Fruit and vegetables are given their colors by the pigments they contain.
A new study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that specific fruits and vegetable colors can eliminate type 2 diabetes symptoms.
Anthocyanins are the red, blue, and purple pigments found in some fruits and vegetables. Since many studies have linked them with physical functions that could combat diabetes, the scientists responsible for this study decided to review the available literature.
The most important findings from the studies they surveyed are that anthocyanins can treat diabetes symptoms, lower blood glucose, reduce insulin resistance, and reduce damage to blood vessels and other tissue.
They do this through many different mechanisms.
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1. They block alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase, the key enzymes that convert dietary carbohydrates to glucose. The lower the glucose, the better for diabetics.
2. They speed up the metabolism of both fat and glucose, which means that glucose does not remain unprocessed in the body.
3. They reduce inflammation in the liver, muscles, and fat tissue. Inflammation causes incorrect immune activation, the blocking of insulin pathways, and leads to insulin resistance.
4. They increase the number of healthy bacteria in the intestines.
The studies they surveyed yielded two other interesting findings.
Anthocyanins can be either acylated or non-acylated, meaning that a chemical called acyl is either present or absent from the sugar in the pigments.
Acylated anthocyanins are better at combatting diabetes symptoms but harder for our bodies to absorb. Non-acylated anthocyanins are easier to absorb, and while they are slightly weaker at tackling most diabetes symptoms, the superior amount absorbed by your body makes them effective too.
The best approach is, therefore, to consume as much as possible of both types. This is how you can do it.
Acylated anthocyanins are abundant in purple potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, black currants, blueberries, elderberries, blue corn, black rice, and red cabbage.
Non-acylated anthocyanins are plentiful in red and purple grapes, red wine, bilberries, mulberries, raspberries, strawberries, and purple sweet potatoes.
It’s terrifying to think that people with type 2 diabetes are often warned against eating many of these healthy foods because of their high glycemic index when in fact they can eliminate type 2 diabetes symptoms.