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Gymnema Sylvestre is a plant used in Asia and India to treat diabetes. Its active ingredient, gymnemic acid, helps lower blood sugar levels and curb cravings for sweets. It may also lower triglycerides and bad cholesterol. Standardization is important when accounting for dosage. It is safe for adults, but pregnant or nursing women and those allergic to milkweed should avoid it. Consult a doctor before use.
Gymnema Sylvestre is a plant used in India and parts of Asia as a natural treatment for diabetes or “sweet urine”. The herb’s active ingredient, gymnemic acid, is extracted from the leaves and roots and helps lower and balance blood sugar levels. The unique shape of gymnemic acid molecules is similar to that of glucose, allowing it to fill cell receptors in the lining of the intestines, thus preventing the absorption of sugar molecules.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) find “good scientific evidence” that gymnema sylvestre may be helpful in controlling blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 when used in combination with insulin and other drugs prescribed by a doctor. It’s important for people with existing blood sugar problems to talk to their doctors before adding gymnema sylvestre to their diet, as they may need to reduce insulin or other medications.
In healthy adults, gymnema sylvestre is believed to help curb cravings for sweets. While not a magic bullet, when taken with a high carbohydrate meal or a high sugar meal, it can help the body by going through the sugars and making the carbohydrates available for burning, rather than turning them into fat stores. This way it helps build lean muscle mass.
Proponents of gymnema sylvestre say the herb also lowers triglycerides and “bad cholesterol.” The NLM and NIH acknowledge that preliminary studies in humans with patients with type 2 diabetes tend to support this claim, but believe more research is needed before a positive decision can be made.
The Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbal supplements, and the quality of herbs varies between and within brands. A method called standardization tells how much of the active ingredient is in the herbs.
Quality Gymnema Sylvestre should be standardized to a minimum of 25% gymnemic acid. A single 500-milligram (mg) capsule standardized to 25% yields 125 mg of active gymnema acid per capsule. Note that a 150 mg capsule standardized to 75% gymnemic acid yields 112.5 mg of gymnemic acid per capsule, nearly the same amount of the active ingredient. Always consider standardization when accounting for dosage.
Along with a healthy diet and exercise, gymnema sylvestre can be a helpful addition to your weight loss plan. Note that it builds up in the system over a few weeks becoming more effective. Since gymnema sylvestre is recommended to be taken with each meal, it is best to take a smaller one milligram capsule which can be taken three times a day to reach the recommended daily dose. In addition to buying it on its own, it is also commonly available in natural weight loss products, often with chromium and cambogia gordonii together.
Gymnema sylvestre has been found to be very safe for adults at suggested doses. If you are pregnant or nursing, do not take this herb due to lack of research and potential impact on your baby. Those allergic to the milkweed family may experience allergic reactions to gymnema sylvestre. As always, consult your doctor before starting a new health routine, particularly if you’re diabetic or prone to blood sugar-related issues.
