SUPPLEMENT: Banaba

Banaba is a species of the crepe myrtle tree native to the Philippines and Southeast Asia. The blood sugar regulating properties of corosolic acid, the active ingredient in banaba leaf, have been demonstrated in cell culture, animal, and human studies to stimulate glucose uptake. In fact, some studies have shown that it can help lower blood sugar within sixty minutes. It has also been shown to help correct leptin problems and food cravings that are typically found in overweight individuals who have elevated blood sugar. The average human response is a 10-15% decrease in blood sugar within two hours of ingestion. For this reason, it is found in many sugar metabolic enhancement formulas.

In diabetic mice, rats, and rabbits, banaba feeding reduces elevated blood sugar and insulin levels to normal status. In humans with Type II diabetes, banaba extract, at a dose of 16-48 mg per day for 4-8 weeks, has been shown to be effective in reducing blood sugar levels 5%-30%) and maintaining tighter control of blood sugar fluctuations.  An interesting “side-effect” of tighter control of blood sugar and insulin levels is a significant tendency of banaba to promote weight loss (an average of 2-4 lbs. per month) – without significant dietary alterations. For this reason, it is found in many weight-control formulas.  It is likely that modulation of glucose and insulin levels reduces total caloric intake somewhat and encourages moderate weight-loss.

The leaves also contain the minerals manganese and zinc. Extracts from the seeds have been found to have powerful antioxidant properties and are in fact being researched as a possible HIV treatment.  The corosolic acid in banaba leaves isn’t just good for blood sugar levels either. Researchers at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China tested corosolic acid against human cervical cancer cells. They found that corosolic acid stimulates the release of cancer-cell-killing enzymes, resulting in cancer cell death.  Banaba leaf may also be effective in treating metabolic syndrome, a group of pre-diabetic conditions a person may have that increase susceptibility to heart disease and stroke. Researchers at Mukogawa Women’s University in Nishinomiya, Japan found that by the end of 10 weeks of treatment with banaba leaf, blood pressure had been lowered, fat metabolism had normalized, and the body’s inflammation levels had decreased.

To use banaba leaf, in folk medicine, the leaves were often brewed as a tea; however, today it can be easily found in supplement form. If you do suffer from blood sugar issues, keep in mind that taking banaba along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low.

 1. Sugar Control

 Banaba can be a dominant weapon in controlling blood sugar, because it helps the body in breaking down sugar and carbohydrates, and flush them out of the body.  The blood sugar regulating properties of corosolic acid, the active ingredient in banaba leaf, have been demonstrated in cell culture, animal, and human studies. In isolated cells, it is known to stimulate glucose uptake. In fact, some studies have shown that it can help lower blood sugar within sixty minutes.

 

2. Cancer Fighter

Banaba can be used as cancer treatment. Corsolic acid in the leaves of banaba helps to control cervical cancer, leukemia, breast and liver cancer cells.  Researchers at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China tested corosolic acid against human cervical cancer cells. They found that corosolic acid stimulates the release of cancer-cell-killing enzymes, resulting in cancer cell death.

 

 3. Reduces risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Furthermore, it is a prevention for metabolic syndrome, which is a name given to a group of conditions that a person may have a disposition for depending on several factors such as genetics and general lifestyle. These conditions include obesity, inflammation, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The extract of the banaba leaf has been tested to fight against several metabolic syndrome conditions because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

 

4. Minimizes Cravings

The banaba leaf extract helps in controlling appetite when taken with the other natural supplements.  It helps correct leptin problems and food cravings that are typically found in overweight individuals who have elevated blood sugar. The average human response is a 10-15% decrease in blood sugar within two hours of ingestion. For this reason, it is found in many sugar metabolic enhancement formulas including Jon Barron’s Glucotor.