Fact Check: Diabetes cannot be reversed by guava leaf, turmeric and black pepper concoction
An Instagram video claims that diabetes can be reversed within 10 days of consuming a drink prepared with guava leaves, turmeric and black pepper
By Neelambaran A Published on 20 Oct 2024 10:06 AM GMT
Claim: An Instagram video claims that diabetes can be reversed within 10 days of consuming a drink prepared with guava leaves, turmeric and black pepper.
Fact: The claim is misleading. Although the ingredients have limited medicinal potential, they canāt cure or reverse diabetes.
An Instagram video has gone viral for suggesting a home remedy for diabetes, kidney stones, reducing blood pressure and swelling in the legs.
The recipe in the video suggests boiling three guava leaves with turmeric powder, black pepper and cloves for 10 minutes and drinking the strained water for 10 days on an empty stomach to see the results.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading. Doctors stated that although the ingredients in the concoction have some medicinal benefits they are short-lived and cannot substitute medication. There is little evidence to suggest that the concoction can cure chronic illnesses.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition where a deficiency of insulin results in high blood sugar levels. Diabetes cannot be cured and a sustained lifestyle change, medication and weight loss can result in putting the condition in remission.
The video claimed that guava leaves have the potential to remove sugar from the blood. āWhat the video is referring to is an Ayurvedic remedy called kashayam. However, claiming that it can reverse diabetes in 10 days is misleading,ā said Dr SV Chandra Sekhar, senior consultant and general physician at Gemcare Kamineni Hospitals, Kurnool.
Similarly, hypertension too requires lifestyle changes and medications to manage the condition.
āAll the ingredients mentioned in the drink have medicinal benefits. But the benefits are definitely short-lived. The effects of the ingredients will be removed from the body during metabolism within a short time. Such drinks can only provide temporary relief,ā Dr Chandra Sekhar added.
Keeping diabetes and blood pressure under control requires drastic lifestyle changes over a sustained period.
āEven many doctors suggest guava fruit for people with diabetes. But such things must be considered supplements along with medications. There are no shortcuts to cure such lifestyle diseases,ā Dr Chandra Sekhar said.
Guava fruits contain carbohydrates, sugar, fat, dietary fibre, potassium, vitamins C and A which help in reducing menstrual cramps, diarrhoea and the potential to reduce blood pressure. Only smaller studies on animals have taken place so far to substantiate the benefits.
