Gymnema sylvestre is said to lower sugar cravings while reducing the rate at which sugar and fat are absorbed into the body. This two-fold action may help treat obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
The active compound in gymnema sylvestre is gymnemic acid. The compound selectively suppresses sweet tastes without affecting the perception of other tastes. Studies have shown that this can reduce cravings for high-sugar foods. Although these effects occur rapidly, usually within 30 seconds, they only last for around one hour.
Diabetes is a common disorder caused by the body’s inability to utilize or produce insulin properly. Gymnema sylvestre is thought to increase insulin production by improving cell growth in the pancreas where insulin is produced.
Gymnema sylvestre is also thought to lower the amount of sugar that gets absorbed in the intestines. This may further help improve blood sugar levels in people with diabetes or prediabetes. Gymnema sylvestre may also block the absorption of lipids (fats), thereby lowering "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in the blood.
