed that Rhodiola “enhanced functionality in terms of high alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities.”³⁸

Inhibition of these two enzymes reduces the impact carbohydrates have on your blood sugar.

Because of this double-barrel effectiveness, Rhodiola is a powerful addition to any nutritional approach to combating Metabolic Syndrome. It is one that you should consider adding to your personal metabolic rescue program.

A delicious melon is also a powerful Metabolic Syndrome fighter

A common ingredient in Thai cooking is also a powerful combatant in your battle against Metabolic Syndrome. Like the other supplements we’ve discussed, bitter melon (Momordica charantia) fights Metabolic Syndrome along a number of different metabolic pathways.

Clinical studies demonstrated bitter melon’s power to lower blood glucose in newly diagnosed adult diabetics by as much as 20-30%… before any other pharmaceutical treatment has been started.³⁹

But its effectiveness as an anti-Metabolic Syndrome agent doesn’t stop there. One study showed that rats given bitter melon drew fewer calories from their high fat food, had less visceral adipose tissue, lower blood glucose, and significantly reduced insulin resistance than un-supplemented rats.⁴⁰

In another experiment reported by the same researchers, rats fed a high fat diet but given a bitter melon extract increased levels of adiponectin—the good protein hormone that plays a significant role in the prevention of Metabolic Syndrome.⁴¹

Bitter melon’s beneficial health effects appear to go beyond its ability to fight Metabolic Syndrome. According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: “In vitro [‘test tube’] and animal studies indicate antiviral activity against HIV and herpes, cytotoxic effects against leukemia cells, and cytostatic effects in breast cancer, but related human studies have not been conducted.”⁴²

As a widely eaten food in Asia, bitter melon can be regarded as safe. However, combining bitter melon with standard antidiabetic drugs may reduce blood sugar too well.⁴³ For this reason, if you already take drugs for diabetes, you should add bitter melon to your diet only with a physician’s supervision.

One other caveat: If you live near an Asian market, you may be able to get fresh bitter melon. While bitter melon is a delicious addition to cooking, eating too much of the fresh fruit can cause the same problem eating too much of any melon causes: diarrhea.

So my recommendation is to control your intake of bitter melon carefully by using either a stand alone bitter melon supplement or a metabolic rescue formula that includes bitter melon.

Ancient anti-diabetic treatment with modern science to support its efficacy

Coccinia indica—also known as ivy gourd—is a creeper that grows widely in India and Bangladesh. It has been used since ancient times as an antidiabetic agent by Ayurvedic healers.

Several recent studies support its use in your battle against Metabolic Syndrome. A 45-day study using diabetic rats showed Coccinia lowers both blood sugar and blood lipids. Coccinia also increased blood insulin levels, which may account for its blood sugar lowering power.⁴⁴

Research from the same team also found supplementation with Cocciniaextract had significant antioxidant activity in the liver and kidney of diabetic rats.⁴⁵

Additional clinical trials of human subjects have shown similarly encouraging results. In one study, Type 2 diabetics received Cocciniatablets or placebo and then were tested for glucose tolerance. The supplement significantly improved blood glucose tolerance with a high level of safety.⁴⁶

In a study at the Institute of Population Health and Clinical Research, Bangalore, India, 60 Type 2 diabetics were randomized to receive an alcoholic extract of Coccinia or a placebo for 90 days.

The supplemented patients showed a significant decrease in fasting and post-meal blood glucose. They also showed decreased glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C)—a measurement of the overall control of diabetes for the previous two to three months. The lower the A1C score, the better the control.⁴⁷

“… supplemented patients showed a significant decrease in fasting and post-meal blood glucose. They also showed decreased glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C)”

As with all Ayurvedic medicines, Coccinia’s safety has been proven through centuries of use and you should consider adding it to your metabolic rescue program.

The power of synergy to protect you from Metabolic Syndrome

Why have I called your attention to all these different natural supplements as a way to protect yourself from Metabolic Syndrome? When you look at them superficially, it might be easy to think they all pretty much are the same.

But that is far from the truth. Each of these substances fights Metabolic Syndrome and achieves metabolic rescue in slightly different ways. For example, Banaba lowers blood sugar by transporting glucose into your cells, lowering the glucose concentration in the blood.

Gymnema fights Metabolic Syndrome (in part) by reducing sugar absorption in the gut and by stimulating release of insulin stores from other tissues, reducing insulin resistance.

Some of these natural, safe herbs regulate lipids or reduce the amount of adipose tissue around your waist. Others increase production of the highly beneficial protein hormone adiponectin.

And research is beginning to determine that some of these substances work right at the DNA level, turning off genes that code for fat production while turning others on that produce beneficial substances.

By presenting you this array of natural Metabolic Syndrome fighters, I’m offering you the most powerful metabolic rescue options for protecting yourself if you do not yet have Metabolic Syndrome. And for getting your life back on track with you in control if you do have it.

So instead of going to war with an army of infantrymen, you have an army of sophisticated specialists, each with a particular strength to protect you. This is synergy … where the combined power of the individual components is so much stronger than each one taken separately.

Two other crucial metabolic rescue weapons in your fight against Metabolic Syndrome

I would love to be able to tell you that all you need to do to protect yourself from Metabolic Syndrome … or to start wrestling control of your life back from it … is to take the supplements I’ve discussed today.

If I did that, I’d be lying to you. Metabolic Syndrome is a complex beast. It arises for many reasons. For that reason, fighting it solely with supplementation (or pharmaceutical drugs) simply is not enough.

If you want to beat back the beast, you have to adopt two additional vital metabolic rescue strategies. Unfortunately, these strategies cause most people to moan and feel defeated before they even start. But the good news is that most people don’t really understand how easy both of these metabolic rescue strategies are.

I’m talking, of course, about food and activity. Notice I didn’t say “diet” and “exercise.” That’s because both of those words are frontloaded with failure. But if you want to defeat Metabolic Syndrome in your life, you’ll have to make some changes in the way you look at the food you eat and the amount of activity your life.

Changes, yes. But in fact, small ones.

Eating for success

If you’re addicted to today’s modern convenience diet (and addicted is a good way to put it), you’re virtually ensured you’ll get Metabolic Syndrome. If you have any doubt, just consider this: We now have children as young as 9 and 10 with full-blown Metabolic Syndrome in need of metabolic rescue. All because of our modern western diet.

Here’s how to break the grip of this addictive diet we currently eat.

1. Eat less more often
Eat every three hours. Set your watch by it. Of course, if you do this, you’ll want to eat less at each meal. By eating this way, without even trying you’ll reduce your total food intake throughout the day. And spreading out your food intake keeps your insulin from having to respond to sudden huge surges of carbohydrates.

2. Start every day with a scrumptious “breakfast” of … almonds
Unless you’re allergic to almonds, start your day soon after you get up by eating 10 dry-roasted or raw, unsalted almonds. They wake up your liver and kidneys and get them ready for the later influx of food they have to deal with.

3. Stay away from simple and highly processed carbohydrates
We all love spaghetti and mashed potatoes. But make those your special occasion meals. If you’re going to eat carbs, make them complex carbs like you get in regular (not instant) oatmeal.

4. Eat more protein … within reason
Replace the processed carbs you’re reducing with good protein. Cheese, almonds, tuna (in water, not oil) and the like are great for those meals you’re now eating every three hours.

5. Always sit down for your meals
Make your meals special. Make them about social interaction rather than just eating. Use smaller plates. Take smaller bites. Put your fork down between bites. Talk to your spouse or a friend during the meal. The longer you take to eat, the less food you’ll consume. And you’ll walk away satisfied.

And if you don’t have the time to do this—like at the office—take a few extra minutes, lay a napkin on the desk, set out your lunch, and take your time eating, even if it means working during the meal.

6. Swear off the “hard stuff”… sodas, diet sodas, and packaged fruit juices!
This will be hard because we’re all programmed to want sodas. But sodas just jack up your blood sugar without giving you any nutrition.

And as I mentioned earlier, diet sodas are as bad if not worse than regular sodas. It will take awhile to kick the soda habit. But once you do, you’ll discover a broad new world of flavors available to you.

But what about fruit juice? Aren’t they good for you? Look at almost any can or box of juice you pick up. Up near the top is the infamous high fructose corn syrup. It is far better to skip fruit juices and eat the fresh fruit instead.

What will you drink? Water. Tea. Coffee in moderation. A little red wine. Sparkling water.

7. Fast foods are the fast lane to Metabolic Syndrome
Make your own convenience food instead of stopping at the local burger joint. String cheese is tasty, filling, and comes in reduced fat variety if you want.

If you must choose one of the big name fast food restaurants, opt for one of their “healthier” options. And when they ask, “supersize that?” remember they’re not really supersizing the food or drink. They’re supersizing you.

Forget strenuous exercises. You just need to move!

Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t exercise strenuously if that’s your thing. Keep it up! But it’s not for everyone and just because someone works out two hours everyday doesn’t mean they’re healthier than you.

The key, though, is to move. Regular movement gets your heart pumping faster. It uses glucose pumping through your blood vessels, ultimately reducing your blood sugar and your insulin resistance.

The easiest way to start moving is to walk. Twenty minutes a day, five days a week. Start with an easy walk on flat ground if you haven’t pushed yourself in awhile. Go with a friend or partner. Talk about things of mutual interest and the 20 minutes is over before you know it. Soon, you’re stretching it into 30 minutes … or more.

If walking doesn’t thrill you, find another activity that does. Dance. Swim. Yoga. Ping pong.

Where are you going to find the time to do this? Let’s say you’re going to walk 20 minutes. It takes you 10 minutes to get to and from the park (or wherever) and another 10 minutes for warm up and cool down. That’s 40 minutes.

Is there a 60-minute TV show you can give up to make room for personal movement time? I’m sure you can find one every evening. Eliminate or record that program and shift your schedule to accommodate your personal movement program. 

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