Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to lower blood sugar and hypertension
A British study showed that cinnamon possesses properties able to decrease your fasting blood sugar, blood pressure and waistline.
It is derived from an evergreen tree of the laurel family, a family that also provides bay leaves and avocado and prospers in warm, humid environments.
Cinnamon is obtained from the inner layer of small, young branches, which are cut and emptied.
A study carried out on individuals affected by type 2 diabetes showed that cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels, blood pressure levels and help you lose weight: this spice can therefore oppose diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
This study on the hypotensive and hypoglycemic properties of cinnamon was carried out in England, using to the same rigorous protocol applied to pharmaceutical drugs (random sample, placebo control group and double blind). Type 2 diabetes is the form of diabetes that typically affects adults, where the pancreas still produces insulin, but the body is unable to use it properly, so insulin cannot effectively perform its function of making blood glucose penetrate into the cells (insulin resistance), with blood sugar levels rising as a result.
The study on cinnamon and diabetes examined 58 individuals of both sexes who suffered from type 2 diabetes. One group was given 2 grams of cinnamon a day for 12 weeks, while the others were given a placebo. After 12 months, the researchers were able to observe the efficacy of cinnamon to lower blood sugar, diastolic and systolic blood pressure (minimum and maximum), waist circumference and BMI, in comparison to the placebo control group. These results were observed without any side effects.
This is a pleasant confirmation, given that previous research had already observed the efficacy of cinnamon as a tree to lower blood sugar and blood pressure.
Furthermore, cinnamon can be used to soothe a sore throat, to prevent symptoms of the flu and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat an irregular menstrual cycle.
Scientific articles below:
- The effect of a cinnamon-, chromium- and magnesium-formulated honey on glycaemic control, weight loss and lipid parameters in type 2 diabetes: an open-label cross-over randomised controlled trial. (Eur J Nutr. 2015 May 19. [Epub ahead of print])
http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-015-0926-x/fulltext.html - Medicinal properties of ‘true’ cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a systematic review. (BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Oct 22;13:275) http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/13/275
- Effect of short-term administration of cinnamon on blood pressure in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. (Nutrition. 2013 Oct;29(10):1192-6 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900713001913
- Acute and chronic antihypertensive effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum stem bark methanol extract in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. (BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Jan 31;13:27) http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/13/27