According to the American Diabetes Association, 9.3% of us suffered from diabetes as of 2012.  In that same year, 25.9% of those 65 and older had the disease.  Because diabetes affects every system in the body, knowing nutritional tips for balancing the body can be important. Consider this information on ginger, CoQ10 and more.

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Progress in Diabetes

Nutrients improve symptoms in type 2 diabetes

Ginger lowered blood sugar levels

Doctors are searching for alternative treatments to improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes, and are exploring various herbs and other natural substances. In this study, 88 people on standard treatment for type 2 diabetes took 3,000 mg of ginger powder per day or a placebo. Doctors measured fasting and long-term average blood sugar levels, as well as insulin resistance; when the body does not respond to normal amounts of insulin, requiring more.

After eight weeks, the placebo group saw a 6 percent increase in fasting blood sugar while the ginger group had a 5 percent decline. Long-term average blood sugar levels rose 1.3 percentage points for placebo, and declined 0.5 percentage point in the ginger group. While insulin resistance did not change for placebo, it improved for those taking ginger.

CoQ10 in diabetic eye disease

Those with diabetes for many years often develop retinopathy—when damaged blood vessels no longer feed the retina, causing blindness. Chronic high blood sugar levels and low antioxidant levels can trigger oxidative stress, which contributes to retinopathy.

In this study, doctors wanted to compare levels of coenzyme Q10 in those with diabetic retinopathy and in healthy people. CoQ10 occurs naturally in the body and is a powerful antioxidant necessary for cellular energy. Researchers measured CoQ10 in 50 people with diabetic retinopathy and in 50 healthy people of similar ages and genders.

Compared to those with retinopathy, circulating levels of CoQ10 and antioxidant capacity were much higher in healthy people.

Reference: Complementary Therapies in Medicine; 2014, Vol. 22, No. 1, 9-16

Betsy’s Note: For those on blood thinners, remember that ginger and CoQ10 also thin blood.  Also, if you are on medication to lower blood sugar, consult your healthcare provider before taking any supplement that might also affect blood sugar.  Consult your healthcare provider.

Article copyright Natural Insights for Well-Being 2014.  All rights reserved.  Used with permission.

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Early-Stage Discoveries: Green Tea, Pea Protein, and Pomegranate

Here are some of the most promising recent findings from the lab and small pilot studies.

Green tea reduces sunburn

In this study, 14 healthy fair-skinned women took 540 mg of green tea catechins plus 50 mg of vitamin C per day for 12 weeks. Doctors exposed buttock skin to ultraviolet rays and measured sunburn. After taking green tea, inflammation from sun exposure was cut in half, and sunburn was also reduced. The dose of green tea catechins was less than two cups of green tea, making sun protection easily achievable.

Pea protein reduced cholesterol

In the lab, rats ate a high-fat diet alone or with combinations of pea protein, oat fiber, and apple pectin. After 28 days, compared to the high-fat diet alone, all vegetable supplement groups had lower cholesterol levels. Those who got pea protein with oat fiber or with apple pectin had the best results compared to the high-fat diet alone, lowering cholesterol by 53 percent. There was also an increase in cholesterol-digesting enzyme activity in the liver.

Reference: British Journal of Nutrition; 2013, Vol. 110, No. 8, 1340-401

Pomegranate protects blood vessels

Doctors gave pigs a normal diet or a high-cholesterol diet, each group with or without pomegranate extract containing 200 mg punicalagins per day. After 10 days, those on the high-cholesterol diet that got pomegranate extract had blood vessel function as healthy as those on the normal cholesterol diet. The pomegranate groups also had less lipid oxidation and coronary blood vessel DNA damage compared to the non-pomegranate groups.

Reference: British Journal of Nutrition; 2013, Vol. 110, No. 5, 890-900

Betsy’s Note: Green tea, pea protein and pomegranate also thin blood.  Consult your healthcare provider.

Article copyright Natural Insights for Well-Being 2014.  All rights reserved.  Used with permission.

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For more information on diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association website at diabetes.org.

In health,
Ramona

The articles in this blog post are for educational purposes only.  They are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease.  Consult your healthcare provider.