by Steve Hanson
Blood sugar management products are one of the hottest categories right now in the natural products industry, and for good reason. According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, more than nine million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes. Of this number, three million suffer from diabetes with the remaining being prediabetic, meaning a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not significant enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. The population with diabetes is also increasing due to the aging population, increasing obesity rates and lack of exercise.
With nearly a third of the Canadian population affected, natural health product manufacturers are looking for new and innovative ingredients to target this growing concern.
3 Trends for Blood Sugar Management
1 – Reduced sugar consumption and more natural sweetener options:
More and more Canadians are seeking to reduce their sugar intake for maintaining better health. There have also been a number of new natural sweetener options introduced in the past several years such as stevia and monk fruit that offer an alternative to synthetic sweeteners.
2 – Ingredients like the food you eat:
Consumers are looking for options with less processing that are closer to nature. We’ll witness more and more ingredients derived from plants and whole foods.
3 – What’s old is new again:
Some of the ingredients that have always been known to play a role in blood sugar management are receiving renewed interest due to developing or new science.
10 New Ingredients for Blood Sugar Management:
1 – Anthocyanins
Present in berries such as bilberry, grapes and red or blue-coloured fruits and vegetables, anthocyanins have shown to be effective in controlling blood sugars. The same Journal of Nutrition study that cited cocoa also discussed the role of anthocyanins for blood sugar management.
2 – Mango
A recent pilot study conducted in the United States demonstrated that eating mangos might help lower blood sugar levels in obese adults. Although this study is preliminary, it demonstrates promise for mango in blood sugar management products.
3 – Benfotiamine
Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble form of the essential nutrient thiamine (vitamin B1). Benfotiamine supports the body through blocking biochemical pathways by which high blood sugar damages cells.
4 – Fibre
For quite some time, it has been well documented that a fibre-rich diet helps manage obesity and diabetes. However, a recent study by French-Swedish researchers published on Jan. 9 in the journal Cell uncovered the mechanism of action on why fibre works. The study shows the role of the intestinal flora, which by fermenting dietary fibre provides the intestine with precursors to produce glucose. This new information will provide the foundation to further find out which fibre types may offer greater benefits and results.
5 – Curcumin
From the spice turmeric, curcumin has become very popular in the natural health industry. It is widely known as being an anti-inflammatory and a potent antioxidant. Recent studies have also shown that curcumin improves insulin sensitivity and function.
6 – Seaweed
Certain seaweeds are high in polyphenols that have demonstrated benefits for blood sugar management. One extract of seaweed significantly decreased blood sugar and insulin response along with improving insulin sensitivity.
7 – Fenugreek
This herb contains alkaloids responsible for helping to manage blood sugar, particularly lowering postprandial blood sugar. About 80 per cent of the total content of free amino acids in the seeds is present as 4-hydroxyisoleucine, which appears to directly stimulate insulin.
8 – Stevia
Stevia is a low-calorie, natural sweetener that helps to regulate blood sugar. Studies have demonstrated that stevia significantly increases glucose tolerance and inhibits glucose absorption.
9 – Cocoa
One of the components to make chocolate, cocoa contains flavanols, which are powerful antioxidants known to offer a number of health benefits. A recent study published on Jan. 19 in the Journal of Nutrition demonstrated that people who consume dark chocolate rich in flavanols have lower insulin resistance and can regulate their blood sugar better, possibly helping to reduce their risk for Type 2 diabetes.
10 – Holy Basil
The herb holy basil has been shown to be effective in assisting the pancreas to produce insulin. Although holy basil has been around for some time, it can be more effectively positioned for consumers seeking natural, less processed ingredients.
Other ingredients, such as bitter melon and cinnamon, have had success in the blood sugar management category as well. The category will remain vibrant and growing in the near future as new ingredients are developed and the supporting science is completed. Blood sugar management products are looking up.
