The advantages of wheat grass for diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by an inadequate production of insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and has a key role in controlling blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is also frequently associated with excess weight and high blood levels of fat. The wheat grass, scientifically known as Triticum Aestivum, is a grass from the wheat family. Wheat grass is a natural source of vitamins A, C, E, K and B and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, amino acids and chlorophyll, according to the Memorial Sloan-Tering Cancer Center. For medicinal purposes, wheat leaves juice is generally consumed in raw form.

People’s medicine

Because wheat grass is rich in healthy nutrients, this grass has been proposed to improve a variety of health problems, the increase in the immune system and antibacterial activity to the detoxification of colon, diabetes and cancer. However, limited clinical studies have confirmed these health benefits.

Research

Wheat grass has a final role in improving glucose and lipid levels and can be used effectively in diabetes management, suggests a research team in a study published in December 2009 “Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology”. This study was carried out on 30 volunteers and wheat grass was added to a single meal. The glycemic or GI index is a number that measures the impact of a food on blood sugar and diabetics should consume low gastrointestinal food. The researchers found that the addition of 15 g of wheat grass to certain foods considerably reduced the GI of these foods and thus improved blood sugar. The blood rates of certain fats called triglycerides have also been improved in participants who consumed wheat grass. More important studies are justified to confirm these clinical results. Michael M. Murray, ND, author of “Beat Diabetes Naturally: The Best Foods, Herbs, Supplements and Lifestyle Strategies to optimize your care of diabetes”, also suggests the consumption of wheat grass by diabetics.

Security

Wheat grass has an excellent safety profile and is well tolerated. Rare side effects include slight nausea and headache. Wheat grass can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, so you should not consume this grass if you have an allergy to wheat or grass or celiac disease. The safety of wheat grass is not fully evaluated during pregnancy or lactation, it should therefore not be consumed by pregnant or breastfed women.