Blackcurrant berries have a powerful impact on blood sugar after meals



[ad_1]

A type of black berry called currant has a noticeable impact on blood sugar and insulin after meals – and that’s in very limited amounts, according to the new study. While this isn’t the first study to find health benefits associated with black currant, the University of Eastern Finland study found that it only takes a small portion of the berries to see the benefits.

Berries, especially darker ones, have been shown to be beneficial for health in a growing body of research. These benefits are often linked to their polyphenols, which are plant chemicals that can have pronounced effects on human health. Much of the attention goes to blackberries and blueberries, but black currant can be just as beneficial.

The researchers behind the latest study evaluated the effects of black currant on blood sugar and insulin levels after a high-carbohydrate meal, finding that it only takes about two and a half ounces of berries. to reduce the glycemic response after a meal.

The study was quite small with 26 participants, most of them women. The research consisted of giving participants a blackcurrant food product with 31 grams of carbohydrate, including a control group who received food without blackcurrant. Fasting blood samples were taken from participants, followed by additional samples starting at 15 minutes at intervals of up to 180 minutes after eating.

In the groups that received the black currant berry products, the study found that post-meal blood sugar and insulin levels were reduced from their peak, there was a delayed increase free fatty acids triggered by low blood sugar, and this has blood sugar to drop.

The results support previous research with the berries linking them to beneficial effects on blood sugar, but with the addition of smaller portions. Researchers note that black currant berries are easy to acquire and can be made into a variety of dishes, potentially making them a promising tool to help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes with regular consumption.

[ad_2]

Source link