Gymnema Sylvestre is an herb used in the Diabetic Formula of the CardioTrim health supplement line.

Gymnema Sylvestre or Gurmar, whose Hindi name literally means “Sugar Destroyer”, has been used in India for thousands of years as a traditional Ayurvedic herb to balance blood sugar levels.

This standardized extract derived from Gymnema sylvestre leaves is used as a blood glucose regulator and has been shown to increase insulin secretion, promote healthy blood sugar and lower cholesterol levels.

The active ingredients of Gymnema sylvestre are gymnemic acid and gurmarin. Both have similar molecular structures to glucose and are beneficial in many ways.

Gurmarin has the ability to fill taste bud receptors and reduce the sweet taste of sugary foods. Gymnemic acid helps increase the production of insulin by stimulating new insulin producing cells, called beta-cells in the pancreas. Gymnemic acid also facilitates release of insulin into the blood stream by increasing beta-cell membrane permeability.

Finally, Gymnemic acid inhibits the absorption of sugar molecules in the intestines during digestion, thus reducing increases in blood sugar levels.