Recommendations
Rationale
Notes
Silymarin
200-600 mg/day, depending on the other supplements you're taking.
Acts as a powerful antioxidant, lowers insulin levels and greatly improves blood sugar control.
Silymarin is the active ingredient in the liver-enhancing herb milk thistle.
American ginseng
1-2 g/day ground ginseng root for prevention.
An adaptogen, which has been shown to lower blood sugar levels.
If diabetic, take 3 g/day.
Bitter melon or fenugreek
2 capsules/day of standardized or freeze-dried bitter melon or 5-10 g/day fenugreek extract.
Lowers blood sugar levels.
Both can be purchased fresh and used in culinary preparations as well.
Garlic
Use a lot of garlic in food preparation.
Especially beneficial if you have high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure or other heart disease risk factors.
Garlic supplements are also available. See "What's in a name?" for more information.
Culinary Spices
Try ground cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, cumin, reishi mushroom, coriander and sage.
Based on animal studies, all have been shown to lower blood sugar and show promise for treating symptoms of Type II diabetes.
Sprinkle or add liberally on or to foods.
