Whenever a thought comes about Indian food, who ever has tasted it will say one word which is synonymous with Indian cuisine that is ” spicy ” Yes preparation of Indian food involves many spices, Did you ever imagine why there are so many spices used? There is a real reason behind adding spices to food, these spices are loaded with lot of nutrients, and in this article I will let you uncover the Indian Spices and their use in diabetes ?
No I am not talking about Cinnamon or Fenugreek- I guess you already know that they are great for diabetics, I am going to tell you about many other Indian spices like Cloves, Kalonji, Bay leaves etc which can prove to be magical healers of many diseases including Diabetes. Dr. Mercola says – “Every time you flavor your meals with herbs or spices you are upgrading the nutrient content of your food without adding a single calorie”
1. Indian Bay leaf improves Glucose and lipid profile of type 2 Diabetics
No one can imagine making Biriyani without using Bay leaf , Biriyani is a famous Mughlai dish which is now part of every house hold in India, Biriyani is mouth watering as well as a healing food. Indian bay leaf is called tejpatta in India, Nutritional Data of bay leaf indicates it is highly rich in vitamins A, B6 & C and minerals like calcium, iron & manganeese.
Research published on National Centre for Biotechnology Information- USA about use of Indian Bay leaf in Diabetes indicates Bay leaves are highly helpful in reducing triglycerides , blood glucose levels and LDL cholesterol levels. you can refer to the study for more details.
Another study published on Research Journal of Medicinal plants proved that Blood glucose levels of Diabetes type 2 people came down by 30% , LDL Cholesterol is reduced by 24%, HDL Cholesterol increased by 18% and Triglyecrides are reduced by 25%
Apart from its use in Diabetes Bay leaves are known to be highly useful in treating Migraine, Joint Pains and inflammation. Bay leaf can be incorporated into your routine by using it in cooking and apart from this it is advised to take 1-2 teaspoons of powder of bay leaf everyday to control diabetes. following are few recipes which include bay leaf you can try at home.
2.Cloves are highly useful in Diabetic Diarrhea
The word “clove” comes from the Latin word clavus, which means “nail” — appropriately named if you’ve ever looked at a whole clove. cloves are very much known for their effectiveness in tooth decay. we often see in television commercials about use of clove as a ingredient in toothpastes.
if we look at nutritional data of cloves, cloves are super-rich in manganese, a mineral necessary for protein and carbohydrate metabolism, the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, proper functioning of the thyroid gland, blood glucose control, bone health and nerve function.
Research published on Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology about effectiveness of cloves on people with type 2 diabetes concluded that Serum glucose levels decreased by 30%, triglycerides decreased by 15%, and LDL Cholesterol decreased by 15%. (Refer Report here )
Clove oil is very effective for diabetics who have weak digestive system , antibacterial qualities of Clove oil smoothly works on the bowels preventing diarrhea in case of intestine infections, decreases gaseous distention and improves the digestion.
One simple recipe to include cloves in your diet is
- Take 2 sticks of cinnamon & 3 grams of cloves.
- Add them to water and boil.
- Cool down and drink whenever you feel thirsty.
Cloves can be very effective in reducing blood sugar levels, But Carolyn Harrington a hoslistic health practicioner suggests they should only be taken in capsule form because our saliva contains a chemical compound which is harmful to the spices. When taken in pill form, the spices are protected from the chemicals in your saliva, and you get the full healing power of the spices.
Sounds logical because we also know many medications come in capsule form because these medicines do not get disintegrated by gastric acids and can directly go to small intestine where they can dissolve and initiate their actions.
3.Kalonji are stress busters and antidiabetic
Kalonji seeds whose botanical name is Nigella Sativa is a spice native to Egypt, This spice has been mentioned in Bible as well as Quaran. Prophet Mohammed mentioned that Nigella Sativa cures ever disease except death.
Nigella sativa is rich in calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium.
The researchers from Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal University College of Medicine, found that two grams / day of the Nigella sativa seed consumed by people with Diabetes type 2 for four weeks significantly reduced Fasting blood sugar levels by 50mg/dl approximately.
Medical researchers from Thomas Jefferson University documented that Nigella sativa blocks and kills pancreatic cancer cells, you may refer here to know more.
Best way to incorporate nigella sativa into your diet is to take it in the form of oil, oil extracted from Nigella Sativa is also popularly known as black seed oil, Black seed oil can be taken by adding 1 or 2 table spoons of it to yogurt one hour before meal. it is advised not take black seed oil on a full stomach. you can see more ways to use blackseed oil
4.Curry Leaves are good for kidney health and activates beta cells of pancreas
The use of curry leaves as a flavouring for vegetables is described in early Tamil (Indian language) literature dating back to the 1st to 4th centuries AD. Curry leaves are still closely associated with South India where the word ‘curry’ originates from the Tamil ‘kari’ for spiced sauces. An alternative name for curry leaf throughout India is kari-pattha.
- A study published in Chemico-Biological Interactions states that due to its rich mineral reserves like those of iron, zinc and copper, curry leaves are important in maintaining normal glucose levels in blood. These minerals activate beta cells of pancreas that are responsible for the production of insulin hormone. Curry leaves also influence metabolism of carbohydrates favorably. They can restore liver and kidney enzymes responsible for breaking down carbohydrates back to their normal levels thus treating diabetes.
- It is surprising to know that dry curry leaves are more nutritious than fresh curry leaves, for example 100 grams of fresh curry leaves contains only 0.93 mg of iron but dehydrated curry leaves contain 12mg of iron in 100 grams. So if you are someone who does not find fresh curry leaves in your locality you don’t need to worry , curry leaves powder which is available in grocery stores can be used.
Recipe with curry leaves to control blood sugar levels.
Take fully-grown curry leaves and eat 8-10 leaves daily. A decoction of these curry leaves boiled in water can also be consumed for reducing sugar levels.
It is very interesting to know these spices which are really good at making a diabetic’s life much easier, you should incorporate these spices into your everyday diet. As these spices are safe to eat and are being used in Indian cuisine since time immemorial you can include them in your diet and see how well they work for you.
will wait for your feedback through comments.
About the Author
Gowardhan Doddi a Power Industry professional who is passionate of blogging, I have turned a nature lover only after being diagnosed with prediabetes in 2013, I have reversed it naturally and love to motivate diabetics to reverse their diabetes through my blog www.healthydietfordiabetics.com
