—A Special Report from Victor Marchione, MD
A new study out of the University of Montreal has found that something inside cashews has great promise against diabetes.
It is “cashew seed extract” they are talking about, and it just might be the latest natural product to act as an effective anti-diabetic. The study, published in the journal “Molecular Nutrition & Food Research,” investigated the reputed health benefits of cashew tree products on diabetes. The focus: could cashew improve the body’s response to its own insulin?
Diabetes is caused when a person has high blood sugar because their body does not respond well to insulin and/or does not produce enough of the hormone. Insulin is what unlocks the body’s cells in order to move sugar from the bloodstream into the cells where it can be used as energy. Diabetes affects nearly 220 million people worldwide and can pave the way for heart and kidney disease.
It is at epidemic levels, along with obesity, in the United States. That is why any new insight into potential natural healers is a big deal. This new study examined the impact of leaves, bark, seeds and apples from cashew trees — native to northeastern Brazil and other countries of the southern hemisphere — on cells that respond to insulin.
They tested a slew of extracts and one showed promise. Cashew seed extract significantly stimulated blood sugar absorption by muscle cells. Because other parts of the cashew plant had no such effect, it seems that cashew seed extract likely contains active compounds, which may have potential anti-diabetic properties.
Cashew tree products have long been alleged to be effective anti-inflammatory agents, counter high blood sugar, and prevent insulin resistance among diabetics. What the new study does is provide further proof that there is a link between the cashew tree and diabetes treatment. It points the way to natural components that could serve to create new therapies.
Speak to your doctor before adding any supplement for diabetes to your regular routine. In this case, find cashew seed extract in the health food store. It is not likely you can eat actual cashews and be able to help your diabetes. In any event, you should never eat more than a handful of nuts a day, as they are very high in fat.