Chinese Fruits Suitable for Diabetics

This time of year is characterized by the scenery of blooming and the sweetness of a variety of fruits that are not necessarily suitable for diabetics. In Chinese medicinal plants, there are several fruits and plants that are suitable for diabetics and can even help them lower blood sugar levels..

Chinese medicinal plants are a central treatment tool in Chinese medicine. The treatment is carried out after a comprehensive and in-depth diagnosis of all body systems, using diagnostic tools unique to Chinese medicine. Each prescription of plants is composed of mixtures of several different plants, tailored to the patient individually, both in the composition of the plants and in the dosages. The perspective is not just on the disease but on the person as a whole, meaning both the emotional/energetic aspect and the physical aspect of the patient.

Some of these plants and fruits belong to the adaptogenic family, from the word adaptation. These are plants that impact the adrenal gland and lead to a more balanced secretion of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, thus improving the body's resilience and adaptability to various stress conditions, which can lead to inflammations, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia (excess blood fats), and diabetes.

Each plant has its quality, and taste - or several tastes - which influence its functioning. Adaptogenic plants, for example, will most often have a sweet taste. The sweet taste is calming, comforting, and balancing. Additionally, there are cooler/cold plants, warm/hot ones, and neutral ones. The temperature of each plant affects our body differently. The temperature is often influenced by a variety of factors such as the growing area, harvest season, and more. For example, plants whose quality is hot, like ginger, are not recommended for excessive consumption in people suffering from excessive sweating, heat, irritability, hard stools, and constipation. This contrasts with mint, which has a cooling quality and thus is effective for these situations.

Here are some plants and fruits commonly used in diabetes treatment according to Chinese medicine, and have been scientifically proven for this:

Atad Fruit – Goji Berry (in Chinese GOU QI ZI) - Has been used for thousands of years in China for various medicinal purposes. This fruit is familiar to most of us due to its extensive use as a nutritional supplement sold in health stores across the country in recent years. Goji berry is sweet and blends well in oatmeal porridge, as an addition to yogurt, soups, and salads. Medically, it is found to be effective in lowering sugar, blood fats, and blood pressure, boosting the immune system, dizziness, weakness, dry eyes, and assisting with male fertility problems. According to professional literature, the fruit is considered antiviral, anti-cancer, antifungal, reduces blood pressure, improves peripheral blood flow, and slows aging (anti-aging).

Hawthorn Fruit: (in Chinese (SHAN ZHA - This fruit has various uses for different digestive system issues such as gases, abdominal bloating, sensitive intestines, and stomach pain. Apart from these advantages, this fruit is an antioxidant, effective in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, dilating blood vessels, and improving peripheral blood flow. In China, it can be bought in various stores as a chewing candy. Its taste is sour-sweet.

Hawthorn fruit (photo: shutterstock)

Licorice/Sweet Root: (in Chinese GAN CAO) - Unlike the other fruits mentioned so far, here we are talking about a root. Licorice can be purchased at various health stores and made into different infusions. This plant has many medical advantages: it is anti-inflammatory, adaptogen, antioxidant, anti-allergenic. It is effective in situations of intestinal inflammation, coughs, sore throats, asthma, ulcers, autoimmune diseases, and more. It is important to note that the use of this root for people suffering from high blood pressure is not recommended.

Schisandra Plant: (in Chinese WU WEI ZI) - The useful part of the plant is the fruit. In China, this fruit is called "the fruit of five flavors," because you can feel all the flavors in it, although the sour taste is the most dominant. This fruit is considered antiviral, adaptogen, and antioxidant. Additionally, this fruit has been scientifically proven effective in lowering sugar and restoring liver functions. It has a lubricating effect on body tissues, making it effective for various dryness conditions that many diabetics suffer from.

Schisandra plant (photo: shutterstock)

Nadav Segman is an expert in Chinese medicine treatment at DMC