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A sweet spice has been shown to deliver a one-two punch to diabetes and high cholesterol.
The finding is encouraging because the two conditions often go hand-in-hand. Diabetes damages the lining of your arteries. This means it’s more likely that cholesterol will stick to them, making them narrow or even blocked.
If you have diabetes, you will usually have lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and higher levels of LDL/non-HDL cholesterol.
This is the “bad” type that raises your risk of heart disease.
A daily intake of just one, three, or six grams was shown to reduce blood sugar levels and cholesterol
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The super spice
A study of 60 middle-aged Britons published in the journal Diabetes Care found cinnamon improved blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
The participants were divided into three groups and given one (half a teaspoon), three or six grams of cinnamon a day respectively.
Three other groups were given placebo capsules corresponding to the number of capsules consumed for the three levels of cinnamon.
The cinnamon was consumed for 40 days. This was followed by a 20-day “wash out” phase where no pills were taken.
The researchers found that cinnamon cut cholesterol by about 18 percent and blood sugar levels by 24 percent.
They concluded that the “inclusion” of cinnamon in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes will reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Other studies support this conclusion.
Researchers found that ingesting a daily supplement of cinnamon lowered abnormally high blood sugar levels in prediabetics over two weeks.
Another study, cited in the Agricultural Research Magazine, found that consuming just one gram of cinnamon per day can increase insulin sensitivity and help manage or reverse type 2 diabetes.
In addition, a 2007 analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that six grams of cinnamon slows stomach emptying and significantly reduces blood sugar spikes after meals.
Six grams of cinnamon slows stomach emptying, research shows
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Furthermore, 2019 research review suggests that cinnamon helps lower fasting blood glucose levels.
Editor’s take
It must be acknowledged that more studies are needed to confirm these results.
It’s also important to “bear in mind” that like many natural compounds, cinnamon is yet to be medically approved for prevention or treatment of any disease, notes Diabetes UK.
The literature does suggest that cinnamon shows promise in helping treat diabetes, however.
It can therefore be added to your dietary arsenal but consult with your doctor or healthcare team first.
Symptoms to spot
Many people have type 2 diabetes without realising. This is because they may not always notice any symptoms.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:
- Peeing more than usual
- Feeling thirsty all the time
- Feeling very tired
- Losing weight without trying to
- Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
- Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
- Blurred vision
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
