Blood pressure and diabetes risk lowered by eating more of 59p kitchen spice, study suggests

A common kitchen spice has ben shown to help lower blood pressure, reduce diabetes risk and offer several other health benefits.

Cinnamon is known for offering a sweet, woody flavour to a range of foods, from savoury curries to baked treats and even certain coffees. It is also full of antioxidants that research suggests can help balance blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation and stave off heart disease – the number one killer globally.

Also called hypertension, high blood pressure is a “silent killer” that doesn’t show symptoms until it progresses into more serious conditions like heart attack, strokes and has even been linked to a higher dementia risk. As such, doing what you can to reduce and prevent it all together is important for long-lasting health.

Available for 59p at Lidl or £1 at Tesco, not only is cinnamon cheap and versatile, it also tastes great and is considered a superfood, reports Wales Online.

A review of studies indicated that taking at least 1.5 grams, roughly 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon daily can lower triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood sugar in individuals with metabolic disease.

Further analysis of 13 studies went on to find that cinnamon supplementation did indeed decrease levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol, both known risk factors for heart disease.

By lowering your blood pressure, you are at less risk of multiple of health problems, which include some cancers, kidney disease, vision issues, metabolic syndrome, aneurysms, strokes and of course, heart disease.

When it comes to blood sugar control and fighting diabetes, cinnamon has numerous benefits. The spice can aid in reducing blood sugar levels and combats diabetes by mimicking insulin’s actions – enhancing the transfer of sugar from the bloodstream into the body’s cells.