Banaba is said to possess insulin-like properties and has long been used in folk medicine to control blood sugar levels. Moreover, Banaba may also be a healthy way to support a leaner and more slender body through appetite control and sugar reduction.
Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Vitamin Depot Online.comisintended for educational purposes only. These statements have not beenevaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat orprevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using anysupplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own healthcare provider.
History:
Banaba is a deciduous evergreen that is native to East Asia, India andAustralia and has become established in the warmest parts of the UnitedStates and other areas throughout the world. Called the CrapeMyrtle (or Crepe Myrtle) in the United States, it is a highlydecorative tree and is becoming widely prevalent in home and municipallandscape designs with its sinewy, fluted and patchy-looking stems,shrubby leaves and beautiful flowers of six or seven, crinkly-edgedpetals on stalks of white, pinkish red, purple or lavender. The flowersare followed by a capsule-like fruit that produces seeds, which providefood for many butterfly larvae, and the leaves are used as a food and,more importantly, in herbal medicines. The botanical genus, Lagerstroemia,is named after Swedish merchant, Magnus von Lagerström, who suppliedCarolus (Carl) Linnaeus with the plants he collected for his work inidentifying different species. We have Linnaeus to thank for thebinomial system we use today, giving each plant two Latin words toidentify both genus and species. Banaba is the Tagalog name for Lagerstroemia speciosa inthe Philippine language, and it has been used for many years in thatcountry (and elsewhere) as a folk remedy for controlling bloodsugar. Several of the active constituents included in Banaba Leafare corosolic acid and tannins, including lagerstroemin.
Beneficial Uses:
Banaba has been used in herbal medicine mainly for blood sugar control.One of its active constituents, corosolic acid, is suggested to possessinsulin-like activity, stimulating glucose uptake. Recent researchclaims that this component was observed to be an activator of glucosetransport into cells, which ultimately results in a lowering of bloodglucose levels. Transporting glucose into cells is critical forproviding the energy necessary for those cells to carry out their vitalfunctions. Any compound that can stimulate glucose transport willeffectively help to lower blood sugar levels. In both humantrials and laboratory research, it is said that there were hypoglycemiceffects produced by Banaba Leaf in those who were geneticallypredisposed to diabetes. In a small study in patients with Type-2diabetes, it was found that an extract from Banaba Leaf (calledGlucosol) lowered glucose levels in the blood. In animal studies,research asserted that there was a lowering of blood sugar in thesubjects, even after eating carbohydrates; and the elevation of bloodglucose in non-insulin dependent diabetic mice was almost entirelysuppressed. Moreover, serum insulin levels (the amount of glucoseexcreted in the urine) were also lower in the subjects that were fedBanaba.
Regarding weight control, Banaba has been observed to have anti-obesity effects. For some
people,fluctuations in blood glucose levels are related to hunger and foodcravings, particularly carbohydrates and sweets, and by controlling theblood sugar levels, Banaba may reduce the appetite and craving forbreads and sweets. Again, there have been both human trials andanimal studies with regard to this activity, and in one study, animalsfed Banaba leaf showed a significant decrease in weight and adiposetissue (fat), in comparison to another group on the same diet,
without Banaba.
Other effects observed with the use of Banaba leafincluded lowering of blood cholesterol levels and the moderation ofliver lipid levels.
Recommended Dosage:
Take one (1) to two (2) capsules, three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.
Contraindications:
It is important to remember that diabetics must check their bloodglucose levels often, and any supplement should be taken inconsultation with a physician. Since Banaba may cause blood glucoselevels to drop considerably, it should not be combined with othermedications that have hypoglycemic activity, such as sulfonylureas(Glyburide or Glipizide, etc.) or herbs without consulting aphysician. At suggested doses, no adverse side effects areexpected from Banaba. Overuse (many times the recommended dosage)should be avoided, however, to prevent dizziness or fatigue, which canhappen with extremely low blood sugar levels.
Capsule Size:
We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, size "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs of powdered herb material.
- Banaba - Standardized Extract -- Approximately 600 mgs each
