Cinnamon Can Help Control Your Blood Sugar?

[Lost Dog]

This looks interesting and promising, from my layman's perspective.

Years ago, I'd read about many people in India having incredibly stable blood sugar levels. The theory was that it was the cinnamon.

Interesting to see a follow up to that. I always give the cinnamon an extra little shake.


Source: Cinnamon Can Help Control Your Blood Sugar

A Swedish research team has again confirmed previous studies from 2000 and 2004, showing the positive effect of cinnamon in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

This new study found a meaningful decrease in blood sugar in patients who consumed 6 grams of cinnamon with their rice pudding, versus those who ate their's plain.

They were also seeking to find whether cinnamon had any effect on satiety, but the results were negligible at best.

Cinnamon has previously been indicated as a potential insulin substitute for those with type 2 diabetes -- researchers have found that cinnamon contains a bioactive component with "insulin-like" effects.

It has also been determined that this inexpensive spice increases glucose metabolism 20-fold.

It's in the Mercola blurb, but here's the link to American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reference, below.

Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects



In the blurb, it references 6g of the stuff in rice pudding. I don't recommend rice, pudding, or rice pudding. I also don't recommend 6g at once. That's like a whole tablespoon! That's a lot.

From Mercola's comments...

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Previous studies found that half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It also reduces triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels among this group.

Half a teaspoon seems more normal. I love cinnamon.

[PowerManDL]

You have to be careful extrapolating research done in diabetics to those with normal insulin production though. Remember that a diabetic already has unstable insulin by definition, adding in things that can improve IS can show a much more drastic effect that doesn't pan out in healthy people

See ALA, glucophage for similar ideas.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by PowerManDL

You have to be careful extrapolating research done in diabetics to those with normal insulin production though. Remember that a diabetic already has unstable insulin by definition, adding in things that can improve IS can show a much more drastic effect that doesn't pan out in healthy people

See ALA, glucophage for similar ideas.

I've heard of those, but I'm not familiar with what they do. Much less what they'd do to a non-diabetic.

Are there specific concerns about cinnamon? From the little I've read, it looked like it was primarily effecting gastric emptying. Like fiber might?

But, some places do mention an insulin "mimicking" quality, too. But, there are cultures with high levels of cinnamon in their diets, too. Not that that makes it good...

[Johnka]

That's good news. Six grams is a lot, but normal amounts can't hurt. Although another study using 1.5 grams of cinnamon showed no significant results on insulin sensitivity.

I'll still be dumping cinnamon in my oatmeal, and the occassional rice pudding (mmm...rice pudding).

Plus, cinnamon seems to have antibacterial properties.

[Ogedei]

Cinnamon is tasty, maybe it does nothing, maybe it is good for us. Either way it is tasty and no harm in adding it

Would be awesome if it had those effects. Cinnamon buns here I COME!!!! (j/k)

[James Newman]

I'll chime in along the lines of Johnka and Og. I think there is some further promising research to be done in this area. In the meantime, I see no harm and benefits rather in adding it to your meals. I have frequently used Cinnamon in the past to add flavor to meals.

Newman

[SpacecityPaula]

I have problem with Mercola applying a study that was done with healthy subjects to folks with diabetes. He would have been better served by using some of the references I listed below.

Here are references to other stories involving cinnamon research in diabetes.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4413

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi...act/26/12/3215

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi...2.2006.01629.x

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/136/4/977

[RobLL]

Any drug or supplement which lessens blood sugars by the mechanism of delay of stomach emptying is problematical for diabetics. It may dump all of the sugars at one time, only later, it may dribble out the sugars over a period of time. For a non-diabetic this slow down may be helpful. For most diabetics they need to be careful. If they are injected insulin dependent they need to know when the sugars are entering their blood stream, and inject insulin, which has its own delays, accordingly.

[PowerManDL]

Nah cinnamon's not gonna hurt you at all.

I was just saying that it might not have the same magic on glucose transport that it does in diabetics, is all.

[BamaDave]

I recommend one box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch per day.

[Espi]

Tastes excellent when added to omelettes, esp. apple-coconut -omelettes

[mikex1337]

Years ago, I'd read about many people in India having incredibly stable blood sugar levels. The theory was that it was the cinnamon.

Interesting to see a follow up to that. I always give the cinnamon an extra little shake.

Maybe it's genetic for the Indians, just like some diseases like sickle cell are significantly more common among African Americans.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by mikex1337

Maybe it's genetic for the Indians, just like some diseases like sickle cell are significantly more common among African Americans.

It seemed like they compared Indians who ate a lot of cinnamon to those that didn't, but I don't remember the details.