Herbs & Plants To Help With Sugar Cravings

As stated in my earlier post, my goal this year is to limit my sugar intake.

My family was raised on sweets and all kind of goodies. Needless to say, they never hindered me as a child, but now.........well, it's another story.  As the old saying goes, "Just because something tastes good....it doesn't necessarily mean it is good for you!"

So, this morning I am on a mission.  A mission to see where I can start to conquer my quest.

Natural herbs to curb your sugar cravings 
sounds purr-r-fect!

Here is what I've researched:

Gymnema    

• Botanical Name : Gymnema Sylvestre

• Family Name : Asclepiadaceae

• Common Name : Periploca Of The Woods, Gudmar

• Part Used : Whole Plant, Leaves

• Habitat : Throughout india, in dry forest upto 600m.

• Product offered : Leaves

• Uses : The plant is acrid, anti-inflammatory, anodyne, liver tonic,emetic and diuretic. It is useful in hepatosplenomegaly, dypepsia, constipation, jaundice, halminthiasis, cardiopathy and amenorrhoea. The fresh leaves when chewed have the remarkable property of paralysing the sense of taste for sweet and bitter substance for some time. It lowers blood sugar level and is good for the treatment both types of Diabetes. The herb is useful for stimulating the heart; it increases urine secretion.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Stevia 

Also known as sweet leaf, stevia is hundreds of times more sweet than sugar but contains no calories. In a review of clinical evidence, Dr. Daniel Mowrey, Director of the Mountainwest Institute of Herbal Sciences in Salt Lake City, discusses the many benefits of stevia as a sugar substitute and a treatment for sugar cravings. Unlike sugar and most other sweeteners, stevia actually increases insulin production and slightly reduces blood sugar. Consider using stevia powder as a sweetener in drinks and desserts.

• Botanical Name : Stevia Rebaudiana

• Family Name : Astraceae

• Common Name : Stevia, Sweet Leaf, Sugar Leaf, Sweet Honey Leaf, Rebiana.

• Part Used : Leaves

• Habitat : Cultivated in India.

• Product offered : Leaves

Uses : Stevia is zero calorie natural sweetener, hypoglycemic, cardiotonic, vasodilator, antimicrobial, digestive tonic, diuretic, antihypertensive and appetite stimulant. It is useful in obesity, diabetes, gingivitis, acne, digestive problems, cuts, wounds, mouthsores, heartburn, seborrhea, eczema, dermatitis, inflammations, and high blood pressure. It is used in mouthwash, toothpaste and used to kill mouth bacteria. it is used as sweetener in confectionery, beverage and food industry. It is also used in cosmetic industries in skin shinning and anti-wrinkle creams. It helps the body sustain a feeling of vitality and well-being and used externally for blemishes. stimulate alertness and counter fatigue, facilitate digestion and gastrointestinal functions. (We grow this every season, dry out in the fall and have enough to last until next harvest)

Ginseng   

Most are familiar with the root  

In Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine originating in India, gymnema has been used for centuries as a treatment for obesity, sugar cravings and diabetes. A study published in 1992 in the medical journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition confirmed that compounds in gymnema temporarily fill the mouth with a sweet flavor. For roughly two hours after chewing gymnema, people experience a decreased response to sugar; fruit juice tastes like water. Gymnema helps to make sweet foods less satisfying, thereby curbing the body's tendency to crave them.

American and Asian ginseng both help the body to cope with stress without fluctuations in appetite, mood or energy levels. The National Institutes of Health grants ginseng a "B" rating--meaning there is "good scientific evidence"--as a treatment for high blood sugar levels. People who crave sugar during times of stress may benefit from regular ginseng supplementation; the herb can curb emotional overeating and reduce the risk of unhealthy blood sugar fluctuations.    

·  Common Name: Ginseng, American Ginseng, Asian Ginseng

·  Scientific Name: Panax species

·  Family: Araliaceae (the Ivy family)

Species: There are 11 species of ginseng found in eastern Asia and eastern North America. While all the species contain medicinal compounds (specifically ginsenosides), only Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) are grown in significant quantity. 

If you would like to read more on this fascinating plant/root click on this link: ALL ABOUT GINSENG