gymnema sylvestre: the sugar destroyer

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Thank you, that was good to know!!

 

- Anna

 

 

 

 

 

> " yogiguruji " <yogiguruji

>Gymnema Sylvestre: The " sugar destroyer "

>

>Good Morning!

>

>Gymnema Sylvestre: The " sugar destroyer "

>

>Gymnema Sylvestre is the " sugar destroyer " that is showing up in more

>and more over the counter weight loss products and blood sugar

>balancing formulas. The main focus of gymnema research is blood sugar

>regulation and glucose metabolism. It has been used in India for

>treatment of diabetes for about 2000 years. Today in India it is

>being used to treat primarily type II diabetes and type I as well.

>The herb has shown to reduce blood sugar, glycosylated haemoglobin

>and glycosylated plasma proteins when used for 18-20 months (1). The

>effect is gradual rather than immediate with conventional drugs. The

>active components responsible for lowering glucose are the gymnemic

>acids.

>

>Weight Loss products have been adding gymnema to their products

>showing that it could reduce and alter the taste of sugar, and it

>does just that. By placing the herb on your tongue or drinking the

>herbal tea, the perception of sugar or aspartame is reduced or

>eliminated completely. That may come in handy if you want to deter a

>binge on chocolate cheesecake. By breaking open a capsule and placing

>a small amount in my mouth, it indeed eliminates the perception of

>sugar. Sweet Relief gum is available which contains gymnema.

>

>It is also said that the herb reduces cravings for sugars. More

>research needs to be done on that statement. Some believe that the

>sugar taste blocking feature has a factor in not only the reduction

>in cravings, but the hypoglycemic reactions as well. (2).

>

>***Warnings: Gymnema should not be taken in place of insulin. It

>could potentially lower blood sugar too much, resulting in a

>hypoglycemic reaction. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and

>wish to use gymnema consult your physician first. It should not be a

>substitute, only a supplement to your current therapy.*** (3).

>

>Interactions

>Gymnema may interact with medications taken to lower blood sugar

>levels resulting in hypoglycemia. There are no side effects listed at

>the time of writing this feature (10/2002). Only those which seem to

>be connected with hypoglycemia. Adverse effects reported to the FDA

>appear to be mainly blends containing gymnema targeted for weight

>loss or energy.

>

>References:

>

>1. Gymnema - Alternative Medicine Foundation

>2. www.IndianHerbs.com

>3. WebMD.com

>

>

>Andrew Pacholyk, LMT, MT-BC, CA

>Peacefulmind.com

>Alternative medicine and therapies

> for healing mind, body & spirit!

>