With more than 50 million Americans suffering from diabetes, pre-diabetes or hearth disease, the emphasis on controlling blood sugar levels is tantamount to maintaining health. Because it becomes more difficult to metabolize glucose as we age from increased sensitivity to insulin levels, a healthy diet is essential to prevent the pancreas from working overtime. Recognized throughout the centuries as one of nature's essential healing spices for a wide number of physical ailments, cinnamon's ability to help control glucose levels is rapidly rising to the forefront of common knowledge.
History
Cinnamon's medicinal value was recognized in early civilizations where it was used as an anti-bacterial, an antiseptic and a way to improve memory function. The ancient Egyptians used cinnamon for embalming as it works as a preservative. The early Greeks and Romans used it to treat a wide range of ailments, including nausea and bloating. In the Middle Ages, healers mixed the spice with cloves and water to help Bubonic plague victims. It has also been used to soothe urinary tract and yeast infections and is a prominent medicament in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
Characteristics
A small evergreen tree, cinnamon is native to Southern India, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, Brazil, Egypt, Zanzibar and Madagascar. The tree includes green flowers and a berry that contains one seed. By scraping off the tree's bark, the inner bark is then revealed and harvested in strips that later curl into rolls as they dry.
Glucose and the Body
Our bodies control our blood sugar levels through a hormone the pancreas secretes. This hormone transports glucose to the cells, with the pancreas responding to our food intake by releasing appropriate amounts of insulin to deliver the insulin effectively. Cell walls contain receptors that are sensitive to insulin. If these receptors become resistant to insulin, the pancreas has to create more insulin to feed cells with glucose, which creates higher blood glucose levels. As glucose levels rise, they can give way to an imbalance in the system, leading to pre-diabetic conditions and eventually diabetes itself.
Cinnamon and Glucose
In a study conducted at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, scientists isolated the insulin-enhancing elements in cinnamon in order to determine if they could work effectively with glucose intolerance. The research showed that the phytochemical extracts of epicatechin, phenol and tannin contained in cinnamon helped increase the metabolism of glucose "20 fold." According to Dr. Richard A. Anderson, who conducted the study, consuming approximately ½ teaspoon of cinnamon per day can help balance blood sugar levels, along with cholesterol and triglycerides with no side effects.
In an article published in the American Diabetes Association's "Diabetes Care," a study created by Alam Khan, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Anderson's lab, corroborated that cinnamon is able to improve conditions in blood glucose type 2 diabetes. He divided 60 people with the disease into groups, with some taking daily doses of cinnamon and others taking a placebo. After 40 days, those consuming cinnamon showed a marked positive change in glucose levels. Once the diabetics stopped taking cinnamon, their blood sugar levels rose again.
How to Take Cinnamon
Cinnamon must be fresh to function effectively. If you buy ground cinnamon, make sure the smell is strong and sweet. If your cinnamon has been on the shelf for too long, it might be stale and should be replaced. You can also buy sticks and grind them for use in cereals, baked fruits, pies and the like, or place them directly in hot tea or coffee. According to "Life Extension" magazine, one-half to two teaspoons of cinnamon per day can help regulate glucose levels in the average person.
