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Metabolic Syndrome Leads to Heart Attack, Stroke and Diabetes!
Gymnema sylvestre stimulates effective insulin production … reduces weight … and balances lipids
One of the most exciting natural alternatives in the fight against metabolic syndrome is the extract of a vine from the rain forests of central and southern India called Gymnema sylvestre.
Gymnema has been used safely and effectively in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,000 years for the treatment of “sweet urine,” or diabetes. Studies have shown that Gymnema …
- Reduces the amount of sugar absorbed from food in the intestines
- Stimulates insulin production and release
- Appears to build pancreatic beta cells, producing insulin efficiency
- Supports weight loss
In two separate studies reported in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Gymnema sylvestre was given to 49 patients with type 2 diabetes to supplement their anti-diabetic medication.
Most patients showed a distinct reduction of blood sugar levels by several measures. In addition, 5 of the 22 patients in one study were able to discontinue their conventional drugs altogether.1516
A rat study reported in 2007 confirmed the weight reducing power of Gymnema. It also reported this supplement regulated and balanced lipid metabolism—a crucial consideration leading to metabolic rescue and management of metabolic syndrome. The researchers stated: “Supplementation with [Gymnema] promoted weight loss by its ability to reduce hyperlipidemia, which was no withdrawal rebound: an important discovery.”17
Two thousand years of use as a weight control/blood sugar balancing treatment is a testament to both Gymnema’s effectiveness and safety. Numerous modern clinical studies with both have confirmed both safety and efficacy.18
Bitter 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.19
But its effectiveness as an antimetabolic 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.20
In another experiment reported by the same researchers, animals 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.21
As a widely eaten food in Asia, bitter melon can be regarded as safe. However, combining bitter melon with standard anti-diabetic drugs may reduce blood sugar too well.22 For this reason, if you already take drugs for diabetes, you should add bitter melon to your diet only with a physician’s supervision.
Other important supplements
Other supplements that have shown promise for both diabetes and metabolic syndrome prevention include:
Coccinia Indica—also known as ivy gourd—has been used since ancient times as an anti-diabetic agent by Ayurvedic healers.23
Rhodiola Rosea Extract—an adaptogenic herb that increases the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, fatigue and anxiety; also shown to lower blood sugar.24
Vanadium—trace element highly effective in decreasing blood glucose and insulin levels, lowering blood pressure, reducing the severity of metabolic syndrome, and lowering serum cholesterol levels in animal and human studies.25
The importance of diet and lifestyle changes
We all know, at least intellectually, that a health supplement alone, or even a combination of health supplements, will not prevent the onset of metabolic syndrome.
While this article has focused on maintaining healthy blood sugar and body weight to ward off metabolic syndrome, the other symptoms of the disease, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol levels, must also be addressed.
That means diet and lifestyle factors—along with genetics—should also be considered. Eating a balanced diet and avoiding fast food and junk food is an important part of the fight against metabolic syndrome.
Regular exercise is also part of the equation. The sedentary lifestyle adopted by the majority of Americans is clearly one of the leading causes behind the staggering statistics mentioned earlier.
You can do it!
If you think about it, maintaining good health and avoiding metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and diabetes is actually pretty easy. It’s really a matter of making smart choices. And the rewards that come with these choices—living longer, healthier, pain free, and avoiding expensive medical bills—provide excellent motivation to make these smart choices.
Remember, you need not become a metabolic syndrome statistic. You can protect your health and win the fight against metabolic syndrome!
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.
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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.