Type 2 Diabetes - Garlic for Lowering Blood Sugar Levels

Garlic contains sulfur compounds that are believed to be responsible for their anti-diabetic qualities. S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide in garlic is one of these... it has been reported to decrease fasting blood sugar and lower cholesterol levels.

Studies on the use of garlic for treating diabetes have had mixed results, so researchers at the University of Karachi, in Pakistan, designed a study to discover whether it could lower blood sugar levels. Their results were published in the Pakistani Journal of Pharmaceutical Science in October 2011.

The study: Sixty people with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes were included in the study:

half were given 300 mg of a garlic pill three times a day, and 500 mg of Metformin twice a day, while theother half were given a placebo and 500 mg of Metformin twice daily.

At the end of 24 weeks the group taking garlic pills showed:

a more than 3 per cent decrease in their fasting blood sugar, as well asa more than 2 per cent decrease in total blood cholesterol, andmore than 5 per cent decrease in blood fats.HDL, the good kind of cholesterol, was increased in the garlic group by more than 6 per cent.

It was therefore concluded garlic in combination with Metformin could be a useful treatment for Type 2 diabetes.

The supplements used in the study were supplied by the KWAI company, which advertises their tablets have all the same elements as fresh garlic, dehydrated. That being the case, then fresh garlic could presumably be used in place of, or in combination with, supplements.

Recipes for fresh garlic: For cooks who are really fond of garlic, vegweb.com suggests drizzling them with olive oil and microwaving them to a crisp. Eat as a snack or sprinkle over salads. The same website offers a recipe for garlic eggplant, which also includes onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, basil, and pepper. Vegweb also has recipes for garlicky rice and peas and two salad dressings made with garlic. English chef and healthful foods crusader Jamie Oliver has at his website a recipe for sauted Jerusalem artichokes with bay leaves and garlic. He recommends eating the dish in soup or warm salad. Garlic-central.com offers a recipe for garlic mushrooms with butter (substitute olive oil), hot pepper sauce (optional) and pepper.

The latter part of October and November are garlic-planting time in the northern hemisphere. Plan for a harvest around March. In the meantime, buy big, plump, firm garlic bulbs with tight, silky paper-like skins. Each mature bulb contains about 10 to 20 cloves. Remove any sprouts before cooking, since they can add a bitter flavor.

Also, eat more onions, as they have many of the same beneficial compounds as garlic.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments