Studies of Graviola suggest very positive effect on diabetes

Graviola and diabetes

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world today. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that affects the way glucose is regulated in the blood, thereof the supply of cells with nutrients i.e. energy. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the insulin for some reason ceases to be effective in the organism. There are two types of diabetes. The first type of diabetes, type I (hereditary), is an autoimmune disease and can be controlled exclusively by injecting synthetic insulin. It is very rare and it most frequently affects people already at an earlier age.

The second type of diabetes, type II (acquired), occurs due to low quality living habits that include poor and undiversified diet, lack of physical activity and high levels of stress. Type II diabetes can be effectively regulated by exercise, mental pattern changes and healthy diet. However, because of human attachment to their lifestyle they rather resort to medications that artificially and forcefully regulate blood glucose levels within the desired limits, which is definitely not healthy nor desirable for several reasons. One of them is the increase of bad cholesterol while the other is a large oscillation in the levels of insulin and glucose in the blood, which causes many other health problems.

Scientists claim that Graviola has properties that can help in the prevention of type II diabetes (acquired), or help maintain blood glucose levels in the appropriate values ​​when the disease has already occurred. Graviola, Annona muricata, is a very popular remedy for diabetes in parts of Africa and South America, including Peru, where it has been used for centuries for the normalization of blood glucose levels. Graviola contains biologically active ingredients; Acetogenins that help regulate blood sugar levels, preventing large oscillations, a sudden increase or decrease in blood glucose levels. In any case, you should consult with your doctor before taking Graviola.

The laboratory study published in 2008 in the "African Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine", has described the effect on animals with diabetes that were fed for two weeks with Graviola. It turns out that, without any additional treatment of diabetes, their blood glucose level was close to the normal range. In the same year and in the same journal, another study was published in which researchers discovered that the animals with diabetes fed with Graviola had higher levels of healthy antioxidants in the blood and lower levels of unhealthy fats (cholesterol) in the blood along with lesser liver damage than animals fed with placebo.

Even though the clinical studies of Graviola on humans with diabetes are still lacking, the aforementioned laboratory studies are promising and suggest a very positive effect of Graviola on metabolism disorders, thereof diabetes.