If you have diabetes or poor blood sugar control, you may want to begin adding cinnamon to your daily intake. Research shows that cinnamon may work like insulin or help insulin function. Insulin is the hormone that helps blood sugar enter your cells to be used for energy. The mechanism of cinnamon is still somewhat unclear. However, scientific studies show significant health benefits to adding it to your diet.
The Research
A study published in 2009 in "The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine" showed cinnamon taken twice a day for 90 days lowered hemoglobin A1C in poorly controlled diabetics. Hemoglobin A1C is an average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Another study published in 2003 from Pakistan tested 60 people with Type 2 diabetes. They were divided up into groups taking 1, 3 or 6 g of cinnamon a day and into placebo groups. After 40 days, all three levels of cinnamon intake had reduced participants' blood sugar levels between 18 and 29 percent.
Benefits to Other Health Conditions
The study from 2003 mentioned above also showed consuming 1, 3 or 6 g of cinnamon a day reduced triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in people with Type 2 diabetes. The risk of heart disease increases two to four times if you have diabetes. Therefore, adding cinnamon to your daily diet may help reduce the incidence and severity of both diabetes and heart disease.
Adding Cinnamon to Your Diet
Adding cinnamon to your diet can be simple and very inexpensive. Try sprinkling it on mixed fruit, oatmeal or other cereal, yogurt, or toast. Richard A. Anderson, Ph.D., CNS, of the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, located in Beltsville, Maryland, states that the active component of cinnamon is water-soluble. Therefore, in addition to consuming ground cinnamon directly, you can add a cinnamon stick to your favorite beverage, like tea or coffee, before brewing. The active component in cinnamon is not destroyed by heat.
Other Spices and Herbs
Many factors can play a role in causing diabetes and heart disease, but your diet definitely plays a part in managing it. Cinnamon is just one spice that you may want to add to your diet. Cloves, bay leaves and turmeric also show insulin-enhancing properties. These spices can improve your blood sugar control and also your fat metabolism, antioxidant status and capillary function. Herbs that have been linked to better blood sugar control include bitter melon, onions, garlic and flaxseed meal.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Diabetes
- "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine"; Effectiveness of Cinnamon for Lowering Hemoglobin A1C in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Controlled Trial; Paul Crawford, M.D.; 2009
- "Diabetes Care"; Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People with Type 2 Diabetes; Alam Khan, MS, Ph.D.; December 2003
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Cinnamon, Glucose Tolerance and Diabetes
