The spice diabetics need
Regulating blood sugar is a 24/7 juggling act for diabetics, and cinnamon may be able to help keep it level.
Several years ago, researchers at a government facility in Beltsville, Maryland, discovered that ordinary cinnamon helped regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics. It didn't replace or increase insulin - it just made it work harder by enhancing insulin's natural ability to control blood sugar levels.
Diabetics can control their lipids with drugs - or cinnamon!
In a study involving rodents, researchers conducted a six-week test comparing lovastatin (cholesterol-lowering drug) to cinnamon to determine which did a better job of controlling cholesterol.
Two groups of rats received one or the other of the supplements, while a control group received no supplements. All were fed a high-cholesterol diet. After the study, doctors found that rats getting cinnamon had "significantly higher" levels of HDL (good) cholesterol than the control or the drug group! Even better, the cinnamon group showed less tendency to form plaque on arterial walls than the rats getting lovastatin! Cinnamon also lowered cholesterol levels in the liver and prevented lipid oxidation through its natural antioxidant activity!
In a clinical trial involving 60 people, half received a cinnamon supplement, while the rest received a placebo. After 40 days, doctors discovered cinnamon "reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL [bad] cholesterol and total cholesterol in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes." They even claimed it "will reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases."
Use organic cinnamomum cassia
There's no sense in taking a pill when you're dealing with something as delicious as cinnamon! Sprinkle it on your food and beverages. I add 1/4 tsp. to my hot carob drinks, sprinkle it liberally on yogurt and cottage cheese, toss it into Chinese dishes, use it to season some meats (especially beef stew) and sprinkle it on cooked cereals. It's not expensive, even if you buy organic - which is the only type you should buy. NEVER buy non-organic spices, as they are usually irradiated (more about irradiation here).
If you can't find organic cinnamon at your local health food store, there are plenty of places to buy it online. One last word of advice: there are two kinds of cinnamon. The most common kind and the kind used for all the studies listed above is cinnamomum cassia. Don't buy another type of cinnamon because it won't have as strong a flavor and may not deliver the same health benefits. You'll need to take about half a teaspoon a day to get any noticeable health benefits. Remember to check with your doctor before trying something that lowers your blood sugar naturally - especially if you're already experiencing blood sugar problems!
Additional source:
J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jan 14;52(1):65-70
J Med Food. 2003 Fall;6(3):183-91
Diabetes Care. 2003 Dec;26(12):3215-8
* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.
Several years ago, researchers at a government facility in Beltsville, Maryland, discovered that ordinary cinnamon helped regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics. It didn't replace or increase insulin - it just made it work harder by enhancing insulin's natural ability to control blood sugar levels.
Diabetics can control their lipids with drugs - or cinnamon!
In a study involving rodents, researchers conducted a six-week test comparing lovastatin (cholesterol-lowering drug) to cinnamon to determine which did a better job of controlling cholesterol.
Two groups of rats received one or the other of the supplements, while a control group received no supplements. All were fed a high-cholesterol diet. After the study, doctors found that rats getting cinnamon had "significantly higher" levels of HDL (good) cholesterol than the control or the drug group! Even better, the cinnamon group showed less tendency to form plaque on arterial walls than the rats getting lovastatin! Cinnamon also lowered cholesterol levels in the liver and prevented lipid oxidation through its natural antioxidant activity!
In a clinical trial involving 60 people, half received a cinnamon supplement, while the rest received a placebo. After 40 days, doctors discovered cinnamon "reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL [bad] cholesterol and total cholesterol in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes." They even claimed it "will reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases."
Use organic cinnamomum cassia
There's no sense in taking a pill when you're dealing with something as delicious as cinnamon! Sprinkle it on your food and beverages. I add 1/4 tsp. to my hot carob drinks, sprinkle it liberally on yogurt and cottage cheese, toss it into Chinese dishes, use it to season some meats (especially beef stew) and sprinkle it on cooked cereals. It's not expensive, even if you buy organic - which is the only type you should buy. NEVER buy non-organic spices, as they are usually irradiated (more about irradiation here).
If you can't find organic cinnamon at your local health food store, there are plenty of places to buy it online. One last word of advice: there are two kinds of cinnamon. The most common kind and the kind used for all the studies listed above is cinnamomum cassia. Don't buy another type of cinnamon because it won't have as strong a flavor and may not deliver the same health benefits. You'll need to take about half a teaspoon a day to get any noticeable health benefits. Remember to check with your doctor before trying something that lowers your blood sugar naturally - especially if you're already experiencing blood sugar problems!
Additional source:
J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jan 14;52(1):65-70
J Med Food. 2003 Fall;6(3):183-91
Diabetes Care. 2003 Dec;26(12):3215-8
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.
posted by Edith Gaylord | 5:30 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.
<< Home