Complementary and Alternative Medicine – What You Need To Know

VIDEO: Watch This Incredible Video About Alternative medicine.

One natural remedy that might help keep you diabetes-free: turmeric, an herb used in curry powder and available in dietary supplement form.

Research on turmeric and diabetes includes a study published in the journalDiabetes Care in 2012.

In a clinical trial involving 240 people with prediabetes (a condition in which blood sugar levels are abnormally high but not high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis), researchers observed that those given turmeric supplements for nine months were less likely to develop diabetes compared to study members given a placebo for the same time period.

Black Tea

Sipping black tea may help control diabetes, a study suggests. For the study, scientists looked at compounds extracted from green tea, oolong tea, and black tea. Of the three extracts, polysaccharides (a class of carbohydrates that includes starch and cellulose) derived from black tea were found to be most effective at slowing the absorption of blood sugar (also known as glucose). The black tea polysaccharides also appeared to be most effective at fighting free radicals (chemical by-products known to damage DNA and suppress the immune system).

In people with diabetes, glucose accumulates in the blood instead of entering cells, which can ultimately cause damage to the heart and kidneys. Past research suggests that natural substances such as cinnamon, curcumin (a compound found in the curry spice turmeric), andginseng may also help fight diabetes.

Matcha

A favorite among tea connoisseurs, matcha is a type of green tea that comes in powdered form. As one of the few teas that contain the entire leaf of the Camellia sinensis plant, matcha is said to boast more antioxidant power than most tea varieties.

While scientists have yet to determine whether matcha delivers more antioxidants than other teas, there’s some evidence that matcha may offer certain health benefits. For instance, a preliminary study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2009 found that matcha may help reduce cholesterol levels and keep blood sugar in check.

Although research on matcha’s unique health effects is somewhat limited, a great deal of studies suggest that green tea in general may help protect against many health conditions (including high blood pressure, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer). Just don’t go overboard—due to the caffeine content, green tea may increase risk of problems like insomnia and headache when consumed in excess (i.e., more than five cups a day).

Tips

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict that—if current trends continue—as many as one in three American adults could have diabetes by the year 2050. If you’re looking to prevent diabetes, follow a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, exercise at least a half-hour daily, maintain a healthy weight, and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check. Some studies suggest that getting a sufficient intake of vitamin D may also aid in the prevention of diabetes.

Sources

Ani V, Naidu KA. Antioxidant potential of bitter cumin (Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Kuntze) seeds in in vitro models. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 May 

See much more honest health information at: http://www.rehealthify.com/

Rehealthify offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free.

— video script below —

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, and allied health professionals, such as nurses and physical therapists, practice.

Complementary medicine is used together with standard medical care. An example is using acupuncture to help with side effects of cancer treatment.

Alternative medicine is used in place of standard medical care. An example is treating heart disease with chelation therapy (which seeks to remove excess metals from the blood) instead of using a standard approach.

The claims that CAM treatment providers make can sound promising. However, researchers do not know how safe many CAM treatments are or how well they work. Studies are underway to determine the safety and usefulness of many CAM practices.

To minimize the health risks of a CAM treatment

Discuss it with your doctor. It might have side effects or interact with other medicines
Find out what the research says about it
Choose CAM practitioners carefully
Tell all of your doctors and practitioners which CAM and standard treatments you use

NIH: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Source: Complementary and Alternative Medicine – What You Need To Know – YouTube