An herb which has been used for years has been found to be effective in controlling blood sugar levels in Type II diabetics. Milk thistle, an herb, which is used quite frequently in complimentary and alternative health care, also called Silymarin, is typically used to treat liver problems. Individuals suffering from cerosis, chronic hepatitis, and gall bladder problems have utilized milk thistle for thousands of years. A research study published in October of this year indicates that this substance may also benefit diabetics as well.
Most of the 194 million diabetics in the world today are Type II, or adult onset diabetics. This health problem is increasing and as I’ve stated in many of my previous articles obesity appears to be one of the primary factors involved with the increase.
Half the patients in this study received 200 mg of Silymarin three times per day for four months. The other half received a placebo. At the end of four months, people in the milk thistle group had reductions in their blood glucose levels compared with their levels at the beginning of the study. The results are encouraging to the researchers, and they note that “studies have shown that the best method of controlling glucose levels is through a combination of regular activity and a healthy diet.
It is important to note that diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney damage and nerve disorders. The World Health Organization expects the number of people suffering from diabetes to rise to 300 million by 2025. We can change this, if we will just take the time. The wrong / processed, high glycemic foods and lack of exercise are causing the extreme rise in diabetes in our country, in particular.
Simple steps can be taken by each and every one of us, to make sure that we get regular exercise. Simple activities include parking further away from the entrance at the mall or grocery store. Another is to try to shop on the periphery of the food store. That’s where most, if not all, of the healthier foods are located. Fruits, vegetables and meats are located around the walls of the supermarket. The majority of the junk food is located in the center portion of the store. So, remember that when you are shopping.
I emphasize the exercise because of past experience, but also because this has been validated once again through information published in Diabetes Care in November 2006. These individuals state that combining resistance exercise, like weight lifting, with aerobic work outs, is the most beneficial form of combined exercise for long term control of blood sugar levels, according to these New Zealand researchers.
Exercise is the mainstay of therapy for Type II diabetes. Physical inactivity increases the risk of diabetes. These researchers found that any type of exercise training which lasted for twelve weeks or longer lowered blood glucose levels by 0.8%. Combining aerobic and resistance training had even more of an effect than any other type of exercise alone. But, it is important to note that these researchers found that more intense exercise programs did not appear to be more effective. The researchers also found that exercise had stronger effect on people with more severe disease which they call a “reassuring finding for those prescribing exercise to patients.” Even if your diabetes is severe, you’ll benefit even more from exercise! According to the researchers, “one should not conclude that exercise is not worth the effort.”
I can not over emphasize the importance of regular routine exercise in attempting to control diabetes, as well as attempting to avoid diabetes. Please recognize that these recommendations should be reviewed with your health care provider to assure that you begin gradually and increase on your exercise program.
For more information on this and other studies, please take some time to visit our website, www.upchiropractic.com. If you would like to receive more information regarding alternative health care issues, please email us at upchiropractic@verizon.net and request to be added to our newsletter mailing list.