Natural Remedies: Therapeutic and Anti-Diabetic Properties of Artichoke, Bengal Gram and Bitter Gourd

ANTI-DIABITIC FOODS

Diabetes mellitus is a nutritional disorder, characterised by an abnormally elevated level of blood glucose and by the excretion of the excess glucose in the urine. It results from an absolute or relative lack of insulin, which leads to abnormalities in carbohydrates metabolism as well as in the metabolism of protein and fat.

In 1550 B.C., the famous Ebers Papyrus advised treating diabetes with high-fibre wheat grains. Not much has changed since then. Plant foods are still the drug of choice for treating diabetes, but now scientists have much more sound reasons for their effectiveness in this disease. Through the centuries, more than 400 plants have been prescribed as remedies for diabetes. Raw onions and garlic have long been favorite anti-diabetic drugs in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The vegetable bitter gourd and the herb ginseng have been popular drug for diabetes since ancient times in India and China respectively. The common mushroom is widely used in some parts of Europe to lower blood sugar. Barley bread is a popular treatment for diabetes in Iraq. Other foods, which are being used for the treatment of diabetes in various countries, include alfalfa, beans, cabbage, cinnamon, coriander seeds, cucumber, fenugreek seed, Indian gooseberry, Jambul fruit, lettuce and turnips.

All these foods have been shown to possess anti-diabetic property. The tests conducted in modern times have also confirmed that most of these foods or their compounds can lower blood sugar or stimulate insulin production. Herein are described some of the more important foods which help lower blood sugar or increase insulin production in diabetes patients.

FOODS THAT LOWER BLOOD SUGAR Artichoke, Bengal Gram, Bitter Gourd, Black Gram, Broccoli, Butea Leaves, Cinnamon, Curry Leaves, Fenugreek Seeds, Fiber-Rich Foods, Foods high in antioxidants, Garlic, Grapefruit, Indian Gooseberry, Isphagula, Jambul Fruit, Kidney Bean Or French Bean, Low-Carbohydrate vegetables, Mango Leaves, Margosa, Onion, Potassium-Rich Foods, Sweet Potato Leaves and Soyabean.

Artichoke

Artichoke, also known as Agatlii flower, is a tuberous root with a top like a sunflower. It has a great value as an antidiabetic food. This vegetable contains good amount of potassium, a fair amount of calcium and some iron and sulphur, all of which are needed daily by the body for maintaining good health. Artichoke is beneficial in the treatment of diabetes because of it’s high insulin content.

This remedy should however be used by diabetes patient in autumn season, as in this season it is fully ripe and is said to contain more than two per cent of insulin. This insulin is converted into sugars during winter. Artichoke should be eaten raw in salads. If it has to be taken in cooked form, it should be boiled in small amount of water for about 10 minutes. It should not be peeled but cooked whole and may be combined with other vegetables.

Bengal Gram

Bengal gram, also known as chicken pea, is one of the most important pulses in India. It is consumed both in the form of whole dried seeds and in the form of dhal, prepared by splitting the seeds in a mill and separating the husk. Bengal gram has many medicinal properties. Soaked in water overnight and chewed in the morning with honey, the whole gram seed acts as a general tonic. The liquid, obtained by soaking the seeds and then macerating, also serves as a tonic.

Bengal gram is of great value as an anti-diabetic food. Experiments have shown that the oral ingestion of the water extract of Bengal gram increases the utilisation of glucose in both the diabetic and normal persons. Tests were conducted at C.ET.R.I. Laboratories in Mysore, on a chronic diabetic patient whose insulin requirement was of the order of 40 units a day. When kept on a diet, which included liberal supplements of Bengal gram extract, the condition of the patient improved considerably and his insulin requirement was reduced to about 20 units per day.

Diabetic patients who are on a prescribed diet which does not severely restrict the intake of carbohydrates, but includes liberal amounts of Bengal gram extract, have shown considerable improvement in their fasting blood sugar levels, glucose tolerance, urinary excretion of ^ugar and general condition.

Bitter Gourd

The bitter gourd is a common vegetable cultivated extensively all over India. It has excellent medicinal virtues. It is antidotal and is useful in reducing fever, strengthening the stomach and promoting its action.Bitter gourd is specifically used as a folk medicine for diabetes from ancient times in India. Researches by a team of British doctors have established that it contains insulin-like principle, designated as ‘plant-insulin’, which has been found beneficial in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels.

This vegetable is thus an effective anti-diabetic food and should be included liberally in the diet of the diabetic. The juice of this vegetable has been found more effective than the fruits. The diabetes patient should take the juice of about three or four fruits every morning on an empty stomach. The seeds of bitter gourd can be powdered and added to regular meals. Diabetics can also use bitter gourd in the form of decoction by boiling the pieces in water or in the form of dry powder, which can be taken mixed with liquid foods.

A majority of diabetics also suffer from malnutrition, as they are usually under-nourished. Bitter gourd, being rich in all the essential vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, Bl, B2, C and Iron, its regular use prevents many complications associated with diabetes such as hypertension, eye complications, neuritis and defective metabolism of carbohydrates.

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