9 Herbs & Spices to Spice Up Your Diabetic Meal Plan

Frustrated with your diabetic meal plan? Now flavor up and relish your diabetic diet with these 9 herbs and spices! Take this clinically based innovative approach to bring in healthy foods in your daily diet rather than relying solely on huge doses of supplements to tackle diabetes.

1.Turmeric: Prevents type 2 diabetes with a 100% effect (according to American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) journal study)

It’s “the” most ideal spice to treat diabetes taking it to its amazing curative properties associated with its main ingredient, curcumin, which offers the spice its golden hue.

Other Health Benefits of Turmeric

• Strengthens and betters the immune system to resist diabetes with curcumin’s antioxidant, anti-glycemic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties
• Combats diabetes effectively and efficiently with the help of its phytonutrients and antioxidants
• Avoids the development of insulin resistance, balances and regulates insulin levels, and ensures proper functioning of the pancreas through its anti-glycemic property
• Prevents unwanted weight gain, controls triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and terminates accumulation of harmful fats

2.Cinnamon: Lowers blood sugar by improving metabolism of glucose

Cinnamon is one of the best foods that reverse diabetes. Although it is yet to prove itself effective in reducing insulin resistance and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels in type 2 diabetes, cinnamon is popular for its significant ability to gain control over fluctuating or rising blood sugar.

A recent meta-analysis concluded that this powerful spice did actually help in lowering hemoglobin A1c. If you’re watching over your glycemic index (GI), the cinnamon bark should do the job of reducing plasma glucose and regulating blood sugar.

Other Health Benefits Of Cinnamon

• Reduces total cholesterol by 12-30% and significantly cuts down triglycerides with a mere 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per day
• Curbs heartburn through its high fiber content
• Eliminates E. coli and other bacteria with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
• Stands as a heart-friendly spice disallowing blood clots while being rich in antioxidants such as polyphenols

3.Ginger: Fights diabetes from a multifaceted approach

This Asian spice is probably the perfect one among all spices to lower down your diabetes related figures by 8% for total cholesterol, 17% for blood glucose, 12% for low-density lipoprotein (LDL), 9% for triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol according to a study published in Plant Foods for Human Nutrition.

Having said that, intake of ginger needs to be supported with a doctor’s advice. Your doctor should be aware of the inclusion of ginger in your regimen. Medical director of Wellness Associates of Chicago – Martha Howard, MD, advises, “Ginger can increase the effects of blood thinners, so if you’re taking these drugs, don’t take ginger.”

Other Health Benefits of Ginger

• Spissum and an oily ginger extract decreases blood glucose by 35% and increases plasma insulin levels by 10%
• Extracts abundant in gingerol assist in managing high blood sugar levels by amplifying the uptake of glucose into cells without the need to employ insulin
• Postpones the onset and progress of a vision-related diabetes complication called cataracts
• Holds a very low GI compared to other high GI foods
• Controls swelling and pain associated with arthritis
• Shares the same effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

4.Cayenne Pepper: Counteracts type 1 diabetes

Recognized as the “folk remedy” for diabetes, the capsaicin compound in cayenne pepper is used as a traditional treatment element for diabetes. As published in journal “Cell”, it was injected in a mice as an experiment to examine its effectiveness against type 1 diabetes. According to the 2006 Toronto study, substance-p in the mice’s pancreas was depleted and the body began to produce insulin once again.

Other Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

• Lowers triglyceride levels improving glucose tolerance, which is a calculator for glucose transport from blood into tissues
• Strengthens heart performance while lowering the blood pressure
• Eliminates pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, shingles, fibromyalgia, and psoriasis
• Improves insulin sensitivity of tissues requiring less insulin to efficiently carry out glucose transport

5.Bilberry: Reduces blood sugar by 26% and triglycerides by 39%

The European variant of blueberries is a significant treatment ingredient which aids to control the development of type 2 diabetes via its wholesome antioxidants called anthocyanins. Blood vessel thickening, which is common among type 2 diabetics, is also prevented using bilberry.

Other Health Benefits of Bilberry

• Aids in treating diabetic retinopathy
• Flavonoid complex anthocyanosides strengthen capillaries and enhance capillary and venous blood flow
• These potent antioxidants also ensure normal formation of connective tissues

6.Basil: Keeps a check on diabetes and related heart complications

This super herb was found to successfully control and bring down post-meal and fasting blood glucose levels according to a small study conducted lately. The result indicated an impressive low of 7.3% in post-meal glucose and 17.6% in fasting blood glucose levels.

Other Health Benefits of Basil

• Cuts back bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides, thereby keeping heart diseases under the radar
• Relieves oxidative stress, which brings about complex problems in diabetics, through its potent antioxidants
• Upgrades beta cell function, subsequently improving insulin secretion

7.Chamomile: Aids in preventing and self-medicating hyperglycemia and diabetic complications

A cup of chamomile tea not only provides a soothing and calming effect to your body after a long hectic day, but also particularly helps in regulating blood sugar and preventing and managing diabetic complications such as kidney damage and loss of vision.

Other Health Benefits of Chamomile

• Inhibits enzymes which cause retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and other diabetic complications
• Prevents the onset of diabetes while relieving blood sugar swings among other symptoms such as insulin resistance, sugar cravings, fatigue, etc.
• Increases storage of glycogen while suppressing the blood sugar levels

8.Fenugreek: Improves insulin sensitivity and fasting blood sugar

Both its extract and soaked forms have scientifically proved to be promising treatment measures against type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and moderate atherosclerosis. Fenugreek particularly decelerates the absorption of sugar and carbohydrates while slowing down digestion.

Other Health Benefits of Fenugreek

• Raises the amount of insulin increased and enhances the manner in which the body utilizes sugar
• Baked products prepared with fenugreek flour could help in reducing insulin resistance for type 2 diabetics
• Also treats high cholesterol, kidney problems, eczema, loss of appetite, digestive issues, and menopausal symptoms

9.Sage: Serves as a panacea (remedy for all diseases including hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetes)

While dried sage leaves are used for preparing sage oil and as a culinary spice, the multipurpose sage extract is experimentally evident of its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties and potential effects against diabetes.

Other Health Benefits of Sage

• Comes out as an effective natural supplement for encouraging insulin production and lowering blood sugar levels
• Holds phenomenal anti-hyperglycemic and lipid profile improving effects
• Contains important nutrients such as vitamin K, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties
• Improves memory and treats Alzheimer’s disease

While there are still some unanswered queries about the effectiveness of these anti-diabetic herbs and spices, nevertheless, the natural and inimitable health benefits, also for the non-diabetic, could not be sidelined. You never know, you may just be adding spice to your life with these flavored foods!

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