Banaba Leaf Extract Can Promote Healthy Blood Sugar Levels and Natural Weight Loss

Diabetes and insulin resistance have swept the nation - and with them, a growing list of pharmaceutical drugs that cause as many problems as they solve, if not more. Many diabetes drugs now carry warning labels about their dangerous side effects, which can include an increased risk of heart failure. There's no question as to why so many people are searching for natural alternatives, like banaba leaf extract, that can help them manage blood sugar.

The herbal extract known as Banaba leaf (not to be confused with banana leaf) can be a powerful weapon in the fight against high blood sugar. Banaba leaf comes from a tree with thick, waxy leaves and striking purple flowers, typically found in Southeast Asia. Banaba leaf was a popular remedy for blood sugar, kidney and liver health in traditional cultures there, particularly in the Philippines and in India. It was often brewed as a tea, but today can easily be found in supplement form in Western society.

Today, Banaba leaf has caught the eye of medical experts who are interested in finding a natural way to bring blood sugar levels back to normal in patients who suffer from chronically high blood sugar. Scientists have put this traditional remedy to the test in numerous clinical studies. Research has shown Banaba leaf is effective for lowering blood glucose in people with regularly high blood sugar. It may also aid weight loss if high blood sugar has led to obesity.

Experts say the reason Banaba leaf can have a positive effect on blood sugar levels is because it contains a natural concentration of Corosolic acid, which mimics the function of insulin by aiding the metabolism of glucose. Corosolic acid can work like insulin to reduce blood sugar levels by transporting glucose into cells and out of the bloodstream. This can be beneficial to anyone who has trouble with high blood sugar, and especially to those with insulin resistance or diabetes.

The easiest way for most people to take Banaba leaf extract is in supplement form. It is generally administered in small daily doses of 8-48 mg, with a 1-2 percent concentration of corosolic acid. Studies have shown this dose can produce a positive effect on blood sugar levels. Taking an excessive dose of banaba leaf may actually lower blood sugar to the point of hypoglycemia. While this should most certainly be avoided, it speaks for the power of this amazing herb.  

Source:  Natural News  

For more information about natural weight loss, obesity and gaining control over blood sugar, go to:

http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/2008/09/six-ingredients-from-natures-pharmacy-for-healthy-blood-sugar/

http://www.micronutra.com/journal/weight-loss/banaba-leaf-natural-weight-loss-stop-insulin-resistance

http://diabetes-treatment.suite101.com/article.cfm/herbal_remedy

LNH