Bay leaf is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, and manganese. It is so versatile that adding its leaf to the foods helps treat diabetes and prevents digestive disorders. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder of glucose metabolism resulting from dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells and insulin resistance. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increased two- to four-fold in people with type 2 diabetes.
Bay leaves reduced serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increased HDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The leaves have a hypoglycaemic effect on diabetes patients, due to the presence of a number of phytochemicals and essential oils in it. Consumption of bay leaves was found to improve insulin and glucose metabolism.
Bay leaf contains linalool as an active component, which can effectively scavenge free radicals and terminate the chain reaction of free radicals. Bay leaves help the pancreas to function normally. This helps lower blood sugar levels, stimulates the digestive system, regulates periods, and is antispasmodic, expectorant, antirheumatic, and diuretic.
Bay leaves and diabetes
