Tequila ingredient could lower blood sugar for diabetics

While doctors have recommended in the past that a glass of wine a day is good for the heart, could a shot of tequila a day keep the doctor away? Recent studies are now suggesting that an ingredient found in the tequila plant may help lower blood sugar and weight, something that could prove noteworthy for the nearly living with diabetes.

In a report presented during the 247th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Dr. Mercedes G. López of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Guanajuato, Mexico, demonstrated her team's , a natural form of sugar found in the agave plant which is essential in the production of tequila. Since agavins can act as a dietary fiber and are non-digestible, they cannot raise blood glucose levels, which is a common factor for developing diabetes.

López and her colleagues gathered a group of mice and fed them an average diet while mixing in agavins into their drinking water. After weighing the mice daily and examining their glucose blood levels weekly, the researchers found that most of the mice who drank the agavins ate less food, lost weight and significantly dropped their glucose levels when compared to other sweeteners such as fructose, sucrose and agave syrup.      

López discussed the fact that agavins also elevate GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, which is a hormone that relaxes the body from emptying, while triggering more production of insulin.

"We have found that since agavins and increase GLP-1, they also increase the amount of insulin," Lopez said at a convention center in Dallas. "Agavins are not expensive and they have no known side effects, except for those few people who cannot tolerate them. This study represents the first attempt to evaluate agavins as sweeteners in spite of their lower sweetness compared to sugar."

Further prevention of diabetes
Since 2010, there have been almost of diabetes diagnosed to people aged 20 or older. While the agavins found in tequila plants are linked to reducing blood sugar levels, it is not necessarily a healthy or safe way to help aid the prevention of the disease. A few more vigorous methods to avert diabetes include:

• Daily exercise and outdoor activity
• Eating healthy and losing weight
• Sleeping at least eight hours a night
• Avoid caffeinated and high-sugared beverages
• Receive blood tests regularly

Another treatment option against diabetes is checking with your doctor is a prescription to Sitagliptin is right for you. You can buy Sitagliptin at a Canadian online pharmacy.