Bitter Melon Diabetes
Research
Bitter
Melon Lowers
Blood Sugar Levels in People With Diabetes
Bitter
melon diabetes research now
includes nearly 100 human studies. They have demonstrated the effect of
this fruit in lowering blood sugar levels - and significant
opportunities have been discovered for the use of bitter
melon in
diabetes treatment.
Bitter
Melon and Diabetes
- bitter melon lowers blood glucose
- enhances cellular uptake of glucose
- promotes insulin release
- potentiates the effect of insulin
- can permit lower doses of drugs
- can reduce drug side effects
- strongly counteracts effects of high-fat
diet
Researchers
believe bitter melon lowers blood sugar by increasing the activity of
hexokinase and glucokinase - enzymes that convert sugar into glycogen
stored in the liver.
Bitter
Melon Diabetes Research Papers
Journal of Nutrition, April 2003, Drs. Q.
Chen and Li Et from the University of Hong Kong were quoted as saying, “Bitter
melon appears to have multiple influences on glucose and lipid (fat)
metabolism that strongly counteract the effects of a high-fat diet.”
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
recognizes bitter melon stating, “Bitter
melon has been used to treat diabetes, cancer, viral infections and
immune disorders. Data suggests it has a significant hypoglycemic
effect.”
Journal of Phytotherapy, December 2003, Drs.
W Jia, W Gao and L Tang state, “Pharmacological
and clinical evaluations indicate that bitter melon had a significant
blood glucose lowering effect and that the long term use may be
advantageous over chemical drugs in alleviating some of
the chronic
diseases and complications caused by diabetes. The use of natural
agents in conjunction with conventional drug treatments, such as
insulin, permits the use of lower doses of the drug and/or decreased
frequency of administration which decreases the side effects most
commonly observed.”
They are saying that bitter melon has an
impressive blood glucose lowering effect and that, even if it
doesn’t totally normalize glucose levels, it can allow diabetics to
reduce their insulin medication to where few
side effects remain.
Further
Benefits of Bitter Melon
Bitter
Melon
grows in tropical areas, including parts of the Amazon, eastern Africa,
Asia and the Caribbean. It is also cultivated throughout South America
as a food and medicine. Its use dates back over 5,000 years in China.
In the
Amazon it is being used for
expelling worms, intestinal gas, stimulating and promoting
menstruation, as an anti-viral for measles and hepatitis, but it is
especially used as a bitter melon sugar remedy for diabetes or “sweet
urine.”
In
Brazilian and
Mexican
herbal medicine, bitter melon is used for tumors, wounds,
malaria,
vaginal discharge, inflammation, menstrual problems, colic, fevers and
worms, but again, it is specifically used as a remedy for diabetes.
Bitter
melon
contains an array of biologically active plant chemicals including
triterpenes, proteins and steroids. In numerous studies, at least three
different groups of constituents found in all parts of bitter melon,
have clinically demonstrated hypoglycemic properties. To date, close to
100 in-human studies have demonstrated bitter melon diabetes benefits.
The
fruit and leaf are best used, not the seeds.
NOTE: It is not advisable to use bitter melon
during pregnancy or breast feeding since it is a weak uterine stimulant
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