In the August 2004 issue of Journal of Toxicological Science, an experimental study examined the concentration of several trace elements (such as zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron, copper and manganese) in spontaneous type 2 diabetic subjects compared with those who had no such history of diabetes.

“"[The] results demonstrate that trace element imbalances come out significantly in mild diabetes and the need to instruct a nutritionally balanced diet that takes account of trace elements in diabetes from the early stage,” said the research team.

BLOOD SUGAR HERBS RICH IN MINERALS

Most people don’t know that minerals are a critical nutritional part of healing diabetes and could even be critical in explaining some of the benefits of certain medicinal herbs to healthy blood sugar.

Take cinnamon. In addition to its unique essential oils, cinnamon is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese and a very good source of iron and calcium.

Meanwhile, at the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Madras, India, it was found that the sugar-busting herb Gymnema sylvestre was a valuable source of copper, nickel, zinc and phosphorous, with less amounts of iron and vanadium.

Certain trace elements “play an important role in the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels...” say these researchers.

American ginseng, also valuable in support of healthy blood sugar, is a rich source of bioavailable selenium; new research shows that both the whole herb and the mineral selenium can truly beneficially lower blood sugar that is in the high-normal range.

“In recent years, a number of investigations on the antidiabetic effects of supranutritional selenate doses have been carried out. Selenate (selenium oxidation state +VI) was shown to possess regulatory effects on...pathways which are disturbed in diabetic disorders,” say experts from the Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Physiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany, in a 2005 report in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Anther mineral-rich herb is Nopal, or prickly pear, cactus. Its fruit is a rich source of calcium, magnesium and potassium.

HOW TO ADD TRACE MINERALS TO YOUR DIET

One of the better choices for trace mineral supplementation is the use of above-sea coral minerals. That is because these deposits were created thousands of years before the advent of modern pollution (and their harvest does not impact the ecology of the sea). Not only does coral contain more than 72 different major and trace minerals, it supplies them in a predigested, ionic form that makes them among the most bioavailable. So natural is coral to the human body that it is one of the favorite grafting materials for orthopedic bone surgeries.

Cinnamon 6 is a valuable herbal supplement that A Promise Made, A Promise Kept author Dr. James Chappell has formulated for his own patients and which is fast becoming a consumer favorite. Its freshness is evident from the rich cinnamon fragrance that greets each consumer upon opening the bottle. Besides cinnamon it also contains the other key herbs—bitter melon, Nopal cactus, gymnema, American ginseng, fenugreek—mentioned in this article. Cinnamon 6 is available at health food stores nationwide.

Based on extensive market analysis, Coral Complex and Eco Pure Coral Powder seem to be among the very best coral mineral products consumers can choose. Not only do these products use coral from above-sea and ecologically safe reefs, their quality is considered to be among the best in the natural products industry. For more information about coral minerals for blood sugar health, consult your local health food store retailer.

Diabetics should consult a qualified physician or health care professional before changing their health regimen.

the doctor's prescription for healthy living, page 47