Cinnamon could be used in the battle against type 2 diabetes, according to USDA scientists. Their study based on a water-soluble extract of cinnamon, suggested that the spice might have a beneficial effect on blood glucose (also known as sugar).
Insulin is a key hormone that ” opens a door ” inside cells and then escorts glucose into cells, thus providing fuel for them, according to the USDA website explaining the research. “ Without a sufficient supply of insulin, or the ability to use available insulin, glucose accumulates in the blood rather than entering cells where it can be metabolized and used as fuel. Over time, damage occurs to the eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves. ”
The researchers randomly assigned 22 volunteers who had metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases the risk of diabetes, to either a water-soluble extract of cinnamon or a placebo to supplement their diet with it for 12 weeks.
Those who took the supplement experienced significant decreases in fasting glucose levels, as well as small increases in lean muscle mass, a sign of improved body composition. The placebo group did not. Also, other symptoms of metabolic syndrome, for example, abnormal blood LDL or HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels, were not affected.
If you are considering cinnamon to keep your blood sugar level, you should consider advice from a previous study, last year. Three grams of cinnamon a day provides benefits such as improved insulin function and increased levels of a peptide that slows stomach emptying. Delayed stomach emptying can help people eat less, preventing overeating that can lead to spikes in blood sugar.
Note: Cinnamon powder contains coumarin, a compound that can cause liver damage in large amounts. If you want to use cinnamon therapeutically, it is safest to use a water-soluble supplement.
This information belongs to preliminary studies, which deserve further clarification in order to prove this satisfactorily. We consider it an encouraging figure to add natural treatments, but we must be consistent with the reality of published studies.