Plant atlas Short
Gymnema: The Leaf That Mutes the Taste of Sugar
Gymnema (Sugar Destroyer) · ผักเชียงดา · Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema (Sugar Destroyer) — ผักเชียงดา (phak-chiang-da) — Gymnema sylvestre.
Chew this leaf and sweetness goes flat on your tongue for minutes. The edible part is the leaf. A meta-analysis reported modest changes in fasting and long-term glucose markers in type-2-diabetes studies. It's rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and iron. Gaeng Phak Chiang Da (a Northern Thai soup) simmers slightly bitter gymnema leaves in a savory dried fish broth with chili paste, which you eat hot with fresh sticky rice. Phak Chiang Da Pad Kai quickly stir-fries fresh gymnema leaves with garlic and eggs, creating a savory side dish for steamed jasmine rice. In Northern Thailand the young leaves are eaten as a vegetable, stir-fried or in soups. Chewing them briefly dulls the taste of sweetness. Eat the leaves with a little oil, which helps your body absorb the beta-carotene it turns into vitamin A. If you take insulin or diabetes medication, gymnema can push your blood sugar too low, so monitor closely and check with your doctor. Train the climbing vine up a trellis and pick the young leaves. Follow Longevity Biome for a new Thai plant every day.
Kaeng Phak Chiangda — แกงผักเซียงดาใส่ปลาแห้ง (gaeng-pak-chiang-da-sai-pla-haeng)
Stir-Fried Gymnema with Egg — ผักเชียงดาผัดไข่ (pak-chiang-da-pad-kai)
Source: Devangan S et al. (2021). Gymnema sylvestre & glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: systematic review/meta-analysis. Phytother Res 35(12):6802-6812. DOI:10.1002/ptr.7265
Educational content, not medical advice! Consult your doctor before changing diet or medication.
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Food and nutrients
Rich in: vitamin C, vitamin A, iron
Research context
Gymnema modestly lowered fasting blood sugar and long-term blood sugar in people with type-2 diabetes — Phytotherapy Research, 2021 (meta-analysis)