Blood glucose, natural remedies

One of the possible causes of being overweight can be the afternoon nap, especially if it lasts longer than 30 minutes. This emerges from a very recent scientific research that appeared in the journal Obesity and performed by a Mexican team (Vizmanos et al, Obesity, April 2023). So let's try to unde

Against overweight, obesity, impaired blood sugar and overworked liver we have a new ally, rooibos! In fact, this plant from whose leaves a delicious tea is obtained to sip in the evening, since it is theine-free, has been shown to act on the metabolism, to improve the use of glucose by the cells an

When it comes to keeping blood sugar under control, both in the case of prediabetes and in the case of full-blown type 2 diabetes, we should not only look at what we eat but above all in what order we do it. Small adjustments to the order in which we consume fiber, protein and carbohydrates, in fact

They smell of woods and moss, of leaves with burning colors that fall on the damp ground. We are talking about mushrooms, delicious culinary ingredients capable of enriching, with their sweet and round notes, even the simplest recipe. But, as can be seen from the numerous dedicated scientific studie

The shorter and cooler days immediately make you want spicy, warm and fascinating aromas, reminiscent of home and love, like cinnamon! And then cinnamon is also the ingredient of various preparations typical of this period, such as apple strudel or pumpkin pies. But cinnamon doesn't just give dishes

It is now a known fact, how we live and eat affects our health. We know that it is important to prefer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods, whole and rich in fiber, to practice moderate physical activity and to keep blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol under control. However, there is als

After eating, don't sit on the sofa right away but take a little walk, even just for a couple of minutes. The benefits for blood glucose will be immediately measurable, as emerges from a very recent scientific research published in the journal Sports Medicine by a group of Irish scientists (Buffey e

It was around 5000 BC. when a courtier of Babylon, the ancient city of Mesopotamia located on the banks of the Euphrates River, forgot a jar of wine, leaving the precious drink unattended. When he remembered it, the wine had turned into a very sour liquid, the vinegar was just born. Soon the Babylon

Diabetes can cause damage to blood vessels, even preventing the body from making new ones to take the place of damaged ones. What tool do we have on our side to counter this effect? Physical exercise ... as emerges from a very recent scientific research published in the FASEB Journal thanks to the w

There are remedies that are often little known, whose fame has been lost over the centuries but which are small concentrates of beneficial properties for the entire body. Such as fenugreek, or Trigonella foenum-graecum. Fenugreek, in fact, as we will see in the course of the article, comes to the re

Spirulina algae is probably one of the best known supplements in the world. It is considered a true superfood, an elixir of life for the body and brain. But are these just beliefs or is there a scientific basis behind these claims? Let's try to find out by analyzing, as always, the most important sc

It has curled leaves and a beautiful bright green color. Perhaps at first glance it is not given the importance it deserves, but in fact, kale is the king of superfoods. Let's start by saying that it is a precious source of antioxidants, such as glucosinolates, but also polyphenols such as quercetin

Breakfast, among all meals during the day, is unique since it is consumed after a long night fast. Not only that, what and if we eat for breakfast have a great influence, even greater than the impact that other meals can have, on the state of health of the body and on the lifestyle adopted during th

Do you eat at irregular times? Then the risk of developing anxiety, sleep disturbances but also obesity is higher. In fact, it is not only what we eat that supports or damages, based on the food and its quantity, our health, but also the time. So, be careful of skipping breakfast, moving lunchtime t

There is, in Asia, a climbing plant, the Codonopsis pilosula. Well, from the extracts of this plant a natural remedy is obtained, also called bastard ginseng or poor man's ginseng, as its action is similar to ginseng but sweeter. In particular, the bastard ginseng is neuroprotective, it helps in cas

What can be done against the damage of hypertension, hyperglycemia, high cholesterol and visceral fat? Eating, even if it seems like an advice opposite to what one might expect. But eating a healthy and balanced diet that includes certain foods that have been found to be particularly beneficial for

Prediabetes and diabetes lead to complications in various organs, including the lungs, with an increased risk of developing pneumonia and other diseases of the lower respiratory tract, as well as asthma. However, a help in these cases can come from an ancient drink that is at the same time very well

Proso millet, scientific name Panicum miliaceum, is one of the oldest cereals but is often, wrongly, neglected. Several scientific studies have brought attention to this cereal, because, in fact, millet is a precious source of properties for health. Proso millet, nutrients - Millet is easy to d

It is called the tree of life or even the miraculous tree. In fact, the moringa is a powerful natural remedy, it protects and supports the health of the body since it is a plant with anti-aging, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties and, from today, also with an anti-diabetic action. In fact,

Is it possible to reverse or slow down the graying process of the hair? We saw in a previous article that, sometimes, in case of a great stress, the hair can turn white and that, when the stressful period is over, the same white hair can return to its natural color. In general, however, apart from t

Why are there people who are always hungry? And why are there those who, overweight or obese, are unable to follow a diet and are always struggling to lose weight? The answer seems to be in an excessive glycemic drop after the meal, as emerges from a very recent scientific research published in the

Berries, especially dark-colored ones such as bilberries and black currants, help regulate blood sugar, keeping dangerous postprandial spikes at bay. This is the result of a very recent scientific research published a few weeks ago in the British Journal of Nutrition by a team of scientists from the

Are eggs bad or can they be included in a healthy diet? Over the years, information overlapped and came to decree that eggs were a food to be absolutely avoided as they increase cholesterol. Today scientific studies are shedding more light and allow us to re-evaluate eggs as a precious source of ant

Dates are the fruits of the date palm, scientific name Phoenix dactylifera, one of the oldest plants cultivated by man and a source of nutrition for more than 6000 years. Nowadays, dates can be found almost everywhere in their dried form and are a treat for adults and children thanks to their sweet

In our articles, we often talk about how important it is to avoid dangerous blood sugar spikes and keep your blood sugar under control. In fact, when blood sugar tends to remain high for long periods of time, the risk of diseases, such as cancers, also increases. This becomes even clearer when readi

A sleepless night and immediately we run to the kitchen to drink a strong coffee, to wake up and face a new day. However, this does not seem a healthy habit, at least based on a recent scientific research that appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition thanks to the work of a team of British resea

Blood sugar is the concentration of glucose in the blood. Glucose is the main source of energy for cells and, in a healthy person, it fluctuates throughout the day between 70 and 120 mg/dl. Glucose is found in carbohydrates, and therefore in bread, pasta, rice, potatoes but also honey, fruit and sug

Rosemary has a hypoglycemic action. This means that it acts by reducing blood sugars, thus proving to be an aid in case of high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes, the typical diabetes of adults. But how to take rosemary in order to benefit from this property? Surely by adding a few needles to culinary

Prediabetes is a condition whereby blood sugar levels are higher than normal. This state can lead, in the long run, to type 2 diabetes, the typical diabetes of adulthood. Spices, and in particular cinnamon, appear to be an effective remedy for fighting prediabetes. This emerges from a very recent st

Type 2 diabetes is the typical adult diabetes, it causes an increase in blood glucose levels due to a reduced production of insulin or to a condition in which the insulin produced does not act effectively. The number of people who have to deal with this type of diabetes is growing all over the world

Some flowers are edible, such as rose, calendula, but also nasturtium or pansy. Adding flowers to recipes not only contributes to making the dish more cheerful, but also healthier. In fact, as we have seen, flowers can bring valuable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and neuroprotective prop

Summer is beginning and in these hot days we like to eat light and fresh food, such as watermelon. But watermelon is not just a refreshing snack, but a really healthy choice, as evidenced by a very recent research published in the Journal of Nutrition by a team from Oregon State University, USA (Bec

More than 2 billion of the world's population is overweight or obese, with consequences, in the long run, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. A help to counteract excessive gain of body weight may be the time we sit at the table in the evening to eat the dinner. This is the result of a small st

A coffee at the bar, a frozen pack of pizza or a snack, foods that are so different but that have in common an inevitable ingredient, white sugar. Continued sugar intake is linked, however, to an increased risk of tumors, an alteration of insulin sensitivity and inflammations (Wang et al, Scand J Ga

There are those who wake up early to make a nice and rich breakfast, there are those who give themselves only the time for a brioche while getting down the stairs and there are those who just drink a quick coffee. There are those who prefer a sweet breakfast and those who prefer it savory. When it c

The poria mushroom, scientific name Wolfiporia extensa, belongs to the Polyporaceae family and is also known as Poria cocos. This edible mushroom has been known and used by traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2000 years and, as often happens, in recent years science has also been interested i

Mankai is an aquatic, high-protein plant belonging to the genus of water lentils, scientific name Wolffia globosa of the family Lemnaceae. Eaten for centuries in South East Asia as a vegetable alternative to meat, nowadays this plant is one of the novelties in the medical field since, as shown by re

From the cold pressing of the seeds of the safflower, Carthamus tinctorius, we obtain an oil rich in benefits for the skin, for the hair but also for the body. In the previous post we saw the use of safflower oil as a powerful natural cosmetic, useful in case of dry skin, with wrinkles but also in c

Chronic inflammation induced by obesity may put at risk the health of retina in people who are suffering from diabetes type 2, the non-insulin-dependent diabetes that may occur in adulthood and is caused, among other factors, by a lack of physical activity and wrong diet habits. Scientists have alre

Amla, scientific name Phyllantus emblica, is a plant of the Fillantaceae family and is known mainly for its fruits, similar to green plums, which have the same name. The fruits of amla are considered an elixir of long life, able to promote longevity and there is plenty of scientific studies supporti

Rye, scientific name secale cereale, is an ancient cereal grain already cultivated more than 2000 years ago in Asia Minor. Nowadays rye flour, obtained through the grinding of the rye grains, is used to prepare a tasty black bread, rich in mineral salts, such as potassium, phosphorus and calcium an

Momordica charantia is a climbing plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, also known as bitter melon or bitter gourd, is characterized by a fruit with important healthy properties, well known and appreciated in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine and nowadays confirmed also by scientific studies. Bit

A Chinese legend says that the discover of tea, 5000 years before Christ, was made by emperor Shen Nong, who used to boil water to purify it. One day, a leaf carried by the wind landed inside the cup. The Emperor was fascinated by the aroma and the color that came from it. But actually, the exact or

Sweet potatoes, scientific name Ipomoea batatas, belong to the Convolvulaceae family and are characterized by an orange pulp and a sweeter taste than the common potatoes that are used in cooking. Actually, apart from the name, sweet potatoes do not have much in common with this kind of potatoes that

Opuntia ficus indica, commonly known as prickly pear or Indian fig opuntia or cactus pear, is a species of cactus native to Mexico but that can be found in the Mediterranean basin and in the temperate zone in America, Oceania, Asia and Africa. Here we speak about the fruit of prickly pear, that can

Stevia, scientific name Stevia rebaudiana, is a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family native to parts of Paraguay and Brazil. Stevia is gaining popularity as a low-calorie natural sweetener since, from its leaves, a sweetener with zero calorific power but with a sweetening capacity over two hundr

Apricots are the fruits of the apricot tree, or Prunus armeniaca, of the Rosaceae family. Fresh apricots contain vitamins A and C and mineral salts such as potassium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, they are also rich in beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant with a protective role in heart disease,

Melatonin is a hormone mainly produced by epiphysis, or pineal gland, which is at the base of our brain. In the blood, melatonin levels increase with caloric restriction and darkness while drop down with daylight and aging. Melatonin is produced from serotonin, whose values are higher during the day

Damiana, Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca, is a medicinal plant of the Turneracee family. The plant is a remedy with tonic and stimulating properties and with an aphrodisiac action. Damiana, for these characteristics, is indicated in case of fatigue, general debilitation, stress, anxiety and depres

The dates are the fruits of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, and their name comes from Greek daktylos, which means finger, for their elongated shape. These fruits can be eaten either fresh, though in this form they are harder to find, or dry. Rich in fiber, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesi

The maitake mushroom, Grifola frondosa, is a mushroom that grows in Japan, Europe and North America and is well known and appreciated for its medicinal properties. In Japanese, maitake means dancing mushroom because, according to a legend, people danced when they could find this mushroom, according

Pistachios are the fruits of the Pistacia vera, a member of the Anacardiaceae, or Cashew, family and originating from the Middle East. This type of dried fruit is rich in vitamins such as A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, E, but also mineral salts such as iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, manganese an

Fava beans are legumes, fruits of Vicia faba that is a plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. Fava beans are rich in plant-based proteins and nutritive substances and are a very healthy food typical of the spring. The fava beans contain mineral salts such as iron, copper, phosphorus, potassium, man

Hordeum vulgare, or barley, is a plant belonging to the Graminaceae family that has been cultivated and known since prehistoric times. Barley has very interesting nutritional properties, it is, in fact, rich in minerals such as phosphorus, important for memory and cognitive functions, iron, potassiu

Pleurotus ostreatus, also called oyster mushroom, is one of the most popular and most known mushroom all over the world. This mushroom has cholesterol-lowering properties and is able to boost the immune system. In fact, the oyster mushroom contains, among other substances, lovastatin, also present i

Scorzonera, or black salsify root, is a perennial plant of the Asteraceae family, which also includes, among others, the artichoke and topinambour. The edible part is represented by the roots that are harvested from October to late winter and are very healthy for the body. Scorzonera is a low-calori

Garcinia is a plant native to Indonesia, the peel can be dried and is used as an ingredient for the preparation of some types of curry. According to tradition, garcinia has slimming properties and is considered as an excellent fat-burning fruit able to limit the accumulation of fat and the sense of