Ayurvedic ‘sugar destroyer’ can help rein in your sweet tooth

A plant compound known as the “sugar destroyer,” used in Ayurvedic medicine — a tradition that goes back at least 3,000 years — could help you beat your sweet tooth and put down the sweets.

Researchers at Massey University tested a mint developed by a company called Sweet Kick, aimed at doing just that.

Here’s what they found…

A woody vine turned into a tasty mint

Sweet Kick had hoped that using a perennial woody vine native to tropical Asia, China, the Arabian Peninsula, Africa and Australia, known as Gymnema sylvestre, could be the ingredient they needed to create a mint that reduced sugar cravings.

You may have read that the Gymnema leaf is considered an excellent herb for natural blood sugar control, according to Dr. Isaac Eliaz.

Since the plant’s Hindi name literally means “sugar destroyer” for its ability to suppress taste responses to sweet compounds, so they had good reason to believe they were on the right track.

But they hadn’t been able to prove it worked or not, so they turned to the Massey research team.

The scientists recruited 58 participants for a 14-day study. And the results were impressive!

After investigating the impact of taking the mint on people’s desire and consumption of high-sugar sweet foods, as well as their ratings of hunger and pleasantness of eating more high-sugar sweet foods, here’s what they found:

• People who popped a Gymnema sylvestre mint showed a significantly reduced intake of high-sugar sweet foods compared to the placebo.
• The mint also led to a decrease in the pleasantness and desirability ratings of eating high-sugar sweet foods.
• Additionally, for people who said they definitely had a sweet tooth (compared to those who did not), using the mint resulted in a significant decrease in their enjoyment of sweets and their desire to eat more high-sugar sweet foods.

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How it works

When asked how the mint works, Associate Professor Ajmol Ali said that its effects are achieved by “electively suppressing taste responses to sweet compounds without affecting the perception of other taste elements, essentially dulling the sugar receptors in your tongue. Gymnema sylvestre removes the sweetness — so if you eat chocolate, you’ll only get bitterness.”

According to Professor Ali, sugar treats could even taste like you’re eating cardboard. The effect typically lasts 30–60 minutes.

Sweet Kick mints may or may not be currently available, but you could search for other sources. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s usage instructions when using herbal supplements.

Sources:

1. Study reveals plant compound beats sugar cravings — MedicalXpress