TAGS
The relationship between cinnamon and blood sugar is quite remarkable. It seems ironic that a spicy and sweet bark from a tropical tree can help people control their blood sugar. This makes it ideal for people with insulin resistance.
Countless research studies have been conducted on cinnamon and blood sugar with virtually all of them demonstrating cinnamon’s amazing ability to control blood sugar.
For example, one study conducted in the US found that type 2 diabetics who were given 1 gram of a day had a significant reduction in their levels of glycated haemoglobin content compared to the placebo group.1 Glycated haemoglobin (red blood cells that have been frosted by blood sugar) is the best measurement of long-term blood sugar control.
Another study published in the journal, Diabetes Care, found that taking 1-6 grams of a day for 40 days reduced blood sugar by up to 29%. It also had the effects of decreasing LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol by up to 27%, decreasing total cholesterol by up to 26%, and decreasing triglycerides by up to 30%.2
Furthermore, these benefits remained for 20 days after cessation of use. This means that cinnamon doesn’t have to be taken every day in order to receive its blood sugar controlling benefits.
It is well-known that oxidation in the body promotes the ageing process and is strongly associated with various diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, of which insulin resistance is a cause and symptom.
Researchers in France have found that by using a people who were overweight and had ‘pre-diabetes’ (insulin resistance) could significantly lower several biomarkers of oxidation in their bodies.3
Metabolic Syndrome is a condition characterised by elevated blood sugar levels, being overweight (particularly carrying excess weight around the abdomen), high blood pressure, and high triglycerides (fats in the blood stream).
In one study involving people with Metabolic Syndrome, researchers found that after three months of using a , subjects had a lower blood sugar level, lower blood pressure, decreased body fat, and an increase in lean tissue, i.e. muscle tissue.4
This is particularly important because having more muscle means it is easier to dispose of glucose from the blood stream more effectively. This makes it easier to control blood sugar.
Researchers in Sweden discovered that adding a substantial amount of cinnamon to a high-carbohydrate meals resulted in a lower post-meal level of blood sugar.5
British researchers have revealed that even healthy young men can improve their insulin sensitivity by using several grams of a day.
This was found after using cinnamon for only 2 weeks and determined by a glucose tolerance test.6
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is an hormonal disorder that affects up to 10% of women in Western countries. It involves the development of small cysts on the ovaries and results in a range of symptoms including insulin resistance. Researchers examining PCOS have found that women with the condition who used a were able to significantly decrease their fasting blood sugar level and improve their insulin sensitivity.7
The relationship between cinnamon and blood sugar appears to be determined by cinnamon’s active ingredient, cinnamaldehyde, and its ability to mimic the action of insulin by stimulating insulin receptors on muscle and fat cells to uptake glucose and therefore lower the .
There is no doubt that cinnamon has a powerful ability to lower blood sugar effectively. However, using it in your food every day, especially in the grams dosages that are required, can be extrememly difficult.
References:
.
