Why Africans rely on this wild ‘berry’ to keep diabetes at bay
Most folks think that type 2 diabetes is JUST about “high” blood sugar.
But the truth is, this form of diabetes… the “acquired” kind… is really characterized by blood sugar levels that spin OUT OF CONTROL.
That means they could soar too high…
OR dip too low.
That’s why “sugar blockers“… like certain Rx drugs… don’t always work perfectly.
They don’t necessarily address the root cause of why blood glucose levels can’t stay BALANCED!
But it’s not impossible to PERFECT blood sugar control…
And the answer might just be found in nature… INSTEAD of at the pharmacy.
African eggplant (Solanum anguivi) is eaten as a vegetable primarily in tropical countries like Nigeria…
And it’s related to the kind of eggplant you might find in a Mediterranean dish.
They’re both TECHNICALLY fruits – actually, berries!
But the Nigerians particularly treasure THIS type of eggplant for its ability to beat back type 2 diabetes.
The key may be in their content of substances called saponins…
Which a 2013 animal study found could not only significantly LOWER blood glucose levels…
But also INCREASE levels of antioxidant enzymes… like superoxide dismutase and catalase.
A hallmark of diabetes is excess oxidative stress…
So anything that helps NEUTRALIZE free radicals could help improve the disease.
Previous research has also shown that saponins could help SENSITIZE study subjects to insulin…
Which helps FIX one of the many processes that go HAYWIRE when blood sugar levels are SOARING.
And saponins could also help HALT your body’s own excess glucose production… and HELP your body process and use sugar from the food you eat.
Now, saponins can be found in OTHER plants, too…
But African eggplant appears to offer the ADDED bonus of OTHER antioxidant compounds…
Which may create a scenario where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
We just don’t know for sure… because research funds typically aren’t allocated to study wild vegetables growing in Africa!
Even in the scientific community, it’s still very much considered the “dark continent“…
Which means a lot of the folk medicine used by tribes there is still a big MYSTERY.
Unfortunately, you’re not likely to find African eggplant in your local produce aisle…
And there’s NO guarantee that the eggplant supplements you can find at your local health food store… which are from a different species… will offer the same or even similar benefits.
But in this country, we have access to plenty of tried-and-true blood sugar solutions, including…
Of course, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your antioxidant intake, too.
To your healthy blood sugar control,
Sarah Reagan
Source:
“Solanum anguivi Lam. Fruits: Their Potential Effects on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus” – Molecules (4/2/21)
www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/7/2044/htm
