Special Edition: Blood Sugar Management
Phase 2
Next up is Pharmachem’s Phase 2 Carb Controller, a proprietary extract of Phaseolus vulgaris. The company got the thumbs up from Canada’s Natural Health Products Directorate in 2014 for two health claims for the ingredient, one of which focuses on glucose metabolism: “At 4-6 capsules (2000-3000 mg) per day: Provides support for healthy glucose metabolism following a carbohydrate rich meal.”
A review of the science to support the claims, published in the Nutrition Journal in 2011 (10:24), concluded: “Experiments conducted with the Phase 2 alpha-amylase inhibitor indicate that it reduces the rate of absorption of carbohydrates, thereby reducing the GI of foods. The evidence also indicates that Phase 2 promotes weight loss when taken concurrently with meals containing carbohydrates.
“The importance of reducing the GI of foods in weight management and type 2 diabetic control is indicated by an emerging body of evidence. Reducing the post-prandial spikes of glucose and insulin following a high GI meal may also reduce the risks of developing insulin resistance, which can lead to cardiovascular disease.”
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