Science News Archive

Cinnamon Can Lower Blood Glucose

There’s some good news for sufferers of diabetes these week, with research revealing that eating just half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day can significantly reduce blood sugar levels. American researchers discovered this by accident when looking at the effects of common foods on blood sugar. They tested apple pie, expecting to see a bad effect, but found that the cinnamon in the pies was in fact helping. People with Type 1 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, the hormone that makes cells in your body convert the simple sugar glucose either into fats for storage or into energy. Type 2 diabetics produce enough insulin, but are not sensitive to it. Either way this leads to high levels of glucose in the blood which can lead to long-term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and other organs. the active ingredient in cinnamon turns out to be a compound called MHCP, which does acts in the same way as insulin. In trials, a group of Type 2 diabetics were given supplements of cinnamon and showed on average 20% lower blood sugar levels, as well as decreases in the levels of fat and bad cholesterol. So you can add cinnamon to your normal diet, by sprinkling powdered cinnamon to your toast, coffee or cereal. The effect can even be produced by soaking a cinnamon stick in your tea.

30th Nov 2003