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The importance of regulating blood sugar is clear: stabilizing blood sugar can prevent many health problems, one of the most obvious being diabetes, which is often a result of years of unstable blood sugar. Fortunately, for most of us it is within our power to take control of our blood sugar levels by remaining active and making the right food choices and also by drinking camomile tea (甘菊茶).

Camomile tea has long been prized for its ability to calm and relax, making it a favored tea for bedtime, but now a recent study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows camomile may serve another purpose: regulating blood sugar.

Camomile tea lowers blood glucose in research study

At the University of Toyama in Japan and at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research in the United Kingdom, researchers studied the effect of camomile tea on diabetic rats. Half of the rats were given a dose of camomile extract for three weeks. Another set of diabetic rats was given a normal diet with no addition of camomile.

The study observed that when camomile was given to the rats, a lesser amount of glucose was turned into sorbitol (a sugar alcohol). Excess sorbitol can cause damage to kidneys, eyes and nerve cells. The enzymes primarily responsible for this kind of damage in diabetics were also inhibited in the camomile rats. The rats who were fed camomile extract also showed an overall decrease in blood glucose compared to the other rats.

The authors of the study stated there is a clear link between the daily consumption of camomile tea and preventing the progression of diabetes and hyperglycemia. As usual there are those who say more research needs to be done to determine just how effective this treatment can be, but to anyone searching for a natural way of regulating blood sugar, the results of this study are more than enough encouragement to start drinking camomile tea.

Maintain regular blood sugar levels to stay healthy

Camomile tea’s benefits aren’t only for those with diabetes. For diabetics, stabilizing blood sugar is crucial for good health, but the truth is even people without diabetes can benefit from maintaining normal blood sugar levels. Blood sugar swings are associated with fatigue, sugar cravings and insulin resistance, among other symptoms. Taking measures to regulate blood sugar can actually prevent the onset of diabetes in healthy individuals, and it will also help you feel more energetic and maintain a healthy weight.

Of course, if you’re considering drinking camomile tea solely to regulate your blood sugar, keep in mind it’s a healthy addition to an overall lifestyle that naturallly contributes to healthy blood sugar. Other steps which should be included in this lifestyle are regular exercise, eating balanced meals, avoiding refined foods and getting plenty of sleep.

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Wolfberry (lycium chinensis, 枸杞子) is the fruits of the solanaceae plant family that has been used in common Chinese herbal medicines. It’s medicinal properties has been known to nourish the liver and strengthen the kidney, in addition to replenishing the eyes.

This tiny herb has driven a big impact in most parts of the world where the social norm has been shown to be resistant to Chinese medicine. Even famous celebrities such as Madonna, Elizabeth Hurley, and Mischa Barton have embraced the wolfberry with a positive attitude.

The “viagra fruit“

With the British supermarket Tesco stocking wolfberries in the dried health supplemens and promoting them as the “Fruit Viagra”, the acceptance of wolfberries for the mass majority has only been increasing. It is thought to contain more vitamin C than oranges, more beta-carotene than carrots, and more iron than steaks.

Wolfberries can be eaten without peeling the skin. The suggested average daily consumption of these fruits is around 10 to 30 grams should be enough. The beta-carotene properties in wolfberries can effectively prevent heart disease and cancer, while providing protection against damages from sunlight.

Experts suggest receipes for wolfberries

Dietitians says, “Wolfberries are an extraordinary fruit, but other considerations have to be awared firsthand, such as your body weight, amount of fat intake, type of fat intake, … and eat more high fiber foods. Your diet should be balanced and comprehensive.” Health experts suggest to try combining wolfberries to any sorts of ordinary household receipes.

They don’t come cheap

Compared to apples and oranges made in England, the price of wolfberries isn’t cheap after being exposed on the shelves of British supermarkets. However, the sales figures have been unexpectedly well. Most consumers prefer to eat them as snacks in combination with other nuts, sunflower seeds and grain bars. The commerically advertised health benefits have been different for some; while a lot of consumers say it can promote sexual drive, some have reported no significant difference in this aspect.

Herbal Medicine beta carotene, cancer, fiber, iron, kidney, liver, lycium, solanaceae, tesco, viagra, wolfberry