By
2030 it is expected that 438 million people will have diabetes
worldwide. The most common strain is Type-2 and the disease, according
to some, has reached global epidemic status. Many diabetic also
experience cholesterol problems and face obesity.
Type-2 diabetes creates
a number of problems for those suffering from it. Cholesterol problems
create a greater risk for heart attack and heart disease, blood sugar
levels are inconsistent and the body’s demand for insulin
is not met because of high-resistance. And although increasing insulin
through medication has often been the main source of refuge for
diabetics, it does little to impact cholesterol problems or make any
long-lasting impacts on blood sugar levels.
For a number of years, researchers have
been looking at the impacts of barley grass supplementation to limit
cholesterol problems and regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Barley
grass is a natural remedy that is rich in vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants, while having shown to yield positive effects with regard
to cholesterol problems and blood sugar and insulin levels associated
with Type-2 diabetes.
Barley grass supplements are created
using the young leaves of the barley plant, as opposed to grains that
people often associate with the plant. The leaves are then ground up and
can be taken in powder or capsule form.
Over the past decade numerous medical
studies have shown that barley grass can help lower cholesterol, improve
insulin resistance and lower blood sugar levels. However, many in the
scientific community still believe there is little objective evidence to
support these findings. The properties found in barley grass, however,
have been seen to improve conditions in diabetics.
A recent study has found that barley
grass supplementation significantly decreased fasting blood sugar levels
in an experiment group, while no change was found in a control group
(levels were checked daily) The research looked at two groups of
diabetics: one was given 15 g/per day (for 70 days) of a barley grass
supplement; while the other was not. In addition to the drop in blood
sugar levels, there was a 5.1% drop in cholesterol (in the experiment
group) levels after only 2 months.
Other research has found similar
results, and the studies are conducted on the basis that the vitamins,
minerals and antioxidants found in barley grass can offer help.
Cholesterol problems and Type-2 diabetes have shown to be slowed by
antioxidants and monosaturated fats, of which the barley grass has
plenty. In fact, the antioxidants in it have been noted to be “quite
potent.”
Antioxidants are able to improve insulin
resistance in diabetics and obese people. Research from the Catholic
University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, Italy, found that obese patients
who experimented with a diet high in antioxidants exhibited decreased
insulin resistance compared to those who did not.
Although a number of small scale studies
have been conducted regarding the use of barley grass to fight diabetes
and cholesterol problems over the past decade, it is still not
acknowledged as a viable treatment. More research on a larger scale must
be conducted, and it must be confirmed by the scientific community at
large.
However, based on the samples of
existing research and what is already known about antioxidants,
monosaturated fats and the vitamins found in barley grass, it appears
that a dosage of 15 g per day will not harm users.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.