Candy, cakes… As soon as we feel “sluggish” or “peckish”, it is (almost) always towards sweet foods that our desires turn. But how can you combat this craving for sugar? In his book Zero constraints to stay young (ed. Flammarion), Dr Jimmy Mohamed highlights gymnema sylvestre, a plant which “has long been shrouded in mystery”, but which could influence our perception of sweet taste.
However, Dr Jimmy Mohamed would like to point out that “when I give you a tip with a plant or food that improves certain parameters of a disease, there is no question of replacing your medications however” and the doctor added that “it is still and always a matter of making you aware of the positive impact of certain of our actions in everyday life and of a balanced diet”.
Craving for sugar: what is gymnema sylvestre, this “sugar-destroying” plant?
But then what is gymnema sylvestre? As the doctor explains in his book, it is a plant that grows in hot and humid climates and has its origins in the tropical forests of India, Africa and Australia. He adds that “Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient Indian medicinal practice, has notably integrated gymnema into its treatments for centuries”. This plant was used in particular to treat digestive disorders, but also certain infections and its benefits on diabetes.
As Dr Jimmy Mohamed points out in his book Zero constraints to stay young (ed. Flammarion), “gymnema sylvestre is often nicknamed the ‘sugar destroyer’ because one of its most intriguing properties is its ability to temporarily suppress the sweet taste sensation when we chew its leaves or consume extracts of the plant”. But how can we explain such an effect? According to the doctor, we must turn to the molecular level.
Gymnema sylvestre: how would this plant help suppress sugar cravings?
“The active molecules present in the gymnema, called gymnemics, interact with the taste receptors of the tongue, the taste buds, responsible for detecting sweet flavors,” specifies Dr Jimmy Mohamed in his book. When gymnemics are linked to taste receptors of the tongue, “they make them temporarily insensitive to sugar”. This has the effect of making sweet foods “tasteless” if you eat them at that time.
But then, does it really work? Dr. Jimmy Mohamed bowed to experience. To do this, it indicates that it is appropriate to put one to two spoonfuls of gymnema powder in a glass of water hot or cold and drink it. “At the time I prepared this drink, I had an irrepressible craving for sugar, undoubtedly favored by my lack of sleep and the stress felt at that moment”, testifies the specialist. Results ? “I don’t know if it’s a placebo effectbut it was radical: after a few minutes, I no longer wanted to eat sweet food at all,” he specifies.
A tip that does not replace a balanced diet and an appointment with a health professional.
Discover more advice in Dr Jimmy Mohamed’s book “Zero constraints to stay young”, published by Flammarion.