Here’s to the lowly ampalaya

Herbcare Corp., the company behind the Charantia Ampalaya Food Supplement, is spearheading a noteworthy health crusade. Herbcare Corp. is involved in a campaign to popularize the health benefits of taking Charantia for both diabetics and non-diabetics.

Truth be told: Charantia is "clinically proven, doctor-recommended, and diabetic-trusted." Clinical studies have shown that Charantia stabilizes the glucose level, thus helping type-2 diabetics control their glucose and avoid complications such as eye and nerve disorders and limb amputations.

Charantia is "the first clinically proven ampalaya food supplement in the world." It was even submitted to a clinical trial conducted by independent diabetologists. And the results of the research, published in the July-August 2001 issue of the Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine, conclude that "ampalaya seeds prepared as tea can be a useful dietary adjunct in the treatment of diabetes."

Charantia, as a food supplement, has proven to be useful in reinforcing a low-fat, high-fiber diet, which a diabetic should follow religiously, along with exercise and doctor-prescribed medication, of course. Primary users of Charantia are type-2 diabetics, most of whom are over 40.

Recent trends, however, point out that even young adults are prone to the disease because of an unhealthy lifestyle marked by a diet rich in sweets and fatty food. Time magazine came out with an alarming report on a type-2 diabetic who was only 14. Women are also more prone to the disease, although "the difference in gender incidence is not that significant." Because of the growing risks of diabetes, Herbcare thought it wise to expand their target market to include people of different ages and genders, from all walks of life.

Case in point: A World Health Organization study estimates that diabetes incidence in the world will double in the next two decades and a half. There is an urgent need to confront this global health crisis. And the fight against diabetes begins with an effective information campaign.

It is in this light that Herbcare has initiated Operation Diabetes, in cooperation with the Association of Municipal Health Officers of the Philippines (AMHOP), a national organization of doctors running the country’s health centers. Operation Diabetes is a public awareness campaign that seeks to inform Filipinos about the symptoms and complications of the disease by helping establish diabetic clubs that will act as a support group in the community and take the initiative in motivating the neighborhood to stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Charantia, in fact, is the only herbal food supplement endorsed by this national organization of doctors, AMHOP, which counts over 1,500 doctors among its members. AMHOP endorses Charantia "as food supplement for the control of blood sugar levels" because extensive clinical experience consistently yielded positive results. According to the AMHOP, "by adding Charantia to the diet, the patients’ glucose levels stabilized and glucose tolerance improved, to the point that medication could safely be reduced."

This is good news to poor patients (AMHOP’s usual clientele) who cannot afford to buy expensive diabetes medicine. Numerous doctors also prescribe Charantia as a "preventive measure" to people at risk of becoming diabetics, due to improper diet and lifestyle, family history, and poor health (obesity).

Charantia is also highly recommended by thousands of diabetics belonging to diverse diabetic clubs nationwide. These patients will voluntarily participate and give their testimonials on Charantia.

It goes without saying that no other ampalaya brand enjoys the ready support of its consumers as Charantia.

In sum, Charantia stands out in the market because it is "nothing but pure ampalaya minus the bitter taste." It allows people to savor the benefits of ampalaya in its purest form. A special hydration process locks in ampalaya’s anti-diabetes properties, but leaves out its unpleasant aftertaste.

Charantia is composed of 100 percent dried fruits and seeds of ampalaya. It has been scientifically documented in the past four decades that ampalaya’s active ingredients include an insulin-like protein known as Polypetide-p and two substances called Momordicin and Charantin. According to international studies, there is not enough evidence to show which one of these three elements is more responsible for ampalaya’s anti-diabetic potency. It is more likely, researchers have concluded, that "it is the interplay of these three elements, as well as ampalaya’s other natural elements that bring about its usefulness in treating diabetes. Thus, until further studies prove otherwise, it is best to use ampalaya in its natural form and not to use refine extracts."

Who would have thought that the lowly ampalaya would possess such wondrous health benefits? Indeed, our moms did know best when they tirelessly asked us to eat ampalaya when we were young.

But with Charantia, we can now enjoy ampalaya’s health benefits painlessly, by drinking a rejuvenating tea or taking it in convenient capsule form.

Wonders never cease.