Ampalaya Plus is an herbal food supplement with an all-natural group of ingredients. These are ampalaya (bitter melon), banaba, and luyang dilaw (turmeric). Get to know these three ingredients individually and see why they are effective in helping maintain a healthy level of glucose for those with prediabetes and those with type 2 diabetes.
Ampalaya’s Health Benefits
Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) is a climbing vine found in tropical and subtropical countries. People all over the world recognize it for both for its culinary uses and medicinal benefits.
Features
- With its wrinkly green exterior that resembles a cucumber with warts, it is certainly not the most visually appealing. However, the ampalaya is one vegetable that has more to offer when you get past its face value.
- Ampalaya is called bitter melon or bitter gourd in the English tongue, and rightfully so, as it is known to be one of the most bitter vegetables. The bitter taste is due to the presence of a chemical compound called momordicin.
- Belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, the ampalaya stands out compared to its other more palatable cousins like the cucumber, squash, and watermelon. It is a climbing vine that can reach 5 meters with tendrils growing to about 20 centimeters.
- Some of the other names this produce goes by include balsam pear, bittergurke (Germany), caraille (Trinidad and Tobago), karela (India), nigauri (Japan), cerasee (Jamaica), and Saint Cajetan’s Melon (Brazil). Since it thrives in hot and humid weather, this plant is abundant in countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
History of Medicinal Use
The ampalaya has a long history of medicinal use in various Asian and African countries, with its fruit and leaves as main ingredients. Some of these countries include:
- Togo – A study from The Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that the people in Togo, a country in West Africa, view ampalaya as an important ingredient for their ritual and ethnomedical practices. Village informants mostly use it for viral and gastrointestinal diseases.
- India – In Ayurvedic medicine, the fruit is used as tonic for stomach problems (e.g. laxative, stimulant), gout, rheumatism, and various liver diseases. Herbalists have used the tea made from its leaves to help various health issues such as diabetes, hepatitis, infections, and fevers, among others. People can also use the root as astringent.
- China – In Chinese medicine, ampalaya is believed to help lower one’s body heat especially during summer, clear the liver, and help with diabetes symptoms.
- Philippines – Ampalaya is widely known in the Philippines to help lower glucose levels, especially for those with type 2 diabetes. A spoonful of juice from the leaves can also help with diarrhea, coughs, and fever. Warmed leaves can help treat wounds and burns. The juice and grounded seeds can help treat various gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, dysentery, and colitis.
Ampalaya’s Health Benefits
As seen through its rich and diverse medicinal history, the ampalaya can help with a host of health problems.
Although research backs these facts, do note that ampalaya is not a replacement for conventional medication as prescribed by your doctor.
1. Diabetes – It’s not just folk medicine that got it right. Multiple literature have shown that bitter melon’s fruit and leaves help lower glucose levels in patients with diabetes, as evidenced in studies available on Nutrition and Diabetes, The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Current Diabetes Reviews, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, among others.
2. Osteoporosis – Bitter melon also contains a high amount of Vitamin K—a mineral essential to helping build stronger bones and prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin K works in tandem with calcium to maintain greater bone density. Although studies still need to be more definitive on humans, one clinical study found the preventive effect of bitter melon on osteoporosis in rats.
3. Eyesight – Ayurvedic treatment uses the roots of bitter melon to help control eye disorders and to enhance a patient’s eyesight. This is due to the fact that this plant also contains Vitamin A—a mineral that helps your cornea and eye membranes to function. The leaves can also be used to treat inflammations including eye infections.
4. Liver – Bitter melon can also help detoxify the liver, thanks to its hepatic qualities. A number of studies listed down by Live Strong indicated successful clinical trials on rats, resulting in a decrease in toxins on the liver.
5. Inflammation – Bitter melon is also found to have anti-inflammatory effects (Journal of Cancer Prevention, Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines). Some use the leaves with coconut oil to help with body pains associated with rheumatism, arthritis, and gout.
6. Cancer – In 2016, a research conducted by The University of Colorado found that bitter melon juice can kill pancreatic cancer cells both in mice and in culture. The mice who were injected with bitter melon juice for six weeks showed 60% of the tumor suppressed, with no signs of toxicity. Another study found that bitter melon can cause cell death to HL60 cells or human leukemia cells. The researchers used different parts of the vegetable, including seed extracts, pericarp, and placenta. Research also shows that bitter melon extracts can help enhance the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy agents in colon cancer.
7. Weight loss – Bitter melon can help those who are trying to lose weight, since it contains enzymes that break down fat. A study on freeze-dried bitter melon juice fed to rats showed a decrease in tissue fat accumulation, thereby making it effective to control body weight. On top of this, bitter melon is also high on water content, effectively suppressing appetite. A 100-gram bitter melon juice, in fact, only contains 34 calories.
8. Immune system – With compounds like catechin, gallic acid, and caffeic acid, research found that leaf, stem, and fruit extracts of bitter melon have high antioxidant properties that can further improve your immune system.
9. Kidney – As mentioned above, bitter melon helps in controlling weight. Since obese people have increased chances of having kidney stones, eating bitter melon would help you not to go over your calorie limit. Moreover, each pod provides high-fiber and low-sodium content—two things that would help prevent kidney stones. Lastly, a serving of bitter melon provides just the right amount of Vitamin C without risking the development of calcium kidney stones.
10. Cholesterol – The properties of bitter melon that help lower cholesterol goes hand-in-hand with its ability to lower one’s glycemic index. A study shows the successful lowering of cholesterol and glucose levels in diabetic rats, after 45 days of bitter melon oral administration. Interestingly, the rats returned to diabetic state when they stopped receiving the bitter melon extract.
Banaba’s Health Benefits
Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a flower-bearing plant found mostly in the Philippines and India. However, this is native to tropical and subtropical countries in Asia. Folk medicine from these countries have long used banaba as a natural remedy for diabetes.
Features
- Banaba trees can grow up to 20 meters (66 feet) high, with a smooth and flaky bark.
- Its leaves are large and typically comes in an oblong shape, which the tree sheds during the first months of the year. After that, the tree churns bright red or orange leaves.
- Banaba’s flowers, on the other hand, are pink to lavender and comes with six petals. Flowers blossom once per year during summer. It bears fruits that resembles nuts arranged in large clumps.
- It is typical to see banaba trees in the Philippines, India, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The Pride of India, Crepe Myrtle or Crape Myrtle, Queen’s Flower, Du hua zi wei (China), and Bungor raya (Malaysia) are just some of the names of banaba.
- Other than its medicinal purposes, the banaba tree can also help prevent soil erosion thanks to its extensive root system. Craftsmen can use its wood for furniture, decorative items, fuel, or charcoal. The bark can produce a yellow dye.
History of Medicinal Use
Folkloric medicine has long used banaba in the following countries:
- Philippines – Filipino folk medicine has long used banaba leaves to help lower glucose level of those with diabetes, due to an active ingredient called corosolic acid. It is one of the medicinal herbs that the Philippine Department of Health continues to endorse.
- India – Ayurvedic medicine also uses banaba leaf preparations to help patients with diabetes.
- Japan – The Japanese people also believe in the natural healing properties of banaba to lower the blood sugar levels of those with diabetes. They prepare tea with banaba leaves.
Banaba’s Health Benefits
Similar to ampalaya, the banaba tree also has a history of folkloric use across different cultures. It is now starting to gain traction as an alternative treatment and dietary supplement in countries outside of Asia.
Although plenty of research prove the banaba’s efficacy, always ask your doctor for advice, especially if seeking treatment for other ailments or if pregnant.
1. Diabetes – The high amount of corosolic acid present in banaba allows it to be a natural remedy for those with high glucose levels. Corosolic acid helps process sugar and carbohydrates into energy that the body can use. It also plays a hand at repairing the connection between insulin and insulin receptors. A number of animal-based research shows banaba reducing elevated blood sugar levels in diabetic mice (Journal of Medicinal Food, University of the Philippines Los Baños). The effects of banaba on human subjects with diabetes have also been documented, with corosolic acid capable of lowering blood sugar levels in a span of 60 minutes. One study found that the ellagitannin content of banaba also contributes to its anti-diabetic activities.
2. Weight loss – Banaba can help those who are needing to lose weight, either due to obesity or diabetes (or both), by reducing the absorption of carbohydrates and suppressing one’s appetite. In a study published on Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, obese rats that were given banaba extracts showed 10% weight loss compared to those on a regular diet.
3. Blood pressure – Metabolic syndrome is a list of conditions that increases one’s probability of having heart diseases and stroke, including obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. In a research conducted in Japan, rats with various metabolic syndromes were treated with corosolic acid from banaba leaves. After 10 weeks, these rats demonstrated lowered blood pressures, normal fat metabolism, and decreased inflammation.
4. Kidney diseases – Folk medicine has long used banaba as treatment for kidney troubles in folk medicine. These include inflammation of kidneys, kidney stones, dysuria, and urinary dysfunctions. Often, herbalists use its dried bark and leaves to prepare medicinal teas. A study published on the Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences examined how banaba can increase the urination of test animals. Researchers found an increase in volume of urination excreted by rat subjects. However, if you are undergoing any kidney treatment (e.g. dialysis), always check with your doctor before taking any supplement.
5. Cancer – Studies have shown that Banaba’s corosolic acid has a positive effect on cancer treatments. One study found that corosolic acid is capable of killing colon cancer cells. Another found it to be effective against cervical cancer cells.
6. Neuropathic pain – Neuropathic pain is a condition wherein the nerve fibers get damaged or injured, rendering them dysfunctional. Some causes include amputation, alcoholism, diabetes, or chemotherapy, among others. As a result, a patient experiences chronic pain. One of the common examples of this is the phantom limb syndrome. One research found that the corosolic acid in banaba acts as an effective analgesic (pain killer) to its animal subjects, effectively altering the rats’ pain after 21 days of treatment.
7. Uric Acid – Hyperuricemia is the condition in which a patient finds excessive amount of uric acid in their blood. Using extracts of banaba leaves, this research shows that the tree has properties that can help inhibit the enzyme that develops into uric acid, thereby supporting the use of banaba in prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia.
8. HIV – Banaba leaf and stem extracts contain gallic acid and ellagic acid—two active components that showed anti-HIV activity in a preclinical study.
9. Inflammation – Traditional medicine uses banaba for anti-inflammatory purposes. To further look into this, researchers tested extracts from banaba’s flower petals and found anti-inflammatory activity present.
Turmeric’s Health Benefits
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the ginger family of herbs. It has both a wide range of medical and culinary use that dates back to biblical times. Native to southern Asia, this plant thrives in temperatures above 30 C.
Features
- The turmeric plant can reach up to 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) tall. It is known for its tuberous root and leaves that grow upward from thick stems. Flowers are often pale yellow in color that grow in groups of three to five.
- The root is a tuber that is oblong in shape. It is also about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 10 cm) in length and 1 inch (2.54 cm) wide. The color can vary from yellow, olive green, tan, or pale brown with a rough texture. Inside, these tubers are bright orange, yellow, or deep rust in color.
- Turmeric root is bitter and has a peppery aroma comparable to ginger. Mixed with food, it can turn one’s saliva yellow.
- Almost all of the world’s supply of turmeric comes from India, and the country itself consumes 80% of it. Due to its extensive medicinal use, turmeric is often referred to as “The Golden Spice” or “The Spice of Life”.
- Other names it’s known for include Indian saffron, Yu Chin (Chinese), Gurkemeje (Danish), Luyang dilaw (Filipino), Kurkum (Hebrew), Kunyit basah (Malay), Ukon (Japanese), and 53 other names in Sanskrit.
History of Medicinal Use
Turmeric’s history of medicinal use spans about 4,000 years. People have used Turmeric for religious ceremonies, as culinary spice, textile dyes, and perfume.
- India – It was around 500 BC when turmeric started its widespread use in Ayurvedic medicine. Ancient Indians used to explain that fumes inhaled from the plant can help those with congestion, turmeric juice with wounds and bruises, and turmeric paste for a host of skin conditions (e.g. smallpox, chicken pox, cuts, burns). An anti-inflammatory agent, turmeric also helps alleviate gastrointestinal conditions.
- Japan – In Kampo (traditional Japanese medicine), turmeric tea traces its roots back to the island of Okinawa, where ancient Japanese believed that it helps in longevity.
- China – The Chinese have always used turmeric as a topical analgesic. They also use it to treat various gastrointestinal conditions (e.g. colic, ringworm, hepatitis) and chest pains. Lastly, they use the root to promote the movement of Qi in one’s body, while invigorating the blood.
Turmeric’s Health Benefits
Health pundits, both in the past and the present, extensively documented the health benefits of turmeric. The over 300 antioxidants of turmeric are responsible to its much-renowned medicinal benefits. The most well-known, of course, us curcumin.
Similar to ampalaya and banaba, always consult with your doctor especially if you are going through specific treatments.
1. Diabetes – Curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, has been and continue to be a topic of research especially for diabetes. Based on this study, curcumin extract successfully prevented type 2 diabetes for research participants who were prediabetic. The testers gave them curcumin supplements in the course of nine months.
2. Anti-inflammatory – Chronic inflammation can bring about plenty of diseases, such as heart conditions, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other degenerative diseases. Numerous studies have observed the anti-inflammatory activities of curcumin. One study found it to be safe in six of its human trials, while three different studies found that curcumin can fight inflammation at a molecular level. Another research found curcumin to have no side effects. Turmeric can also help those with arthritis, a disorder characterized by joint inflammation.
3. Antioxidant – Antioxidants help protect the human body from free radicals. These are groups of atoms that can damage your healthy cells when it enters the body. Free radicals come from many sources around you, such as pollution, alcohol, smoke, fried food, etc. People easily encounter these sources on a daily basis. For that, antioxidants help in preventing free radicals from damaging your cells. Curcumin from turmeric is found to be a powerful source of antioxidant that can protect your healthy cells. On top of that, curcumin also helps your body regenerate more antioxidants.
4. Heart disease – Heart diseases continue to be one of the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide. Given that, curcumin has been found to be effective in helping reverse steps in developing heart diseases, thereby preventing it. According to one study, patients who were given 4 grams of curcumin everyday—before and after undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery—displayed a 65% decrease in having a heart attack while in the hospital.
5. Cancer – Plenty of studies have shown that turmeric can help prevent cancer. One study found curcumin to be effective against pancreatic cancer. Researchers from the University of California found that curcumin can help boost the effects of chemotherapy on test animals, especially for head and neck cancers. Two more studies on test animals found that cancer cells can be reduced when curcumin interacts with them.
6. Brain-related disorders – Aside from curcumin, turmeric also contains a substance called aromatic turmerone. German researchers found that this substance can help promote the repair of stem cells in the brain—a possible aid in the recovery of patients with degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and stroke. Another brain-related disease is depression, an illness that affects 300 million people worldwide, leading to 800,000 people committing suicide every year. A study of 60 patients diagnosed of major depressive disorder found that curcumin from turmeric can be as effective as antidepressants. Moreover, curcumin is also found to boost the production of serotonin and dopamine in the brain—neurotransmitters that help one resist depression and various mood disorders.
7. Immune system – As discussed above, the antioxidant properties of curcumin help your body fight free radicals. In line with this, strengthening the immune system is another one of curcumin’s abilities. Multiple researches have shown how curcumin can help normalize the immune system of a person, thereby providing a possible treatment for inflammatory and various autoimmune diseases (e.g. lupus, allergies).
8. Vanity benefits – It’s not all about what’s on the inside when it comes to turmeric; it can also help with what’s on the outside:
- Turmeric products, whether oral or topical, can help those with acne.
- It can also help with dental care, such as whitening your teeth, reducing gum inflammation, and even help boost treatment of those with oral cancer.
- For skin rejuvenation, studies have shown that turmeric can help with healing scars, oily skin, and damage due to sun exposure.
9. Sore throat – Gargling hot water with turmeric is one of the natural remedies that would also help those who experience sore throat.
10. Heart burn and indigestion – Patients with dyspepsia responded well to turmeric supplements given to them in a course of seven days.
A Potent Combination
Now that you know the three ingredients that power Ampalaya Plus, you can see why it is definitely not just an herbal food supplement for diabetics and prediabetics, but for all. The numerous health benefits can attest to this fact. The presence of the wonder herb banaba and the fab spice turmeric boosts the already effective health power of the superfood ampalaya, resulting to a powerful herbal supplement that delivers what it promises.
