There’s nothing quite as a tasty as a sweet, as a juicy pear. Now, Food Research International have discovered that certain types of pears may help to manage type 2 diabetes. The secret is in the skin, pulp and juice of Starkrimson and Bartlett pears. They contain high concentrations of phenolic compounds, often found in medicinal herbs.The benefits of a pear-enriched diet and the ability to better manage type 2 diabetes have been studied in vitro.
North Dakota State University researchers examined two compounds found in the two varieties of pear, to better understand how they impact chronic diseases.
It’s part of a followed up study on a previous in vitro research that examined how pulp extracts of different pear varieties impact glucose absorption during digestion.
Researchers noted that the compounds in the pears including phenolics, which provide flavor and color characteristics and antioxidants, while the activity of enzymes associated with starch and glucose metabolism was also slowed down.
Study co-author Kalidas Shetty says, “Our results suggest that if we consume Bartlett and Starkrimson pears as a whole fruit (peel and pulp) it may potentially provide better control of early stage diabetes as part of an overall healthier diet.” Researchers think that a “dietary strategy involving fruits, including pears, not only potentially could help better control blood glucose levels, but also reduce dependence on drugs for prediabetes stages, or complement a reduced pharmacological dose of drugs with side effects to combat very early stages of type 2 diabetes.”
The activity associated with pears relates to managing the early stages of hyperglycemia and hypertension induced by diabetes. Scientists believe pears may have the potential for phenolic-linked control of hyperglycemia and should be included in dietary strategies for people with type 2 diabetes.
Although it remains unknown whether these in vitro studies can trigger similar results in humans, the findings provide do pave a road towards future studies on pears and their ability to combat type 2 diabetes.
“It’s exciting to explore the potential that pears can have to balance beneficial bacterial activity in the digestive process, as gut health helps support the overall health of the body,” said Dr. Kalidas Shetty.
