2. Bitter melon
- Main use: Lowering blood sugar
- Typical dosage: 50 to 100 milliliters (approximately 3 to 6 tablespoons) of the juice daily
Bitter melon is thought to help cells use glucose more effectively and block sugar absorption in the intestine. A study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology compared bitter melon to a popular diabetes drug and found that it did minimize fructosamine in people with type 2 diabetes.
However, a low-dose of the already approved medication did so more effectively. In a study on mice published in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers suggest that bitter melon may reduce high blood glucose in type 1 diabetes. Unfortunately, gastrointestinal issues are some possible side effects.