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Cinnamon Can Help Control Your Blood Sugar

Cinnamon

A Swedish research team has again confirmed previous studies from 2000 and 2004, showing the positive effect of cinnamon in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

This new study found a meaningful decrease in blood sugar in patients who consumed 6 grams of cinnamon with their rice pudding, versus those who ate their's plain.

They were also seeking to find whether cinnamon had any effect on satiety, but the results were negligible at best.

Cinnamon has previously been indicated as a potential insulin substitute for those with type 2 diabetes -- researchers have found that cinnamon contains a bioactive component with "insulin-like" effects.

It has also been determined that this inexpensive spice increases glucose metabolism 20-fold.



American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 6, 1552-1556, June 2007


Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Previous studies found that half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It also reduces triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels among this group.

Cinnamon's other benefits include:

  • Supporting digestive function
  • Relieving congestion
  • Relieving pain and stiffness of muscles and joints
  • Anti-inflammatory compounds that may relieve arthritis
  • Helping to prevent urinary tract infections, tooth decay and gum disease
  • It's a powerful anti-microbial agent that can kill E. coli and other bacteria

Cinnamon is an incredibly inexpensive and, not to mention, great tasting tool for diabetics and the likelihood of this food causing any long-term complications is very small. But although this is wonderful news well worthy of repeating, you should remember that simply adding cinnamon to your diet will not "cure" you of diabetes.

The really great news is that virtually anyone with type 2 diabetes can be permanently "cured" of this disease and horrible premature disability and death by committing to a nutritionally typed appropriate diet and exercise program. This is important to understand because what nearly all  conventionally trained physicians are teaching their patients about diabetes is actually killing them.

The best route to cure diabetes (as well as prevention of it) is to avoid foods that increase insulin, meaning limiting your intake of grains and sugars. In addition, you should be sure to get daily exercise to improve insulin sensitivity.

So go ahead and have your cinnamon, it is one of my favorite spices, but don't for a second believe that it is the final solution for diabetes. If you do you will be just as deluded as the patients taking oral hypoglycemics and believing they are "controlling" their diabetes.

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Article's Comment     ( 46 Comments )
 
 
 +19 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY kelann   
  
[ Joined on 01/07 ]
[ Posted on June 11, 2007 ]
Post Reply
I was looking into this just last week.  I found 2 things that I thought were important. 

First, in the US we don't get "real" cinnamon.  We get cinnamon (cassius), which is, of course, cheaper.  This has a compound called coumarin that is rough on the liver even in small doses.  "Real" cinnamon (from Sri Lanca) has almost no coumarin.  The German govt. has asked people to stop taking cinnamon supplements because they are getting way too much of it.  The only supplement I have found is Cinnulin PF (sold by various people, Pure Encapsulations being one).  It still uses the "cheap" cassius, but they take out the coumarin. 

Second, I found that cinnamon works two ways.   (i) it mimics insulin, thereby helping to lower blood sugar, and (ii) it stimulates insulin production, which is, of course, a drag.  I only found one source that said this, but it cautioned me. 

Let's just say I stopped putting cinnamon on my watermelon (which is quite delicious)!

I found all of this heavy googling, but can point to references if anyone wants them.
 

 +6 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Pauletta   
  
[ Joined on 03/07 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on June 12, 2007 ]
 
Hi Kelann,

I guess I will try the Frontier Sticks, I have a coffee grinder which works very well for flax seeds, which I grind fresh everyday.
Very interesting that giving up gluten eliminated your sugar craving.  How difficult was it to give up gluten, seems like it is in everything i love, bread, grain etc.  Paulette

 +5 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Pauletta   
  
[ Joined on 03/07 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on June 12, 2007 ]
 
Kelann,
I just love this site, so much great information for FREE!!!  Thank you Dr. Mercola.
I am very interested in buying Ceylon cinnamon and I went to the site in your post "link".  Very informative, I am going to purchase the 1lb. cinnamon and the cin. toothpicks.  However, I want to check with you about credibility, have you ordered from the site?  Do you recommend the products?  I am very cautions when ordering online.  I do not know about my insulin levels but I think they are probably high.  My drug of choice is SUGAR and I am making a valient effort to get off sugar.  I am making great strides with the help of Dr. Mercola.  I No longer eat sugar substitutes, thank God.  Paulette  

 +4 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY kelann   
  
[ Joined on 01/07 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on June 12, 2007 ]
 
Here's a link to the article that mentions that it stimulates insulin production in addition to mimicking insulin.  (Click here.)  With respect to "real" cinnamon, it is always (as I understand it) from Sri Lanka/Ceylon (same place).  I called Frontier Organic spice company, and all of their ground cinnamon is the cassius (the "bad" kind with coumarin), but their cinnamon sticks are from Sri Lanka, and are the "good" kind.  Also, the Cinnulin PF (which is a trademark like the Neptune krill oil) is the "bad" kind, but the coumarin is removed, so it's okay, too.  With respect to quantity, I've seen two different things.  One that said that <1.5 grams had no effect, but another that said 1 gm. had as much effect as a lot more--although the dosage gave variable results in rats (more cinnamon = better control of blood sugar), in people, it didn't.   And another that said the effects lasted longer in those who took more once the cinnamon was stopped.

Please note that I am only reporting what I've read variously and don't know anything myself "officially".  However, if I were to take cinnamon, I would either (i) use the "real stuff" (here's a link to the "real" kind, but I'm not sure if organic also sell it ground) or (ii) use the Cinnulin PF.  The coumarin is supposed to be pretty bad.

As to palatability, I've found that I can pretty much ton it on stuff, although I stopped after seeing the coumarin info.  It's great on apples, peaches and watermelon!

Hope the links are helpful! 

 +2 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY kelann   
  
[ Joined on 01/07 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on June 12, 2007 ]
 
Hi, Pauletta!

No, I've never ordered from them before, and I don't know anything about them as vendors.  I just came across their site as I looked for information.  If it's not organic, it could be subject to irradiation, heavy metals, etc. from the soil, blah blah.  I know the Frontier sticks are Ceylon (not the ground cinnamon, just the sticks), and if you had a grinder could grind it to a powder.  Then it would definately be Ceylon and organic!

Good luck!  Sugar is my drug of choice, too.  Here's an odd one for you: Since I've laid off gluten, I don't crave sugar.  It was almost instantaneous.  I eat fruit, etc., but I mean SUGAR, and I'm sure you know what I mean!  Go figure, but I'll take it!

 +1 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY kelann