For weight problems to energy slumps, go ’round the mulberry bush’

Published on Mon Nov 18, 2013 - 2 min read

Published by: Bryan Bradford

By Bryan Bradford, Chief Nutrition Officer of Sunflower Shoppe Natural Foods

November 8, 2013

Feeling sluggish in the afternoon? Suffering from headaches or having trouble concentrating?

Are you struggling to maintain your ideal weight? These could be signs your blood sugar levels are imbalanced.

There have been several reports recently about the positive effects of mulberries (specifically mulberry leaf extract) on blood sugar levels. This Turkish superfruit has been around for a very long time along with studies that support its health benefits.

Research shows mulberry has the ability to inhibit the activity of an enzyme involved in carbohydrate digestion and to significantly reduce the rise of blood sugar levels after a meal. Human clinical trials have been published in the Journals of the American Diabetes Association, the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry and the Journal of Functional Foods. Although there are many other health benefits to be gained by incorporating the tasty white mulberries into your diet, modulating blood sugar levels is most definitely at the top!

Having consistently high levels of glucose in the blood leads to a greater need for insulin. If there is a constant and long-term demand on the pancreas to produce insulin, eventually it may no longer be able to produce enough on its own. This can lead to a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes which can put you at a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and neuropathy. Maintaining a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean meats and healthy fats while reducing sugar intake and increasing exercise is the best way to help prevent Type 2 Diabetes and control it if you have already been diagnosed.

Add some whole dried white mulberries, mulberry leaf extract capsules or white mulberry tea to your program and enjoy the health benefits of this superfruit today!

The content and opinions expressed in this “Shoppe Talk” blog are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any illness or to provide medical advice. We are not medical doctors and we do not prescribe medication. If you have any questions about the relationship between nutrition and supplements, we recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified and licensed health practitioner. Our opinions are based on the literature and data from a variety of medical doctors, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, biochemists and other professional researchers. You are encouraged to make your health care decisions based on your own research and the advice of a qualified health care professional.