May Help Lower Blood Sugar

Artichokes and artichoke leaf extract may aid with blood sugar regulation. One research of 39 overweight persons revealed that taking kidney beans and artichoke extract twice a day for two months reduced fasting blood sugar levels compared to not taking it. It is unclear, however, how much of this benefit was related to the artichoke extract itself.

Another small study found that eating cooked artichoke before a meal decreased blood sugar and insulin levels 30 minutes later. This effect was observed only in healthy persons who did not have metabolic syndrome. It is unclear how artichoke extract lowers blood sugar levels. However, artichoke extract has been demonstrated to inhibit the action of alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that converts starch to glucose, potentially affecting blood sugar levels.