Metabolic Syndrome - Stevia, Samento, and Metabolic Health
Stevia and Samento can help alleviate metabolic syndrome (obesity, diabetes, hypertension)
Metabolic syndrome has become the leading widespread disease. This term refers to the combination of obesity and the often resulting diseases of high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and lipometabolic disorders.
All of these diseases are themselves significant risk factors for the development of serious cardiovascular diseases, such as arterial hardening, myocardial infarction, stroke, or weakened heart muscle. If all of these risk factors occur together, the risk of serious health damage is very high.
That's why it's even more important to prevent and treat obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and lipometabolic disorders, if possible before serious consequences occur.
We all know the importance of a healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet, sufficient physical exercise, abstaining from nicotine, reducing alcohol intake, and effective stress management. There are already countless articles and blogs on this topic, so I'm pleased to refer you to them.
This blog will focus on two natural substances that recent studies have shown can be beneficial in achieving optimal metabolic health when combined.
These two substances are Stevia (known by many as a sweetener) and Uncaria tomentosa, the extract from the bark of the cat's claw tree, better known as Samento or cat's claw extract.
What is Stevia?
Stevia is a calorie-free sugar substitute derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. The plant form of Stevia is native to the mountains between southern Brazil and northern Paraguay and has been used for hundreds of years.
Although there are over 150 species of Stevia, only Stevia rebaudiana is used for its sweetening properties.
Stevia is 200 to 400 times sweeter than sugar and has no calories. It is available in powder, liquid, or granule form.
Stevia contains several glucosides that are beneficial for human well-being. The most important ones are stevioside and rebaudioside. They are not fermentable like sugar but are heat and pH stable molecules.
Benefits of Stevia for Well-being
- Helps reduce calorie intake
As a sugar substitute, Stevia can replace high-calorie sugar and reduce the total number of calories in food and beverages.
For people trying to reduce their calorie intake, Stevia can be a great sugar substitute.
- Supports metabolic health
Limited research suggests that Stevia may support healthy blood sugar levels within the normal range and help promote metabolic health.
Stevia may also favor normal cholesterol levels and blood pressure in already healthy individuals.
- Good for reducing sugar consumption
Since Stevia sweetens food and beverages, it can help reduce the amount of sugar consumed. Sugar has several detrimental effects on human health, which is why nutritionists and doctors often recommend a low-sugar lifestyle.
This is especially important for children who are typically accustomed to sugary foods but may have difficulty transitioning to a low-sugar diet. Parents can substitute sugar with the Stevia plant, which is not associated with the same issues as sugar.
- Gentle on the body
Many sugar substitutes are known to cause allergic reactions or sensitivities in certain individuals. However, purified Stevia extract has no known adverse effects in its long history of research.
What is Samento?
Cat's claw is a woody tropical vine in the Rubiaceae family found worldwide, mainly in South America. It can grow over 30 meters long and takes 20 years to reach full maturity. It owes its name to its hook-shaped thorns that resemble a cat's claws.
Various effects are attributed to the extract from the bark of the cat's claw tree (Uncaria tomentosa):
- Antioxidant support
- Support for blood sugar regulation
- Cardiovascular support
- Immune system support
- Support for inflammatory response
- Microbial support
- Neurological support
There are two notable alkaloids in traditional cat's claw. The absence of either significantly alters the effectiveness of cat's claw for health and disease.
- Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids (TOAs)
- Pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids (POAs)
POAs are the source of the best health benefits from cat's claw. TOAs often counteract the pronounced effects of POAs.
An excellent cat's claw product should contain as many POAs as possible while being free of TOAs.
What happens when Stevia and Samento are combined?
Two studies published in reputable journals in 2022 have demonstrated the synergistic effect of combining Stevia + Samento (GlucoMedixÒ). The animal model described the effect on metabolic syndrome, and a human case study demonstrated the effects on reducing blood glucose levels and decreasing the need for medication in existing diabetes.
Both studies show that in addition to all the important lifestyle changes and sometimes inevitable pharmacotherapy measures, two natural substances can also be useful dietary supplements in achieving the goal of optimal metabolic health.
Sources:
León F. Villegas Vílchez, Julio Hidalgo Ascencios2, and Thomas P. Dooley GlucoMedix, an extract of Stevia rebaudiana and Uncaria tomentosa, reduces hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension in rat models without toxicity: A treatment for metabolic syndrome BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-022-03538-9 https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12906-022-03538-9.pdf
Thomas P. Dooley, Jonny Martin Parades Perez, Carlos Regifo Rodriguez Stevia and Uncaria extract (GlucoMedixÒ) reduce glucose levels and medication requirement in type 2 diabetes: An open case series of six patients Clinical Phytosience, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40816-021-00332-x https://rdcu.be/cEebb