A plant could help control our sugar consumption. Present over much of the earth's surface, the Gymnema sylvestre is known to temporarily inhibit the taste of sugar. What is it really?
The Gymnema sylvestre is a kind of creeping liana-like bush capable of reaching three meters in height. Present in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, it is used in particular in traditional Indian medicine or Chinese. According to these traditions, the Gymnema cures rheumatism, ulcers, asthma and other snake bites.
Here we will focus on the hope that the Gymnema can arouse in diabetics . Indeed, her nickname "sugar destroyer" calls out. As Agence Science-Presse explains in an article of June 26, 2020, the plant suppresses the taste of sugar in the mouth for a period of time between between 30 and 60 minutes.
In the past, science thought it was a single molecule:gymnemic. And yet, it seems that it is rather a question of a mixture of several gymnemic acids. These bind to sweet taste receptors present on our tongue, taking the place of the sugar that can no longer cling to it. In other words, sugar no longer tastes like sugar, at least when the plant has its effect.
This effect is known to some companies like Coca-Cola , which funded a study on the subject in 2018. However, the effect of Gymnema seems to vary from person to person. For example, a journalist from the New York magazine The Cut said to have tested the plant without feeling its effects. Furthermore, you should know that the Gymnema is marketed on Amazon. However, this is not unanimous among buyers. But since the plant works on some people, it is often associated with weight loss and diabetes.
The fact is that the studies conducted on the Gymnema are debatable, in particular because of the test samples which each time only count a few dozen participants . In addition, the first studies were carried out in India about thirty years ago. However, the fact that the plant is considered there as a proven remedy necessarily affects the results.
Another study published in 2003 highlights a conflict of interest . Indeed, the randomized trial concerned a dietary supplement containing Gymnema . However, it turned out that the study had been funded by the manufacturer of this supplement! Other similar cases exist, such as the studies on the product Crave Crush.
Finally, let's also mention the work of the Practice-Based Evidence in Nutrition platform. It originated with Canadian dietitians and British and Australian dietitian associations. However, in 2015, experts evaluated all the data available on the Gymnema . In conclusion, the professionals indicated that the virtues of the plant are not the subject of any scientific proof formal.
