Cinnamon - More than just a Spice
Article written by Christine Arulappen.
What thoughts come to mind when you think of cinnamon? Like me, you may be imagining using the brown curling quills with their warm-sweet taste in your cooking. Adding this versatile spice to an assortment of sweet and savoury foods, anything from cinnamon scrolls to Moroccan stews. Cinnamon is not only a delight to the senses but new research reveals that cinnamon supplementation may be a useful accompaniment to help regulate blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
A clinical trial conducted recently in the United Kingdom explored how this spice would benefit 58 patients with type 2 diabetes. After 12 weeks of supplementing 2g of cinnamon the results were positive with significant reductions in blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin levels when compared with the placebo group.1 Glycated haemoglobin is a measure of blood glucose/sugar control over a period of three months. When blood sugar levels are consistently high, sugar compounds become attached to the haemoglobin (iron containing protein) in red bloods cells.
You may have noticed that the Tony Ferguson Chromium Plus supplement along with chromium also contains cinnamon. This helps you balance out your blood sugar levels and in effect may dampen food cravings.
The versatility of cinnamon to spice up a dish is well recognised but what is even more promising is supplementing cinnamon to help regulate our blood sugar levels, a claim further supported by this clinical trial. Have you had your cinnamon today?
References
- Akilen R. et al, 2010. Glycated haemoglobin and blood pressure-lowering effect of cinnamon in multi-ethnic Type 2 diabetic patients in the UK: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Diabetic Medicine [Abstract Online] 27(10) p. 1159-67. Available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20854384 [Accessed 2 February 2010].
Last updated 2/16/2011 3:45:43 PM
