Kudzu Root: The Tummy Tamer
Here are some ways Kudzu root can be good for your tummy and overall health:
1. Helps with Digestion:
Kudzu root helps break down food in your tummy, making it easier to digest. It can also help if you feel constipated, gassy, or bloated by making more tummy juices to break down food.
2. Fights Inflammation:
Inflammation is when a part of your body gets red, warm, and puffy. Kudzu root can help calm down inflammation in your tummy, which is good for people with certain tummy diseases.
3. Good Bacteria Buddy:
Kudzu root helps grow good bacteria in your tummy, which is important for digesting food and keeping you healthy.
4. Changes Gut Bacteria:
Some studies say Kudzu root can change the kind of bacteria in your tummy in a good way, helping with some health problems.
5. Ancient Tummy Helper:
People have used Kudzu root for over 2000 years to help with tummy troubles like diarrhea. This shows it might be a good natural medicine.
6. Has Healthy Stuff Inside:
Kudzu root has special healthy stuff called phytochemicals that help fight diseases and keep your tummy happy.
7. Reduces Red and Puffy Spots:
In some animal studies, Kudzu root helped reduce red and puffy spots in the tummy, which shows it might help with tummy inflammation.
8. Acts Like a Tiny Shield:
Kudzu root acts like a tiny shield against bad stuff, known as antioxidants, which helps keep your tummy healthy.
9. Helps with Alcohol Damage:
Sometimes, drinking alcohol can hurt your tummy, but Kudzu root might help protect it.
The above points depict a multifaceted approach by which Kudzu root (Ge Gen) can contribute to gut health, encompassing anti-inflammatory effects, aiding digestion, promoting beneficial bacteria, and modulating gut microbiota.
References:
Song, Xinqi, et al. "Kudzu Resistant starch: An effective regulator of type 2 diabetes mellitus." Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2021 (2021).
Prasain, Jeevan K., Stephen Barnes, and J. Michael Wyss. "Kudzu isoflavone C‐glycosides: Analysis, biological activities, and metabolism." Food Frontiers 2.3 (2021): 383-389.
Kushner, Steven, et al. "Declinol, a complex containing Kudzu, Bitter Herbs (Gentian, Tangerine Peel) and Bupleurum, significantly reduced alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) scores in moderate to heavy drinkers: a pilot study." Journal of addiction research & therapy 4.3 (2013).
Ulbricht, Catherine, et al. "An evidence-based systematic review of kudzu (Pueraria lobata) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration." Journal of Dietary Supplements 12.1 (2015): 36-104.
Hou, Zhenping, et al. "Dynamic Profiles of Fermentation Quality and Microbial Community of Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) Ensiled with Sucrose." Agronomy 12.8 (2022): 1853.
Jun, Mira, et al. "Comparison of antioxidant activities of isoflavones from kudzu root (Pueraria lobata Ohwi)." Journal of food science 68.6 (2003): 2117-2122.
Chen, Rong, et al. "Effects of polysaccharide from Pueraria lobata on gut microbiota in mice." International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 158 (2020): 740-749.