How Many Grams of Gymnema do I Eat in a Day to Lower My Blood Sugar Levels?
If you are keen to know how many grams of Gymnema do I eat in a day to lower my blood sugar levels then, do read this article.
I would not only reveal the dosage but also how Gymnema has actually helped reduce my blood glucose.
In order to feel the maximum effects of any herb or diabetes control supplement, I have coined a special method. What I do is that I stop taking any other supplement for 30 days.
So, if I am consuming Gymnema to control my diabetes then, I would not take any other herb that is primarily meant to control blood sugar levels (such as fenugreek).
What this does is that it gives me an accurate reading of weather my chosen herb is actually working in my favor or not. In today’s case, I have experimented with Gymnema for the last 30 days.
Here is my final report:
How Many Grams of Gymnema do I Eat in a Day to Lower My Blood Sugar Levels – Article Index:
1) A Brief on My Type 2 Diabetes?
2) What is Gymnema?
3) Why is this Herb Useful for Diabetics?
4) How Many Grams of Gymnema do I Consume Every Day?
5) How was My Experience using Gymnema for 30 Days?
A Brief on My Type 2 Diabetes?
As most of you may already be aware that the two most common types of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2. While, gestational diabetes and pre-diabetes are also prevalent, these are not as common as the Type 1 & Type 2 variants.
People with Type 1 diabetes suffer from this ailment since birth (in most cases this is true). It is therefore an autoimmune disease. On the other hand, those that suffer from Type 2 diabetes acquire this disease as they age.
What’s My Story?
Most people get Type 2 diabetes in their forties. I was one amongst them. The main reason why I suffered from Type 2 diabetes was because I had gained over 40 pounds in just 2 years.
Unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, increased alcohol intake and high stress levels were to blame for my condition. I was diagnosed with diabetes in my early forties.
I have since been searching for the most effective natural methods for maintaining optimal blood sugar levels. One such food choice that I always stand for is herbs. They are a powerhouse for ailing our body if we know how to make use of them correctly.
What is Gymnema?
The financial burden of diabetes related ailments on the United States alone is in excess of 350 Billion dollars. This is a huge amount and can break the economic growth of most developing nations.
So, I always feel that finding a natural and non-invasive treatment methodology is an ideal way to combat the diabetes menace. One such natural method is a herb that I use for keeping my body fit.
It is called Gymnema. It also goes by the name “Gymnema Sylvestre”. It is primarily a vine that is native to India, Asia and Africa. It is also found in certain parts of Australia.
What I Found So Special about Gymnema Sylvestre?
Being an active sportsperson, the sudden diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes came as a shock for me. While my unhealthy lifestyle (for the past 5 years) was to blame, it was still a shocker for me.
This is when I started to search for natural methods to control my fluctuating blood sugar levels. One such herb that I stumbled upon was Gymnema Sylvestre.
Here is what attracted me towards it:
@ Well, this herb is readily available in several countries – Australia, India, Asia and Africa. So, I never have any issue in getting hold of this herb.
@ It is termed ‘gurmar’ in India. This is a term that is used to denote Gymnema Sylvestre’s diabetes destroying capabilities.
@ Gymnema Sylvestre is used widely in Ayurvedic medications used primarily for treating patients with fluctuating blood sugar levels.
@ This Australian cowplant contains high amounts of gymnemic acids. These acids have the ability to react with my taste buds and suppress my sugar cravings completely.
@ Gymnema Sylvestre has been used for thousands of years to treat people that have been bitten by venomous snakes.
@ Gymnema is also used for effectively treating people that have been bitten by the dreaded malaria mosquito.
@ The leaves of Gymnema contains super healthy ingredients. A few of these include tartaric acid, butyric acid, resins, formic acid, chlorophyll and albumin.
@ I often get hold of Gymnema leaves and brew them in water. The special tea that I prepare is a boon for stabilizing my blood glucose.
@ I can easily get hold of Gymnema capsules. A month’s supply usually costs me anywhere in between $10 to $15 – pretty cheap huh!
Why is this Herb Useful for Diabetics?
There are several ways that Gymnema (similar to cinnamon) can help regulate my fluctuating blood sugar levels.
Here are some of these:
Power of Gymnemic Acid:
This is owing to the presence of gymnemic acid, which happens to be a natural sweetener suppressant.
Gymnemic acid is such that it tends to put sugar receptors located on my taste buds to literally fall asleep. When my sugar receptors are incapacitated, my craving to consume sugary foods literally dies down.
So, even if there is a piece of cake or a bowl of pudding on the dining table, I would heartily consume it as the Gymnemic acid present in Gymnema, has already stopped the absorption of sugary foods.
Natural Anti-Diabetic:
With the total number of diabetics crossing the 500 million mark, I am really concerned what is going to happen in the coming years. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I was told that it is a metabolic disorder.
The Inability to Digest Carbohydrates:
Apparently, my body was unable to digest carbohydrates in the most suitable manner. Basically, the food I eat is converted into glucose (this is the natural digestive process).
A normal person is able to push this glucose into his/her cells. My cells then use the glucose as usable energy source to carry out day to day activities.
Nonetheless, in my case, the glucose remains in my bloodstream. It is unable to be pushed into my cells. This leads to an increase in glucose levels in my blood. The end result is high blood sugar levels.
Absorption of Sugar in My Intestines:
Gymnemic has the ability to digest the carbohydrates present in my food in the intestines. This herb also stops the absorption of sugar in my intestines.
This is done by blocking the sugar receptors present in the intestines. So, when I am consuming Gymnema, I am instructing my intestines to avoid absorbing excess sugar derived from the carbs that I consumed in a meal.
The end result is low sugar reading (or low insulin spike) post my consuming a heavy meal. All I need is about 350mg of Gymnemic acid in a day to achieve this.
Instructs My Body to Produce More Insulin
By promoting the islet cell growth, Gymnema instructs my pancreas to produce more insulin. An increased insulin production forces the glucose present in my blood to get pushed into my cells.
This in turn helps reduce extra glucose from within my bloodstream. I have also researched and found that “metformin tablets” were probably the first few drugs to be introduced by the medical fraternity to treat diabetes.
Ironically, Metformin was made from Gymnema extract. It helps in insulin secretion from the pancreas. This medicine also helps increase insulin sensitivity.
How Many Grams of Gymnema do I Consume Every Day?
This is indeed a very tricky question. While I did experiment with varied doses, I am still not 100% accurate as to which dose is best for suited for you.
This is because two individuals with diabetes have different body composition and needs. Nonetheless, I am sure of what dosage of Gymnema (on a daily basis) is best suited for keeping MY blood sugar levels in check.
So, How do I Consume Gymnema?
Well, I personally consume Gymnema in three different ways.
Let me walk you through these methods in brief:
The First Method:
In the very first method, I get hold of a bunch of Gymnema leaves. I first wash them under running water and then allow them to dry. Once they are dry, I boil a cup of water.
To this water, I add a bunch of Gymnema leaves. I allow the water to boil with the leaves in it for about 5 minutes. Thereafter, I switch off the gas and allow the tea to cool down a bit.
The cooling off process takes about 10 minutes.
Using a strainer, I then pour the water into an empty cup ensuring to leave the Gymnema leaves on the strainer. I sip this tea slowly, sloshing each tiny sip across my mouth.
I drink this special tea, just once a day.
The Second Method:
In the second method, I have tried using the powdered form of Gymnema. This is again readily available in most herbal stores. I just brought home a 50 gram bottle.
I started with a dose of 1 gram a day. After about a week, I upped the dosage to 2 grams per day. Then, after a few days, I increased this to 3 grams a day. Finally, I started having 4 grams per day.
I got the best results (with regards to reduced blood sugar levels) when I consumed 3 grams of powdered Gymnema per day.
Moreover, if I took it 15 minutes before a sugary snack (such as a donut or a cake) then, I got the best results.
The Third Method:
In the last and final method, I spent about $15 to buy a bottle of Gymnema pills. Each pill contained 100 milligrams of Gymnema. So, I started with 1 pill before increasing it to 2 then, 3 and finally, 4 pills in a single day.
I took these pills with plain water about 15 minutes before consuming a high sugar based meal. The end results were simply fantastic as my blood sugar levels (post this meal) were almost perfect.
I got the best results when I consumed 4 pills or 400 milligrams of Gymnema per day (consumed with water 15 minutes before a high carb meal).
Please Note: You can take Gymnema using either of the 3 methods that I have mentioned above. You may stick with my preferred doses and make minor tweaks as per your personal requirement.
How was My Experience using Gymnema for 30 Days?
I am quite satisfied using Gymnema. In my opinion, it is one of the best supplements to lower blood sugar. I have tried various doses and types (the 3 variations of using this herb as discussed above).
The pill form and leaves are the best in my opinion. They are easy to consume and work best for my body. Apart from lowering my blood sugar levels, Gymnema also helped in allowing me to maintain optimal cardiac functionality.
By lowering my triglyceride levels, Gymnema improved my heart health considerably. It also improved my liver health by eliminating fatty deposits in my liver.
Besides this, my cholesterol levels decreased. Lastly, I found that within a period of 30 days I had lost 2 pounds of body weight. As I was consuming the same diet as I did before taking Gymnema, I realized that this herb was indeed helping me lose weight naturally.
By far, the benefits of consuming Gymnema are immense. I would definitely recommend people with diabetes, to make use of it in order to improve their overall health.
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