Bitter Melon And The Fight Against Diabetes
Those who have been diagnosed with diabetes have probably seen and heard about every pill, supplement, and miracle drug under the sun. Companies make promises that each new product will do wonders to regulate glucose levels and provide dietary support to those with the disease. Unfortunately, most of those supplements don’t fulfill the promises they make and come with a long list of side effects. However, there are some natural solutions to managing diabetes and the bitter melon is one of them.
What Is Bitter Melon?
Bitter melon is a vegetable often used in traditional Chinese medicine. While it has been used in dishes around the world, it’s still fairly unknown in the United States. However, people are beginning to take notice as doctors and researchers are discovering that bitter melon may be able to help in the fight against type 2 diabetes.
Bitter Melon Diabetes – How Can It Help?
Some researchers are finding that the bitter melon plant contains four compounds that activate an enzyme. This enzyme can boost metabolism and enable glucose uptake.
People who suffer from diabetes have an inability to produce an adequate amount of insulin for the body and cannot use the limited amount of insulin effectively. However, the enzymes in the bitter melon plant can help the glucose in the body to find its way to the surface of cells, allowing glucose to circulate properly in the body.
Bitter Melon Diabetes – Does It Work?
More testing is being done to determine just how well the plant works in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, so far, all of the studies are showing positive results. The studies are showing that the bitter melon plant can reduce blood sugar levels, improve glucose tolerance, and lower HbA1c. As more research is done, the results will be more clear. However, the plant is natural and has been used for generations in the everyday diet so there’s less risk in trying it as a solution.
Any Side Effects
Many medications and supplements on the market claim to offer help for those with diabetes. However, they also come with many harmful and dangerous side effects that often make the risk outweigh the reward. The alternative to these potentially harmful medications is to choose a natural solution, like the bitter melon plant.
Because bitter melon is natural, there are no know side effects. It is nontoxic and not created in a lab with a mix of harsh chemicals. Add the plant to your diet is a safe experiment in treating your diabetes. However, it should be noted that adding bitter melon to the diet while you’re already taking medications to balance blood sugar levels may be unsafe. Mixing the blood sugar lowering plant with medications that are doing the same could result in the blood sugar level dropping too low, causing more health issues.
Before taking a supplement containing bitter melon, consult your doctor. Ask about the specific supplement and adding the plant to your diet to be sure that it’s a safe decision for you.