Indigenous foods and diabetes

INDIGENOUS FOODS AND DIABETES

PRESENTED BYK.S.MITHILA

DIABETES

Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic

disorder which is characterized by

hyperglycemia due to an absolute or

relative lack of insulin or due to a

cellular resistance to insulin.

BURDEN OF

DIABETES

GLOBAL INDIA

2010 285 million 51 million

2030 438 million 87 million

Source: Diabetes Care,2009

INDIGENOUS FOODS- IN BRIEF Indigenous means native to a

particular region or environment.

‘Indigenous’ is derived from the Latin word

‘indigenus’- born in a country.

‘indigena’ – sprung from the land.

‘indu’-within; gignere- to beget.

Source: The American Heritage® Science Dictionary


RESEARCHES ON INDIGENOUS FOODS AND DIABETES

Using Traditional Foods and Sustainable Ecological Approaches for Health Promotion has become very common now and there have been many researches carried out on the same.

Some of the researches on the effect of indigenous foods on diabetes are as follows.


COMMONLY USED INDIGENOUS FOODS AGAINST DIABETES


# FENUGREEK

Fenugreek seeds are rich source of fibre. (mucilaginous fibre- 20% and total fibre- 50%)

Presence of trigonelline- an alkaloid and 4-hydroxyisoleucine(amino acid) which are present in fenugreek are known to reduce blood sugar.

Fenugreek is taken by diabetics in the form of seeds, leaves and sprouts.

However, some researches say that fenugreek preparations can be used only as supportive therapy.


# JAMUN


• Jamun is a very rich source of Vitamin

C, calcium, phosphorus and iron.

• This has been traditionally used by

Unani, Ayurvedic and other Asian

medicine systems for controlling

diabetes.

• Jamun seeds, extracts of the bark,

leaves and the fruit as such, are

beneficial for lowering blood sugar

and glycosuria.

• The main ingredient with anti-

diabetic function in jamun seeds is

the jamboline chemical.

JAMUN (contd)

Many studies have shown that

jambul or jamun has such

hypoglycemic effects that can

reduce upto 30% of blood sugar.

With the catalytic activity and

association with other inorganic or

inactive substances in the seed, it

exhibits the anti diabetic activity

says some researches.


# AMLA

Amla or the Indian gooseberry is one

of the richest sources of vitamin C.

Many researches have established

that Emblica Officinalis or the amla is

effective in lowering fasting blood

sugar or glycated hemoglobin

(HBA1C) levels in diabetic patients

(in just half an hour).

The polyphenol-rich fruit actually has

properties that can protect the body

from oxidative properties of high

blood sugar due to it’s strong free

radical scavenging activity.


#BITTERGOURD Bitter gourd fruits and the whole plant is

rich in plant insulin-polypeptide-P. Polypeptide-P is a bio-chemical which is effective in reducing blood sugar.

Bitter gourd contains many beneficial compounds including bitter glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, phenolics, oils, free acids, polypeptides, sterols, 17-amino acids and p-insulin repair damaged beta cells, increase insulin levels as well as enhance the sensitivity of insulin.

Many researches too have established the effectiveness of bitter melon on blood sugar levels.


#CINNAMON

Cinnamon lowers blood sugar by stimulating insulin activity.

The chemical hydroxychalcone has been identified as a potential active ingredient in cinnamon, which is believed to modify the sensitivity of cells to insulin, enhancing their uptake.

A research conducted on people with Type 2 diabetes establishes that 1-6 g of cinnamon per day lowers serum glucose.

Some researches say that cinnamon improves fasting blood glucose, and blood lipid levels, but no significant effect has been observed on A1C.


# BASIL LEAVES. Basil (tulsi) is composed of antioxidants

and essential oils that yield eugenol,

methyl eugenol and caryophyllene,

and they also yield other substances

such as ursolic acid and apigenin.

Basil leaves helps beta cells of

pancreas function in a proper manner

whereby, enhancing the secretion of

insulin.

Researchers have theorized that holy

basil leaves may improve pancreatic

beta cell function and thus

enhance insulin secretion.


BASIL LEAVES (contd)

Preliminary trials of basil (Ocimim

sanctum) leaves and hairy

basil (Ocimum canum) seeds have

shown that these herbs may help

people with type 2 diabetes control

their blood sugar levels.

Holy basil has not yet been studied in

people with type 1 diabetes.


# MANGO LEAVES While mango fruit is not meant for

diabetics, mango leaves are!

Mango leaves contain organic compounds tarakserol-3beta and ethyl acetate which stimulates insulin production.

The aqueous extract of mango leaves have hypoglycemic activity. It reduces the intestinal absorption of glucose thus helping in lowering sugar levels in blood.

Many researches have proven evidences about mango leaves’ anti-diabetic properties.


# FLAX SEEDS

Flaxseeds (Alsi) have high omega-3

fat, lignans and high fiber content.

The studies have shown that

people who consumed flaxseed had

blood sugar levels 28 per cent lower

an hour after eating than their

counterparts who did not.

Researches say that flaxseeds

prevent spikes in blood sugar and

keeps blood sugar levels more stable

for longer.


ARTICLES ON FLAX SEEDS


#GARLIC


• Studies have found that garlic helps in

controlling abnormally high blood

sugar levels in diabetics.

• Few studies however have addressed

garlic's effects on diabetic

cardiomyopathy.

• Research have shown that certain

compounds in garlic such as allicin,

allyl propyl disulfide and s-allyl cysteine

sulfoxide works in increasing the

amount of insulin in the blood by

blocking the liver’s inactivation of

insulin and thus make insulin available

to the body.

#NEEM LEAVES

Neem is beneficial for diabetes due to

its anti-hyperglycemic activity.

The compound 3-deacetyl-3-

cinnamoyl-azadirachtin present in the

neem leaves help controlling the

blood glucose level.

These leaves enhance insulin receptor

sensitivity.

Many research prove that neem

leaves posses anti-diabetic properties

and they delay the onset of diabetes.


#CURRY LEAVES Curry leaves are potent anti-diabetic

agents.

The type and amount of fiber and the bio active compounds Murrayacinine, Isomahanimbine/ Mahanimbicine, Mahanimboline contained within the leaves also play a significant role in lowering blood sugar levels.

A study published in The Journal of Plant food for Nutrition, found that curry leaves have a great impact on the blood sugar levels of diabetics. They showed that not only does it help lower the blood sugar levels, but also kept in check for a few days after the administration of curry leaves.


CONCLUSIONFrom the results of the research articles based

on ‘Indigenous foods and Diabetes’, it is

proved that the indigenous foods do have

anti-diabetic properties but still they can be

used only as supportive therapy. However,

they play a role in delaying the onset of the

disease. This kind of study needs to be

focussed on the synergistic effect of these

compounds as well.



Healthcare

Indigenous foods and diabetes