How Mulberry and Mango Leaves Can Help Fight Diabetes

Welcome to How Mulberry and Mango Leaves Can Help Fight Diabetes. In this video, we will reveal the incredible benefits of these two unique and proven natural remedies, and how they can aid your long-term blood sugar control. Type 1, type 2, gestational, and even prediabetes affects millions of people worldwide. The physical damage can be deadly serious, and the emotional toll can also be significant. So no matter your diabetes status, improving your glucose regulation and your insulin sensitivity can be hugely beneficial for your long-term physical and mental health. That's why it's important to leave no stone, or leaf, unturned. And in fact, we're about to meet two surprising and captivating leaves that are currently taking the diabetes fighting world by storm. What are the bioactive properties within the mulberry leaf and the mango leaf which give them potent anti-diabetes powers? What have scientific studies uncovered about the effects of utilizing these leaves as part of a diabetes fighting regime? Beyond improved glucose control, what other health benefits can be gained from consuming them? And how exactly can you make mulberry leaf and mango leaf delicious and nutritious additions to your day? Attention, do not leaf, because we're about to break down the fantastic and flavorful world of mulberry and mango leaves, how they can help you fight diabetes. Usually, when we think of consuming mulberries or mangoes, we imagine biting into their tasty fruit. But as it turns out, the trees from which they grow also imbue their leaves with flavor and blood sugar balancing nutrients. Mango leaves are fairly tender and can be cooked and eaten. They can also be steeped in hot water to create an aromatic tea, and are now also offered in powdered supplemental form. Fresh mulberry leaves can contain a milky white sap called latex, which may be toxic. However, these leaves can still be healthfully eaten after cooking, and just like mango leaves, they can be used to create a refreshing and nutrient-dense tea. And the mulberry leaf, like the mango leaf, is now also offered as a supplement. So yes, you can healthfully consume these leaves through a variety of means, but which potentially game-changing anti-diabetes nutrients are hidden within them? Well, first, let's take a closer look at the mulberry leaf. The mulberry tree originated in China, and in fact, the leaves of the mulberry tree have actually been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, as a natural remedy for blood sugar regulation and for reducing insulin resistance. Historically, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners also prescribed this leaf for improving vision and liver function, but today, TCM is considered by many to be a pseudoscience, based more on old wives' tales than on rigorous scientific research. So, what do more recent and reliable scientific findings tell us about the mulberry leaf? We'll reveal some truly incredible discoveries gleaned from new studies on the effects of the mulberry leaf later in this video, but right now, let's break down the nutritional properties of this mysterious leaf. Mulberries themselves contain a host of diabetes-fighting antioxidants, including vitamins C, E, and K, plus iron and potassium. But while berries, in general, are always a great addition to a glucose-regulating diet, thanks largely to their supply of antioxidants and fiber, the leaf which grows on the same tree may offer even more nutritional benefits. The mulberry leaf, on its own, has been found to contain vitamins C, E, and K, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and a range of other powerful antioxidant polyphenols. Did you know that vitamin C has been found to aid post-meal blood sugar regulation? Studies suggest that calcium can work to halt the progression of diabetes. Iron is immensely important to your diabetes management, as it is utilized in the production of red blood cells. Research has found that potassium has the ability to protect heart and kidney health for type 2 diabetics, and zinc has been found to promote healthy insulin function while reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But even with all of these proven blood sugar-lowering antioxidants, there's much more to the diabetes-fighting power of the mulberry leaf. New research now shows that this leaf contains a special type of antioxidant polyphenol, which can exert incredible blood sugar-balancing effects. So what is this mystery compound? Specifically, the mulberry leaf is one of the best sources of 1-deoxynogerimicin, otherwise known as miranolin. Extensive studies of this unique polyphenol have concluded that it can be classified as an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. What's that? Well, AGIs are a class of FDA-approved anti-diabetes medications, and as the name suggests, they work to impede the absorption of carbohydrates from the small intestines into the bloodstream. Therefore, mulberry leaf and its supply of miranolin can help to reduce the risk of a post-meal glucose spike. So it's no surprise to find that multiple studies have demonstrated the hypoglycemic effects of the mulberry leaf. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition showed that mulberry leaf extract significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic participants. A Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study found that mulberry leaf extract effectively inhibited alpha-glucosidase activity, resulting in reduced post-meal blood sugar levels. The Journal of Phytotherapy Research showed that diabetic rats who were given mulberry leaf extract had significant reductions in their total cholesterol, triglycerides, and harmful LDL cholesterol, with increases in their heart-aiding HDL cholesterol. The Journal of Medicinal Food revealed that type 2 and pre-diabetic participants who regularly consumed mulberry leaf powder exhibited heightened glucose uptake, which led to significant increases in their insulin sensitivity and notable decreases in their fasting glucose levels. And the Journal of Medicinal Food further found that type 2 diabetic participants who consumed mulberry leaf tea showed significant increases in their levels of antioxidant enzymes and a decrease in their markers of oxidative stress. Meanwhile, another recent study on mulberry leaf polyphenols concluded that consuming this leaf may also delay aging while reducing body fat accumulation. So now you can see why mulberry leaf tea, mulberry leaf extract, or mulberry leaf supplements may be of unique benefit to your blood sugar balance and your weight management. But what about those mangoes? It's time to investigate the mango leaf. The mango tree originated in eastern India and southern Asia. In some regions, mangoes are called the king of fruits. Of course, this can be attributed to their impressive size and their huge flavor, and mangoes contain a huge helping of vitamin C, plus vitamins A, B6, and K, along with copper and potassium. But the mango leaf is no slouch either. With a mild, vegetal taste, this leaf can easily make its way into your next diabetes-fighting tea. These leaves supply multiple powerful phytonutrients, including turbinoids, which have been found to improve vision while aiding immune system health. And naturally, the mango leaf contains a wide range of blood sugar-balancing antioxidants, including vitamins A and C, powerful B vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. Did you know that vitamin A can reduce the risk of diabetes-related macular degeneration, and the wealth of B vitamins within mango leaf can strengthen the immune system, reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in nerves, and they help to break down carbohydrates. Copper aids red blood cell formation, manganese has been found to increase antioxidant defenses while improving blood sugar control, and phosphorus has been shown to reduce post-meal blood sugar while improving glucose tolerance. Plus, just like mulberry leaves, mango leaves come loaded with other powerful anti-diabetes compounds, including anti-inflammatory polyphenols, specifically, mangiferin. Though this antimicrobial agent can be found within a variety of fruits, as their name suggests, they are highly concentrated within mangoes and mango leaves. And studies show that mangiferin can work to reduce inflammation, protect against oxidative stress, improve cardiovascular health, and it may lower the risk of certain forms of cancer. Plus, a study published in the South African Journal of Botany reported that mangiferin acts as an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, and can help to lower post-meal blood sugar levels. In fact, several other studies have shown that this antioxidant polyphenol provides a range of diabetes-fighting benefits. The Journal of Phytomedicine found that diabetic rats who were given mangiferin experienced significantly reduced blood glucose, enhanced insulin secretion, and improved glucose utilization. A separate study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry further showed that lab rats who consumed mangiferin gained increased insulin sensitivity. The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry also suggested that mangiferin supplementation may improve renal function for type 2 diabetics. Mangiferin has also been extensively studied for its antiviral and antimicrobial properties, and multiple studies have shown that it can aid in the treatment of tumors, fat digestion abnormalities, and even heart disease. So it shouldn't come as a shock to learn that mango leaf, in general, has been found to provide extensive anti-diabetes effects. Trial results have found that mango leaf extract can work to lower blood glucose levels, increase glucose uptake and long-term insulin sensitivity, lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, reduce oxidative stress markers, decrease blood pressure, suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines, aid collagen production and overall skin health, and protect the stomach lining and reduce gastric ulcers. Furthermore, multiple animal studies concluded that mango leaf extract has the ability to reduce fat accumulation while increasing adiponectin, a type of protein involved in fat metabolism and blood sugar regulation. Meanwhile, mango leaf extract has also been found to exhibit immunity-boosting properties, as it can stimulate the activity of immune cells while increasing the production of protective antibodies. But if you wish to avoid expensive supplements, why not try a mango leaf tea? Studies show that consuming mango leaf via an herbal tea can also work to fight the symptoms of diabetes. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of Functional Foods revealed that obese lab rats who were fed mango leaf tea had decreases in liver fat as well as increased liver protection. So now you can see why the mulberry leaf and the mango leaf can each be a powerful weapon in your fight against diabetes. And again, both can be cooked, steeped in hot water to create nutrient-rich teas and taken in supplemental form. But it is important to speak with your doctor before adding any supplements to your daily regime. Still, you can easily utilize mulberry and mango leaves to boost your immunity, aid your weight management, reduce your risk of certain forms of cancer, improve your insulin sensitivity, and lower your post-meal blood sugar.