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A sweet spice has been shown to offer a dual benefit against diabetes and high cholesterol.
This finding is encouraging because the two diseases often go hand in hand. Diabetes damages the lining of the arteries, making it more likely that cholesterol will stick to them, narrowing or even clogging them.
If you have diabetes, you will typically have lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and higher levels of LDL/non-HDL cholesterol.
This is the “bad” type of diabetes that increases your risk of heart disease.
Daily consumption of just one, three or six grams has been shown to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
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The super spice
A study of 60 middle-aged Britons published in the journal Diabetes Care found that cinnamon improved blood sugar, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Participants were divided into three groups and received one (half a teaspoon), three or six grams of cinnamon per day, respectively.
Three other groups received placebo capsules matching the number of capsules consumed for the three cinnamon levels.
Cinnamon was consumed for 40 days, followed by a 20-day “washout” phase, during which no pills were taken.
Researchers found that cinnamon reduced cholesterol by about 18% and blood sugar by 24%.
They concluded that “including” cinnamon in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes would reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Other studies support this conclusion.
Researchers found that ingesting a daily cinnamon supplement lowered abnormally high blood sugar levels in prediabetics for two weeks.
Another study, cited in Agricultural Research Magazine, found that consuming just one gram of cinnamon per day can increase insulin sensitivity and help manage or reverse type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, a 2007 analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that six grams of cinnamon slowed stomach emptying and significantly reduced post-meal blood sugar spikes.
Six grams of cinnamon slows stomach emptying, study finds
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Additionally, a 2019 study suggests that cinnamon helps reduce fasting blood sugar levels.
The Editor’s Point of View
It must be acknowledged that further studies are needed to confirm these results.
It’s also important to “keep in mind” that, like many natural compounds, cinnamon has not yet been medically approved for the prevention or treatment of any disease, notes Diabetes UK.
The literature, however, suggests that cinnamon shows promise in the treatment of diabetes.
So it can be added to your dietary arsenal, but consult your doctor or health care team first.
Symptoms to look out for
Many people have type 2 diabetes without knowing it because they don’t always notice symptoms.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:
- Urinating more than usual
- Being thirsty all the time
- I feel very tired
- Lose weight effortlessly
- Itching around the penis or vagina, or repeated thrush
- Cuts or wounds that take longer to heal
- Blurred vision
News Source : www.gbnews.com
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