 |
| Can Cinnamon Really Lower Your Blood Sugar ? |
Cinnamon spice is the second most consumed in America. But can it really make a difference to your blood sugar?
Cinnamon can really lower your blood sugar?
If you have metabolic syndrome, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, you're probably aware of the prowess that cinnamon can do to lower blood sugar and cholesterol. But when Dr. Richard A. Anderson received his potential, rather studying the benefits of chromium.
Chrome makes less insulin resistant cells, and we know that insulin resistance leads to type 2 diabetes. Anderson, a chemist in a laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, studying the chromium content of foods. This is where he learned that apple pie stimulated insulin activity (people were less insulin resistance). But it made no sense; apple pie is low in chromium and high in sugar.
First, Anderson assumed it was apples that caused this positive effect, only to discover that it was cinnamon, spice pie, which affected the blood sugar. Since this "eureka!" In the 1990s, Anderson focuses its studies on the effects of cinnamon on diabetics.
He is not alone. Other researchers have also put cinnamon in their line of sight, where a long series of studies over the past decade. So that some results contradicted others. In fact, Anderson has published an article in 2010 taking stock of 16 studies on cinnamon He noted that five of them concluded that cinnamon has little influence on lowering blood sugar. What is it? What is the end of the story? Cinnamon can it help or not?
There are different answers. Let's first look more closely at this tasty spice, the most popular in America, after black pepper. Then we will see that cinnamon can and can not do for you in the fight against type 2 diabetes.
What is it?
You buy cinnamon, but which one? There are two varieties. There is the true cinnamon, Ceylon (Cinnamomum verum) and cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum). They come from the bark of two evergreen trees closely related species. It is considered that the flavor of Ceylon cinnamon is more delicate than that of China.
Researchers use cassia for experiments, but to lower blood sugar, Anderson says so matter.
Tips for Buying
Make sure the cinnamon smells. If the flavor is not there, throw it away and buy some more. You can buy cinnamon sticks cinnamon for your choice: a thick bark rolled for cassia bark and several layers for thin Ceylon cinnamon. It easily grinds both in a spice grinder or coffee.
Why the results differ?
In most studies that cinnamon has not worked, people were also taking metformin. This drug is most often prescribed for type 2 diabetes and, according to Anderson, "it is like cinnamon, increasing insulin sensitivity. Taking metformin enough to manage blood sugar, cinnamon will have no effect. "To feel the effects of cinnamon on blood glucose, decrease the dose of metformin and see how it reacts with or without cinnamon.
Cinnamon does not have any effect on youth with type 1 diabetes. Since cinnamon does not replace insulin (whose absence causes type 1), the impact on blood glucose levels in diabetics Type 1 is zero, says Anderson. Finally, a 2008 study showed that cinnamon causes no decrease glucose in healthy individuals not suffering from any problem sugar.
How it works there?
Initial studies of Anderson, the most active compound of cinnamon, methylhydroxychalcone polymer (MHCP), can multiply 20 by glucose metabolism (a process that converts sugar into energy). This is not all. His team also learned that the MHCP is an antioxidant that prevents the formation of free radicals. According to Anderson, this could be an important advantage. Free radicals are tiny pacman particles that fly into the blood splashing onto healthy cells and inflicting DNA damage that leads to chronic diseases such as diabetes. "Other studies have shown that antioxidants reduce or slow the progression of the various complications of diabetes."
- It lowers blood sugar and cholesterol :
In 2003, Anderson published his famous study showing that cinnamon lowers blood sugar. With a team of researchers from the School of Agriculture Peshawar, he followed 60 middle-aged people with type 2 diabetes, divided into 6 groups. The first group took two capsules of cinnamon daily for 40 days. Group 2 took six. The third twelve. Each capsule contained 500 mg of cinnamon, which is about half a teaspoon. Groups 4, 5 and 6 had an equivalent amount of placebo capsules.
During the study, people ate as usual taking their drugs against diabetes (but not metformin). After 40 days, the people who took cinnamon experienced decreases in blood glucose levels of 18-29%. This is not all: cinnamon also lowered triglycerides 23 to 30%, the total cholesterol of 13-26%, and LDL cholesterol by 10 to 24%.
How to cinnamon?
Very simple: add half a teaspoon of cinnamon to your food every day. This is a classic on oatmeal or toast (no butter or sugar, if you go against the purpose). Sprinkle some on fruit or mix it in your smoothies.
Is it like effect quickly ?
According to Anderson, the effect of cinnamon on blood glucose levels is felt after two weeks of daily use. But the reducing effect on cholesterol and triglycerides may take weeks or months.
Will there any disadvantages ?
Dont take more than half a teaspoon per day. Cinnamon contains coumarin, a compound which acts as an anticoagulant. High consumption of coumarin over a long period can cause liver damage, although this is very rare.
- good news :
"When insulin sensitivity improves, the risk of cardiovascular disease, arthritis and some forms of cancer decreases. Drugs that improve insulin sensitivity are both in patients with Alzheimer's. Same for obesity. With obesity, insulin sensitivity decreases and cognitive function declines, "says Anderson. Result: a low daily intake of cinnamon can cause beneficial effects on other aspects of your health as diabetes.
- in summary :
If you have pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome, add cinnamon in your diet and exercise can help prevent type 2 diabetes. If you already have type 2 diabetes and do not take metformin, cinnamon daily to help your body to better manage blood sugar.
If you have type 2 diabetes and are taking metformin, cinnamon will not help you. But if you feed healthy diet and exercise, talk to your doctor to add cinnamon to your diet and lower your dose of metformin. But do not replace your medications with cinnamon or anything else without the consent of the doctor .
Note: I remind you that in case of a real health problem, you should consult a doctor or other specialist. The remedies that are presented to you are brought to your attention and only indicative.
Related Topics :
The Cinnamon Tea a Powerful Natural Antioxidant :
9 Spices,Herbs for Weight Loss : Natural Health
Turmeric ( Curcumine ) one of the most effective nutritional supplement in existence.
5 Herbs and Spices Effects on Healing Memory Loss, Dementia, or Alzheimer’s :
How Turmeric (Curcumin) Helps Prevent and And Perhaps Even Treat all types of Cancer :
No comments:
Post a Comment