If you have diabetes, you know there are multiple approaches to managing your health and improving how your body uses insulin. Talk with your holistic practitioner about employing nature’s own “triple threat” to diabetes – the supplements Alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, and vanadium.
“Triple Threat” Against Diabetes: Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)
Within the body, Alpha-lipoic acid is found in every cell, where it helps turn glucose into energy. People with Type-2 diabetes take ALA supplements to help their body use insulin more efficiently, as well as protect against cell damage and diabetic neuropathy.
Food sources include liver, lean red meat, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes.
“Triple Threat” Against Diabetes: Chromium
Chromium helps cells make efficient use of glucose. Without chromium, insulin’s action is blocked and glucose levels increase. Chromium deficiency may be a factor in the number of Americans who have diabetes.
A chromium supplement can lower fasting blood glucose levels, improve glucose tolerance, decrease insulin resistance, and decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride levels while increasing HDL-cholesterol levels. Food sources include meat, fish and fruits.
“Triple Threat” Against Diabetes: Vanadium
Vanadium supports the body’s use of carbohydrates by improving how cells respond to insulin.
Prior to the discovery of insulin in 1922, vanadium was used to control blood glucose. While modern conventional medicine does not recognize vanadium as an essential element in diabetes treatment, available studies suggest that the supplement does have a positive effect on blood glucose levels.
Holistic practitioners carefully monitor their patients who supplement with vanadium.
Food sources include mushrooms, shellfish, parsley, dill weed, unfiltered extra virgin olive oil, and grain products.
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Do you have any experience with the “triple threat” against diabetes? Share in the comments below!
References
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Murray, M.T., “Diabetes Mellitus” in Pizzorno, Joseph E. (2013). Textbook of Natural Medicine. St. Louis, MO Elsevier. p. 898; 1340; (chapter 161), 1320-1348.
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Heitzer T, Finckh B, Albers S, et al. “Beneficial effects of alpha-lipoic acid and ascorbic acid on endothelium- dependent, nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in diabetic patients: relation to parameters of oxidative stress.” Free Radic Biol Med. (2001) 31: 53-61. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11425490
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Dey, L. et al., “Alternative Therapies for Type-2 Diabetes.” Alternative Med Rev (2002), 7:1, 45-58. Accessed on 7 Sep 2016: https://web.archive.org/web/20041210025451/http://www.thorne.com/pdf/journal/7-1/type_2_diabetes.pdf
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University of Maryland Medical Center Complementary & Alternative Medicine Guide Online. “Alpha-lipoic acid.” Accessed 7 Sep 2016: http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/alphalipoic-acid
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Ceriello A. “New insights on oxidative stress and diabetic complications may lead to a “causal” antioxidant therapy.” Diabetes Care. (2003) 26:5, p.1589-96.
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Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center. “Chromium.” Accessed 7 Sep 2016: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/chromium
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University of Maryland Medical Center Complementary & Alternative Medicine Guide Online. “Vanadium” Accessed 7 Sep 2016: http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vanadium
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Weston A. Price Foundation. “Treating Diabetes: Practical Advice for Combatting a Modern Epidemic.” Accessed on 7 Sep 2016: http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-diseases/treating-diabetes-practical-advice-for-combatting-a-modern-epidemic/
Photo Credit
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ratmaner/bigstockphoto.com
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