Background and context
Do you have a sweet tooth and crave sugary foods? We may have a solution in a form of a mint. Gymnema Sylvestre is a plant native to Asia. Gymnema Sylvestre has been used in Ayuverdic medicine to treat sugar related diseases.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether consuming a Gymnema sylvestre-containing mint can reduce intake, desire and preference for sweet foods in individuals with a sweet tooth.
The study also investigated the motivations of adults to eat sugar-sweetened food while participating.
At the start of the study, participants were motivated to eat sugar-sweetened food:
- out of emotion or boredom
- because of social factors or because it is present
- out of habit
- because sugar-sweetened foods are pleasurable or because of self-perceived hormonal changes or cravings
- out of hunger.
They were motivated to avoid sugar-sweetened food because of conscious decisions to change their lifestyles, such as a diet or wish to be more mindful, and because of external factors such as occupations, daily activities and responsibilities.
Results
When taken up to six times a day at an individual’s discretion, the Gymnema sylvestre-containing mints:
- reduced daily sugar-sweetened beverage intake by 42% compared to placebo.
- reduced overall sugar cravings by 28% compared to placebo.
- reduced pleasantness ratings and desire for more chocolate.
When taken three times a day in between meals, the Gymnema sylvestre-containing mint reduced pleasantness ratings and desire for more chocolate.
There were no significant changes in bodyweight, bodyfat and BMI, although this was not expected due to the short timeframe of the study.
All participants’ motivations to eat sugar-sweetened foods were influenced by both the treatments themselves and external factors.
- When taken up to six times a day at their discretion, the mint trial treatments made sugary foods taste less pleasurable and participants reported the treatments made them eat more mindfully.
- At every stage of the study, participants reported still being influenced to eat or avoid sugar-sweetened foods because of lifestyle changes, and because of external factors.
- All treatments reportedly influenced participants’ motivations to eat sugar-sweetened foods. Gymnema sylvestre-containing mints influenced their motivations more than the placebo.
- The treatment which changed participants’ self-control levels the most was the mint taken up to six times a day at their discretion. However, participants also felt that external factors in their lives caused their self-control levels to change.
Conclusions
- The Gymnema sylvestre-containing mint showed a noticeable difference from the placebo mint in all testing aspects (sensory testing, questionnaires and food diary).
- Compared to the placebo, Gymnema sylvestre may increase your motivation to avoid sugary foods. This may be because it helps an individual eat mindfully, and it increases the timeframe between initially being motivated to eat and actually eating the sugary food.
- Gymnema sylvestre taken six times a day at the participant's discretion was the optimal way of supplementing when compared to systematic method (three times a day between meals)
- Gymnema sylvestre can be a helpful tool in aiding sugar reduction in conjunction with other methods.