Beneficial Effects Of Bilberries
Considerable attention has focused on the health benefits of dietary polyphenols, including anthocyanins. In vitro experiments, animal studies and clinical trials suggested that consumption of anthocyanins results in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemic and anti-hypertensive effects and the health benefits are associated with their potential antioxidant effect. Table 1 lists several of the important clinical studies that have investigated the health benefits of bilberry supplementation in healthy subjects or in subjects with increased CVD risk.
The 5 Best Teas For Diabetics To Lower Blood Sugar
Blood sugar management can be maintained by being active, sleeping enough, and eating the right foods. There are many factors to take into consideration when regulating blood sugar levels to avoid the lows and the highs. Experts recommend that diet can play one of the most essential roles in diabetes management.
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Healthy foods and drinks become very important for a diabetes patient. What one puts inside their body can not only provide comfort and health, but also result in painful consequences.
Eating and drinking can be an empowering way to manage blood sugar, that is, if you do it right. Evidence has shown that drinking tea does provide a few benefits for maintaining blood sugar levels, especially if you have diabetes. The type of tea you drink can aid your body in processing and managing insulin and sugar. Tea is comforting and helps with symptoms of diabetes, including energy levels, blood pressure, and circulation problems.
Well What’s So Great About Tea
You can drink tea either hot or cold, and it comes in many varieties. There is oolong, black, green, white, herbal and rooibos teas. But, many teas dont even come from tea plants, like camelia sinensis or the evergreen shrub native to Asia. Rooibos come from bushes grown in southern Africa and are not really teas. Herbal teas contain flowers, leaves or other parts of different plant varieties. Herbal teas are brewed like regular teas, but these plants typically have different effects on your body.
Over three billion tons of tea are produced every year for human consumption, and billions of people live for their cup of tea. Researchers have looked into the consequences certain teas have on the human body and have been doing so for decades.
Be on the lookout for varieties of tea that contain caffeine, which stimulates your mind but can cause high blood pressure. These are not advisable for diabetics unless taken in moderation. Listed are some properties of teas, their types and advantages for diabetics.
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Bilberries And Lower Blood Glucose Levels
Bilberry extract is not recognised as a treatment for diabetes but people with diabetes may notice that it helps in lowering blood glucose levels.
If you are on blood glucose lowering medication that can bring on hypoglycemia , you may need to monitor your blood glucose levels and take precautions to ensure blood sugar levels dont go too low.
Collection Of Serum Liver Skeletal Muscle And Adipose Tissue
After 5 wk of feeding the experimental diets , the diets were withdrawn from all mice at 0800. Mice were then killed by decapitation 2 h after withdrawing the experimental diets from the mice and blood was collected. The liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissues were removed. Tissue samples were then immediately frozen using liquid nitrogen and kept at 80°C until use. The collected blood was kept at room temperature for 5 min for coagulation. The serum was then isolated from the coagulated blood by centrifugation at 1600 × g for 15 min at 4°C. The serum was immediately stored at 80°C prior to use.
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How To Take It
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs under the supervision of a health care provider.
Pediatric
Bilberry may be used in children 2 years of age and older for the treatment of diarrhea, but only under the supervision of your doctor.
Adult
Speak with your doctor regarding dosing.
Ampk And Glut4 Expression In The Wat And Skeletal Muscle
AMPK is known as a metabolic sensor it upregulates catabolic pathways that generate ATP and downregulates anabolic pathways that consume ATP . AMPK is recognized as one of the crucial targets for prevention and treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes . Increased Glut4 expression or translocation to the plasma membrane can be regulated by the activation of AMPK through an insulin-independent mechanism . In the present study, dietary BBE significantly increased total AMPK and phosphorylation of AMPK at Thr172 in the WAT compared with that in the control group . In addition, phosphorylation at Thr172 of AMPK in the skeletal muscle of the BBE group was significantly higher than that of the control group . The Glut4 protein expression level in the BBE group was significantly greater and was 2.1-fold that of the control group in WAT and 2.3-fold that of the control group in skeletal muscle .
Immunoblot analysis of AMPK protein levels in the mesenteric WAT and skeletal muscle and Glut4 protein levels in the mesenteric WAT and skeletal muscle of KK-Ay mice fed the control or BBE diet for 5 wk. In , levels of phosphorylated at Thr172 and total AMPK protein were measured and the ratio of these determined. The protein level is expressed as fold of control. In C and D, the Glut4 protein level was normalized using -actin protein level. Values are the means ± SEM, n = 68. *Different from control, P< 0.05.
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Reduce Diarrhoea And Throat Irritation
Bilberry contains chemicals called tannins. Tannins are bitter-tasting compounds that bind proteins. A study concludes that tannins can help improve acute diarrhoea. As a result, bilberries offer you with antidiarrheal effects of tannin. In addition, research shows that tannins in fruits are natural defence systems against microbial diseases and hence can aid with tongue and throat irritation by decreasing the swelling.
Pack Beneficial Plant Compounds
Bilberries are rich in antioxidants, which are beneficial plant compounds that help protect your body against damage and disease.
Research shows that berries, including blueberries, are among the foods with the highest antioxidant levels. Due to their close relationship to blueberries, bilberries likely share the same properties (
Anthocyanins are thought to be responsible for most of these berries health benefits.
Summary Berries are one of the best dietary sources of antioxidants. Bilberries are an especially good source of anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant likely responsible for their health benefits.
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Emerging Health Benefits Of Bilberries
Bilberries are small, blue berries native to Northern Europe.
Theyre often referred to as European blueberries, as theyre very similar in appearance to North American blueberries .
Bilberries have purportedly been used for medicinal purposes since the Middle Ages, while their juice was traditionally used to dye linen and paper .
Nowadays, theyre linked to various health benefits, from improved vision to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Here are 9 emerging health benefits of bilberries, all backed by science.
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May Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Bilberries are a popular herbal remedy used to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes .
Experts believe that the berries prevent the breakdown and absorption of carbs in your gut, similarly to some blood-sugar-lowering medications .
Animal studies suggest that the anthocyanins in bilberries may also stimulate the secretion of insulin, the hormone needed to help move sugar from your blood into your cells .
One study reported that a bilberry extract reduced blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes more effectively than a placebo. The extract provided the equivalent of 50 grams of fresh bilberries .
Another 8-week study showed that a diet enriched with fresh bilberries increased insulin secretion in adults with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease .
However, more human studies are needed before strong conclusions can be drawn.
Summary Bilberries may stimulate insulin secretion and prevent the breakdown of carbs in your gut, both of which may help lower blood sugar levels. Still, more human studies are needed.
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Precautions When Consuming Bilberry
The dried, ripe fruit of bilberry is safe for most people when eaten in moderate amounts. The fruit extracts are also possibly safe for medicinal uses. You can take it by mouth for six months to a year. However, it can be unsafe when taken orally in high doses for long periods. In addition, there is no solid evidence to back up whether bilberry and its extract are safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Some other side effects of bilberry are:
What To Look For
You can find bilberries fresh, frozen, dried, powdered, or in packaged foods like jam. In addition to eating them fresh, you can try adding frozen or powdered bilberries to a smoothie or use them to make a sauce or preserves.
Bilberry supplements and bilberry extract are sold in tablets, capsules, and drops. The berries are also sold dried and as a powder. Bilberry leaves are made into teas.
If you choose to buy a bilberry supplement, the National Institutes of Health recommends that you look for a Supplement Facts label on the product that you buy. This label will contain vital information including the amount of active ingredients per serving, and other added ingredients .
Lastly, the organization suggests that you look for a product that contains a seal of approval from a third party organization that provides quality testing. These organizations include U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com, and NSF International. A seal of approval from one of these organizations does not guarantee the product’s safety or effectiveness but it does provide assurance that the product was properly manufactured, contains the ingredients listed on the label, and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants.
While bilberry shouldn’t be used as a substitute for standard treatment or preventative measures for any medical condition, in some cases, eating more bilberries may have some protective benefits.
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Adiponectin And Adiponectin Receptor Expression
The gene expression level of adiponectin in the mesenteric WAT did not differ between the groups . The serum adiponectin concentration was also not affected by the administration of BBE . The gene expression level of adiponectin receptors in both skeletal muscle and liver did not differ between the control and BBE groups .
Ampk Activation And Gluconeogenesis In The Liver
Phosphorylation of AMPK in the liver of the BBE group was significantly higher than that of the control group . Activation of AMPK in the liver results in downregulation of expression of gluconeogenic enzymes that are involved in hepatic glucose production. PEPCK and G6Pase are rate-limiting gluconeogenic enzymes and their expression is increased in the diabetic state. The activation of AMPK in the liver, caused by feeding BBE, could downregulate the expression of gluconeogenic enzymes and result in lowered blood glucose concentration. The gene expression levels of PEPCK and G6Pase were significantly lower in the BBE group than in the control group . Glucose flux into the blood, as measured by the pyruvate tolerance test, was significantly suppressed in the BBE group at 90, 120, and 150 min after pyruvate injection .
Immunoblot analysis of liver AMPK protein levels and gene expression levels of PEPCK and G6Pase , and pyruvate tolerance test for KK-Ay mice fed the control or BBE diet. In A, levels of phosphorylated at Thr172 and total AMPK protein were measured and the ratio of these determined. The protein level is expressed as fold of control. In B, the gene expression levels are expressed as fold of control after normalization using the -2 microglobulin gene expression level. Values are the means ± SEM, n = 68. *Different from control, P< 0.05.
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Bilberry Supplements Side Effects And Interactions
Bilberry supplements play an important role. However, depending on medications already being taken, bilberry leaf is not always safe when consumed in high doses over a long period of time. Avoid the use of bilberry in medicinal amounts if:
- You are pregnant or breast-feeding
- You are scheduled for surgery within the next two weeks
Be cautious when combining Bilberry supplements with other drugs.
In cases of diabetes, Bilberry leaves might decrease blood sugar. Consuming them along with other medications that are used to lower blood sugar may cause your blood sugar level to dip too low. Medications used for diabetes that you should avoid using bilberries with include, but are not limited to: glimepiride , glyburide , insulin, pioglitazone , chlorpropamide , rosiglitazone , glipizide , tolbutamide , and others.
Other studies show that Bilberries slow blood clotting hence taking bilberry along with other medications that slow clotting will increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Medications that slow blood clotting and should not be taken with Bilberry supplements are: aspirin, clopidogrel , diclofenac , naproxen , enoxaparin , ibuprofen , dalteparin , heparin, warfarin , and others.
No Definite Dosage Of Bilberry Supplements
The recommended daily dosage of bilberry supplements is quite unpredictable. Although a study suggests taking 801,000 mg of bilberry supplements once or twice daily, its impossible to tell how much is appropriate as a daily dose without considering your personal needs and health status. In addition, although supplement manufacturers usually include a serving size recommendation, this might differ from person to person. Therefore, always consult with a doctor before taking bilberry supplements.
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Is Bilberry Risk Free
Now whilst bilberry has not been found to cause any known adverse effects, there is a small chance that you may experience a stomach upset, dizziness or a headache when taking bilberry.
Similarly as I mentioned before, as bilberry extract can lower your blood sugar levels and blood pressure, it is important that you speak to your doctor first before trying it so they can modify your medication levels.
Other than that, bilberry is a fantastic nutritional source which can offer you an assortment of health benefits. So if you are looking to improve your vision or tackle those annoying varicose veins, then why not give bilberry a try? From one simple berry, you can gain so much
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Treatment For Bacterial Diseases
As discussed earlier, bilberries are high in tannins. As per research, tannins have antimicrobial properties that protect you from pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in food. Additionally, bilberries can treat ulcerative colitis, an anti-inflammatory bowel disease.
In a study, people experiencing ulcerative colitis experienced improvement after treatment with an oral anthocyanin-rich bilberry supplement.
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Fasting Plasma Glucose Test
Blood Sugar Levels Normal Blood sugar elevation What Is A Normal Blood Sugar with the Does honey increase blood sugar levels right treatment.
Peripheral insulin resistance means that although blood levels of Bilberry Extract For Blood Sugar insulin are high there is no hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar.
Both vegetarians and non vegetarians should also look to plant sources for some or all of your protein needs.
Even with careful management, blood sugar levels can sometimes change unpredictably.
Eating more sugar than recommended American Bilberry Extract For Blood Sugar Heart Association recommends no more than six teaspoons a day for women and nine teaspoons for men leads Fibromyalgia blood sugar issues to all kinds of health harms Lower Blood Sugar in addition to weight gain.
In this condition the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas.
Your doctor can test Diabetes blood sugar 7 3 your blood for signs of type 2 diabetes.
We at My blood sugar is 98 is that good XYMOGEN, are Bilberry Extract For Blood Sugar committed to respecting your online privacy and recognize your need for appropriate protection and management of any personally identifiable information Personal Information you share with Bilberry Extract For Blood Sugar us.
This will involve a small prick in your finger so receive a blood sample.
Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition.
What Is The Secret Ingredient In Mulberry Tea
Celebrity nutritionist and author Kavita Devgan says that this tea works since it has a compound called DNJ that helps lower blood sugar levels. The mulberry tea leaves suppress the elevation of postprandial blood glucose .
As per the study Reduction of postprandial hyperglycemia by mulberry tea in type-2 diabetes patients, researchers tried to establish the link between consumption of mulberry tea and reduction in levels of postprandial blood glucose in diabetics. Around 20 participants were given regular tea, while 28 of them drank mulberry tea.
The PPG levels were recorded after the consumption of 70 ml tea along with one teaspoon of sugar after 90 minutes in all 48 patients. After the consumption of plain tea and mulberry tea, there was a significant change in PPG levels in those participants who had mulberry tea. The researchers concluded that mulberry tea suppresses PPG levels after 90 minutes of its consumption.
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