It’s another lovely day to find out about the health benefits of kudzu.
Kudzu is a perennial vine that’s native in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and in the Pacific islands. Other popular names for kudzu are Japanese Arrowroot, Chinese Arrowroot, Kudzu Vine, Kudzu Root, and Kudzu Herb.
This is a list of the health benefits of kudzu that I came across online.
1. Kudzu Helps With Digestion And Stomach Problems
Kudzu has been used traditionally as a natural remedy for upset stomachs caused by poor digestion.
It’s able to improve digestion and regulate normal bowel movement. This means that you can prevent constipation and diarrhea from consuming kudzu.
Kudzu also has the ability to neutralize excess stomach acid.
You may be more familiar with albizia? It’s another great herb that’s good for your digestion.
You can check my article about the health benefits of albizia here.
2. May Help Reduce Menopause Symptoms
It’s been said that if you consume kudzu, it can help relieve or reduce symptoms of menopause.
Some of these are having hot flashes and night sweats.
3. Kudzu May Help Keep Your Heart Healthy
Kudzu seems to have the ability to keep your cardiovascular system healthy because of the isoflavones found in this plant.
These isoflavones help reduce your cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels. The combination of these can contribute to keeping your heart healthy.
4. May Help Reduce Alcohol Consumption
In a study conducted in 2005, they noticed that kudzu extracts may help decrease the intake of alcohol.
In the experiment, they gave kudzu capsules to some of the test subjects for 7 days before the experiment.
They noticed that those who consumed kudzu significantly consumed lesser beer compared to those who did not.
5. Kudzu May Help Manage Glucose Levels
Kudzu has been observed to help regulate glucose levels or sugar levels in your blood.
One particular isoflavone in this vine is puerarin.
Puerarin seems to be able to lead glucose to parts of your body like your muscles, where it’s needed, and away from your blood vessels and fat cells.
6. May Help With Cluster Headache
Cluster headache is considered to be a neurological disorder that’s characterized by severe headaches on the side of your head.
A conducted small research from 2009, they noticed that people who consumed kudzu experienced a reduced duration, frequency, and intensity of attacks of cluster headaches.
7. Kudzu May Help Reduce Inflammations
There are some who say that kudzu can be a natural option if you’re dealing with inflammations.
They added that it has anti-inflammatory properties that can be helpful against inflammations in your body that can lead to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and even cancer.
8. May Help Manage Metabolic Syndrome
If you have at least 3 of these symptoms (abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high serum triglycerides, low serum high-density lipoprotein) then you may have a condition called metabolic syndrome.
If you have it, you are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
In an animal study in 2009, rats were used as the basis of comparison to those who were fed kudzu extracts and those who weren’t.
After 2 months, they noticed that the rats who were fed with kudzu gained less weight and have noticeably better levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, and insulin.
9. Kudzu Contains Isoflavones
Kudzu contains different kinds of isoflavones like daidzin, daidzein, puerarin, and tectorigenin.
These isoflavones give this root it’s amazing medicinal effects.
Conclusion
There you have it. These are just some of the health benefits of kudzu.
I’m not familiar with kudzu, but I would definitely benefit from its anti-inflammatory properties. The number of isoflavones in kudzu is also great to have.
What’s your favorite in the health benefits of kudzu?
Just like me who’s unfamiliar with kudzu vine, please make sure to consult first with your doctor or medical professional if it’s safe for you to consume it.
Don’t forget to share this article with someone who you think can benefit from knowing more about the health benefits of kudzu. Thank you!