Difference between revisions of "Banaba"

Revision as of 13:39, 1 February 2012

Banaba is an herbal remedy extracted from the leaves of Lagerstroemia speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia.

Special Precautions of Banaba

Very little is known about the safety of using banaba in the long term. However, there is some concern that banaba may reduce blood sugar levels. If you're considering the use of banaba, talk to your doctor before beginning treatment.

The benefits of Banaba are

Long used in folk medicine, banaba is now available in supplement form. Proponents claim that banaba can promote weight loss and treat a wide range of health problems.Banaba contains corosolic acid, a substance shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, and blood-sugar-lowering properties. Banaba also contains ellagitannins, a class of compounds that act as antioxidants.There is currently a lack of scientific evidence for the health effects of banaba. Some preliminary research indicates that banaba may offer certain health benefits, however, most of the available research is over ten years old. Here's a look at several key study findings:

• Banaba and Diabetes : Findings from laboratory studies and animal-based research suggest that banaba may help control diabetes. In a study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry in 1996, for instance, scientists demonstrated that treating diabetic mice with banaba extract helped protect against elevated blood sugar levels. In addition, banaba appeared to reduce total cholesterol levels.In 2003, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology published a study finding that type 2 diabetes patients treated with banaba extract for two weeks experienced a significant reduction in blood sugar levels. The number of study participants is unknown.
• Banaba and Weight Loss : Banaba may help fight obesity, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology in 1999. In an experiment involving obese mice, researchers found that adding banaba to the animals' diets helped prevent weight gain. What's more, banaba-fed mice were less likely to experience buildup of triglycerides (a type of harmful blood fat).