Olive Leaf Extract Is As Efficient As Diabetes Medicine

Researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, conducted a double-blinded, randomized study which showed that olive leaf extract could be as effective as Metformin, an antidiabetic drug known worldwide.

The leaves of the olive tree (Olea Europea L.) have been used for centuries in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes. Not a long time ago, researchers confirmed the beneficial effects of the polyphenols contained by the olive leaf upon the glucose homeostasis in humans.

For this study, the scientists recruited 46 overweight men, who have been divided into two groups: one group received capsules with olive leaf extract and the other group received a placebo for 12 weeks. The results were remarkable. The patients who received olive leaf extract had a 15% decrease in insulin resistance and a 28% increase in the secretion of pancreatic beta cells (the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas). The authors of this study concluded that the effectiveness of olive leaf extract can be compared to that of the drug Metformin – an oral anti-diabetic drug for people with Type 2 Diabetes and for the overweight patients with a  risk to develop metabolic syndrome.

Black Cumin Fights Diabetes

Another food that has proved effective in reducing insulin resistance is Nigella Sativa, a plant commonly known as black cumin. Although it is usually used as a spice for various dishes, black cumin has amazing healing properties. Another study has been made on 94 patients suffering from diabetes. They were divided into three groups, each receiving 1, 2 or 3 grams of Nigella Sativa capsules each day. The results showed that the group which received 2 grams per day had a significantly reduced insulin resistance and blood glucose level. The group which received 3 grams showed the same results as the previous group.

Other foods that can reverse insulin resistance

• Turmeric

Another study, made in 2009, revealed that turmeric contains curcumin, a compound which is 500 to 10,000 times more effective than Metformin. Researchers gathered a group of 240 pre-diabetic adults who were given either a placebo or 250 milligrams of curcumin daily. After nine months, none of the individuals who took curcumin developed diabetes, while 16.4% of the other group developed Type 2 Diabetes.

• Cinnamon

This aromatic spice also has powerful medicinal properties. The spice can normalize the blood sugar level by improving the body’s ability to respond to insulin in patients suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.

During a study, two groups of people were given a cup of rice pudding with and without a teaspoon of cinnamon. The results showed that by adding cinnamon, the rate at which the stomach empties slowed down and, implicitly, the blood sugar levels decreased. Even half a teaspoon of cinnamon can drop the blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 Diabetes.

Sometimes, alternative medicine has shown better results than conventional treatments. Using natural remedies can improve the symptoms of diabetes and can reduce insulin resistance, preventing our bodies from experiencing all the side effects of traditional medication.