That pretty blue water lily can make your health look pretty good too. According to scientists from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) in Hyderabad, the seeds and tuber of the blue water lily can control blood glucose and lipid (cholesterol) levels in persons suffering from diabetes and obesity, and can also slow the process of ageing. Researchers explained that the plant works on the pancreas and intestines and, if consumed after a meal, reduces blood sugar and lipid levels. Researchers found that an extract from the lily’s seeds and tuber thwarts the formation of chemicals that contribute to ageing and degeneration of the nervous system. The study was published in journal Cogent Food and Agriculture.

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Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
February 2017