Cinnamon for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar Control??

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Cinnamon for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar Control?

JoAnn Guest

Dec 01, 2004 08:53 PST

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Cinnamon for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar Control?

 

I have been reading that several studies have shown that a daily dose of

cinnamon may delay the onset of type II diabetes and help regulate blood

sugar levels of existing type II diabetics. I’ve also heard that taking

a half-teaspoon of cinnamon a day can help to lower cholesterol.

 

-- Betsy

 

 

Answer (Published 11/30/2004)

 

 

Some recent research does suggest that cinnamon may have a beneficial

effect on blood sugar and may also help lower cholesterol, but the study

in question was small and its findings need to be confirmed before we

can start recommending cinnamon to patients.

 

The news about cinnamon’s effect on blood sugar and cholesterol came

from a small study in Pakistan. Results were published in the December

2003 issue of Diabetes Care. The study ran for only 40 days and included

60 patients with type 2 diabetes.

 

It showed that one, three or six grams of cinnamon daily, divided into two

doses (that amounts to between a quarter of a teaspoon to 1 teaspoon a day),

lowered fasting glucose by

18 to 29 percent, triglycerides by 23 to 30 percent, LDL cholesterol by

7 to 27 percent, and total cholesterol by 12 to 26 percent.

 

Cinnamon’s effect on blood sugar

is believed to be due to a proanthocyanidin, an active ingredient that

increases sensitivity of receptors to insulin.

 

A word of caution:

cinnamon in large doses may be toxic, so don’t assume

that if the relatively small amounts used in the study help, larger

amounts will work better.

The results of the Pakistani study are very interesting, but

we need to know more.

 

In the meantime, there’s no harm in sprinkling cinnamon on your oatmeal

or using it in cooking.

 

Moderator's Note: I agree, there's little harm in using cinnamon.

However, when we remember that all of our spices are currently

irradiated, any non-organic forms of cinnamon leaves much to be desired!

 

 

Andrew Weil, MD

www.drweil.com

 

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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