Evidence-based spices and plants against diabetic

Aloe vera

Preparation and dosage

• Powdered dried gel: 100 to 500 mg of powdered gel per day, which could be in the form of capsules. Mean dose: 300 mg.
• Fresh gel: 2 tablespoons (30 ml or 30 g) of fresh gel can be consumed daily, 1 tablespoon in the morning and 1 before bedtime.

We recommend consuming Aloe vera as a gel, fresh juice, or powder form only to avoid losing its benefits through cooking processes.

Astragalus

Preparation and dosage

Astragalus is traditionally used as a strong decoction, made from boiling the dried root in water for a long time. The tea (decoction) dose used to manage diabetes ranges from 20 g twice a day to 60 g four times a day. Start with 40 g/day, which can be increased, according to outcome, up to 240 g/day.

Bitter melon

Preparation and dosage

Bitter melon can be consumed dried, fresh, or as a juice.

As to our knowledge, no data indicates that it is possible to consume it cooked, steamed, stir-fried, baked without losing its hypoglycaemic activity; we therefor recommend consuming bitter melon dried, fresh, or as a juice in order not to lose its benefits.

Dosage: 2 g of dried powdered bitter melon pulp a day (equivalent to 1 teaspoon of powder). It can also be consumed fresh (The equivalent of 2 g dried powder would be 50 g of fresh bitter melon without the seeds and white flesh).

Black cumin

Preparation and dosage

Black cumin seeds: Consume 2 g/day (equal to 1 level teaspoon) given in two times (means 1/2 level teaspoon twice a day). Seeds must be crushed or well-chewed to increase their efficacy; it is also possible to consume them stir-fried, but you should avoid other modes of preparation (baked, cooked for a long time, etc.), as this may alter their hypoglycaemic properties.

Black cumin oil: Consume 1 g/day of black cumin oil (equal to 1/4 teaspoon), in the form of capsules or bulk.

Cinnamon

Preparation and dosage

The daily dose of cinnamon powder is between 1 g (equal to ¼ teaspoon) and 6 g (equal to 1.5 teaspoons) per day, spread out after each meal (3 times daily). You can also take this amount in the form of capsules. However, by increasing the dose, the anti-diabetic effect will not increase.

Cinnamon can be used in two forms: as powder for immediate use or after having been soaked and cooked.

Soak the cinnamon sticks in water for 24 hours, then cook this solution for 30 minutes and filter it before consumption.

Other ways of preparation (baked, cooked for longer than 30 minutes at 100°C), are not recommended as there is no evidence that the hypoglycaemic effect remains.

Fenugreek

Preparation and dosage

Start with a dose of 5 g (equal to 2 level teaspoons) per day of fenugreek powder (2,5 g or 1 level teaspoon morning and evening), which can be increased according to your taste and up to 100 g/day.

It can be taken in the form of dried crushed seeds or capsules, taken twice daily with meals or 30 minutes before meals.

Fenugreek can also be consumed after being baked in the oven, for no more than 30 minutes at 200°C, for example in replacement of 10% wheat flour in bread or stir-fried.

Ginger

Preparation and dosage

Ginger should be consumed 3 times daily, during or after each meal:

As a dried powder: 0.5 g to 1 g (equal to ½ to 1 teaspoon) 3 times per day (equal to total daily dose of 1.5 g to 3 g). Same dose if taken in the form of capsules.

As a fresh root: 2.5 g (equal to a 1.5 cm cube) to 5 g 3 times per day (equal to total daily dose of 7.5 g to 15 g).

Note: 1 g dry powder corresponds to 5g fresh root.

To our knowledge, there is no data indicating that it is possible to consume ginger cooked, steamed, stir-fried, or baked without losing its hypoglycaemic activity; we recommend consuming it fresh or in powder form only (if in a dish: add it at the end of the preparation).

Nettle

Preparation and dosage

Consume 10 g/day (= 5 tablespoons) of dried nettle corresponding to approximatively 25 g of fresh nettles.

We recommend consuming nettle dried, or fresh and steamed for only a few minutes, in order not to lose its hypoglycaemic activity.

Psyllium

Preparation and dosage

Consume 1 tablespoon of psyllium seed husk (equal to 5 g) with a big glass of water (250 ml), twice daily 30 minutes before meal (morning and evening). Some take 15 g per day.

Psyllium husk can be consumed raw or cooked in the oven at 200 °C for 15 minutes.