This One SPICE Lowers Blood Sugar Better Than Medication

By Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN

8 minute read

You’ve probably heard me talk about herbs and spices that are as powerful—or more powerful— than conventional medications, without the side effects. Finding natural solutions for health issues can often be a healthier pathway than turning to medications.

Check out the article below about a particular spice that has some pretty incredible health benefits–especially for blood sugar. (Hint: it’s NOT cinnamon)

Keeping blood sugar stable and in the low range helps prevent heart attacks and strokes, while helping you live a longer, healthier lifespan. This often means eliminating some of your favorite foods—like bread, chips, pasta, cereal, and desserts.

I know, it’s difficult to give up eating your favorite foods, but there are natural solutions that can help you still enjoy your favorite foods—while keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range.

One of those natural solutions is the clove.

Like many other spices and herbs, cloves have superpowers for improving our health.

In fact, cloves are so powerful, that nearly 600 patents exist on cloves¹ and their active ingredients.

Cloves are full of polyphenols, which are a type of antioxidant that helps prevent many chronic diseases, and manages blood sugar levels.² Cloves and clove extract contain an active ingredient called ‘eugenol’. This antioxidant in cloves has been found to have a lowering effect on blood sugar, among its many health benefits. ³

Managing blood sugar at appropriate levels can make the difference in early death or disability —or living a long, healthy life. It’s that important.

‘Postprandial glucose’ is the medical term that looks at blood sugar levels 2 hours after a meal, and is one of the best indicators of your body’s ability to maintain blood sugar levels in a healthy range.

In fact, measuring your blood sugar 2 hours after a meal can also help predict your risk of a heart attack or a stroke–and its severity. Post-meal blood sugar measurements can also help predict your potential for developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Interventions that prevent blood sugar spikes after eating will significantly reduce the serious health issues that can result from having high blood sugar. Health issues from blood sugar spikes include obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, blindness, heart attacks, strokes, dementia, and cancer. Cloves or clove extract can be a very effective intervention and there’s plenty of scientific proof.

In one study on cloves and blood sugar, 250 mg of clove extract daily was given to a group of healthy people and to a group of people with prediabetes. Pre-meal glucose and post-meal glucose was measured.

Results showed significant reductions in post-meal glucose levels in the group taking the clove extract.⁴ The group taking the clove extract found that their post-meal glucose was lowered by about 22% in the healthy group, and almost 30% in the prediabetes group

The scientific studies show that clove extract works three different ways:

1. Protects against post-meal blood sugar spikes in normal and prediabetic people

2. Decreases fasting glucose in prediabetics, helping them prevent the onset of diabetes

3. Increases glucose uptake by muscle cells, lowering glucose in the bloodstream

Clove extract taken regularly can be similar to metformin and its effect on glucose control.⁵

In addition to the benefits clove exerts on blood sugar control, cloves also have other health benefits.

Antimicrobial

Cloves have also been shown to have antimicrobial properties, meaning they can help stop the growth of bacteria, viruses, and yeasts such as candida.⁶

One scientific study showed that clove essential oil killed three common types of bacteria, including E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and candida albicans, that can cause infections.

Oral Health

For many people who have high blood sugar or diabetes, oral health is especially important, because they are at higher risk for tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease (gingivitis). Clove oil is highly effective to protect teeth and gums.

Clove oil compounds stop the growth of a type of bacteria that causes gum disease. Two studies using clove extracts showed the improvements in gum health, along with a reduction in plaque, the bacterial growth that causes gum disease and cavities.⁷

The positive results of studies on cloves and oral health show that clove extract has powerful plaque-fighting, gum disease-fighting, antibacterial properties, which helps prevent or treat diseases of the mouth, teeth, and gums. Clove oil is also known for its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory effects in the mouth as well.

Liver Health

Fatty liver disease is one of the fastest growing liver diseases in the civilized world. Fatty liver disease can result from a diet high in carbohydrates and sugars—especially high fructose corn syrup.

Once sugar or HFCS is ingested, the liver turns this glucose into fat and then tries to store it. Much of it gets stored in the liver itself, resulting in an overload of fat cells which inflame the liver and affect its function.

Eugenol, the compound found in cloves, has been found to protect the liver from fatty liver disease, reducing inflammation, elevated liver enzymes, and improving liver function.⁸

Another study shows clove extract helps reverse signs of scarring of the liver from prolonged fatty liver disease.⁹

LDL Cholesterol

Triglycerides and LDL (the ‘bad’ cholesterol that raises your risk for heart disease), are a result of high blood sugar and high A1C. High levels of glucose in the blood are converted to fatty acids, which in turn increase LDL cholesterol and raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Clove oil or clove extract decreases overall glucose levels, decreases triglycerides—as well as total and LDL cholesterol with no changes in healthy HDL concentrations.¹⁰

Gut Health

Because clove oil and its active ingredient, eugenol, are effective against several strains of harmful bacteria and yeasts, cloves are excellent for gut health and to maintain a healthy bacteria balance in the gut.

Candida albicans is a strain of yeast that lives in the gut. Candida feeds off glucose, so many people who have blood sugar problems will often have an overgrowth of candida. Candida can cause a wide variety of symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, bloating, gas, cramps, urinary tract infections and joint pain. Cloves and clove extract are highly effective against candida.

Cloves have also been shown to be effective for stomach ulcers caused by h. pylori bacteria, similar to some conventional ulcer medications.¹¹

Multiple Health Benefits

Cloves and clove extract have many health benefits, including keeping blood sugar levels stable, helping to block the growth of harmful bacteria and yeasts that cause infections, and managing healthy cholesterol levels.

Dried cloves can be incorporated into many dishes including curries, stews, and chutneys. Simmering cloves in boiling water for 10 minutes can make a delicious cup of clove tea, or you can chew a few every day.

Cloves can also be found in capsules, powders, and essential oil. Be cautious and avoid overdosing on cloves, as they can be toxic to the liver in high amounts. Cloves can also cause allergic reactions and interact with blood thinning medications. Be sure to check with your doctor or medical professional before using cloves.

Now, before you go…

Even though spices like clove can do wonders for blood sugar…

There’s one thing that can wreck your blood sugar - your daily coffee.