Easy Ways To Lower Blood Sugar Levels Naturally
High blood sugar occurs when your body doesnt make enough or effectively use insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose and helps it enter your cells for energy.
High blood sugar is associated with diabetes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 13% of U.S. adults live with diabetes, and 34.5% have prediabetes (
This means close to 50% of all U.S. adults have diabetes or prediabetes.
Here are 15 easy ways to lower blood sugar levels naturally:
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May Also Help Prevent Diabetic Complications
Research suggests that cinnamon may also help protect against diabetic complications. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that guard against oxidative stress and chronic inflammationunderlying factors in most degenerative disorders, including diabetes-related damage to the nerves, kidneys, eyes, and arteries.
Lab studies suggest that cinnamon also inhibits the formation of advanced glycation end products . Formed when sugar molecules bind to proteins and fats in a process called glycation, AGEs interfere with normal cellular function. Chronically elevated blood sugar accelerates glycation, which leads to an accumulation of AGEs and contributes to the development of diabetic complications.
Heart disease is the most serious complication of diabetes. According to a 2021 meta-analysis, cinnamon supplementation improves several cardiovascular risk factors in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. This review of 35 clinical trials concluded that supplemental cinnamon was associated with meaningful reductions in total/LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, waist circumference, and blood sugar. Another recent meta-analysis confirmed benefits for reducing waist circumference, BMI, and other markers of obesity.
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Can Cinnamon Help Prevent And Manage Diabetes
Among various spices used in the prevention and management of diabetes, cinnamon is considered one of the best due to its natural insulin resistance and antidiabetic properties. According to a study published in the International Journal Of Food Science, cinnamon contains active compounds that can mimic insulin and may help regulate blood glucose in the body and control diabetes to a great extent.
The study also adds that different cinnamon species such as Ceylon, Chinese or Saigon may act differently on diabetics due to different amounts of phenolic compounds. In this article, we will discuss some of the benefits of cinnamon in the prevention and management of diabetes. Take a look.
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Is Cinnamon Safe For People With Diabetes
Unless you have liver damage, it should be OK for you to enjoy it in food. If you do have liver problems, be careful, because large amounts of cinnamon may make them worse.
If you are considering cinnamon supplements, talk with your doctor first, especially if you take any medication. Also, look for brands labeled with a quality seal. These include the NSF International, US Pharmacopeia, or Consumerlab seal. This helps assure that the supplement actually has the ingredients stated on the label and doesn’t have any contaminants or potentially harmful ingredients.
Unlike medications, supplement makers don’t have to prove their products are safe or effective. But the FDA can order a supplement off the market if it proves it’s unsafe.
How Do High Blood Pressure Meds Work
may not be aware of accidents to the ft, and fail to properly shield them Shoes or other protection ought to be worn Cinnamon The Best For High Blood Pressure as a lot as attainable Seemingly minor skin accidents must be attended to promptly to keep away from severe infections Because of poor blood circulation, diabetic foot injuries could not heal.
High hemoglobin Low Blood Pressure Causes A1c levels in the blood will increase the danger of microvascular problems, for example, diabetic neuropathy, eye, and kidney illness When Herbs and vitamins to lower blood pressure low blood sugar ranges occur because of an excessive amount of Cinnamon The Best For High Blood Pressure insulin, it is known as an insulin reaction Sometimes, low blood sugar may be the results of an insufficient caloric intake or sudden extreme bodily exertion In patients with kind 2 diabetes, stress, infection, and medicines can even lead to severely elevated blood sugar levels.
You can also work together with your physician and a registered dietitian to plot a routine that s both preventative and sustainable The brain depends on glucose as its primary Lower Blood Pressure Naturally vitality producing substance Low blood glucose indicates to the mind that there s want for meals consumption and this triggers sensations of starvation Blood sugar or blood glucose stage is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal Blood glucose is a tightly regulated biochemical parameter in blood.
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How Much Cinnamon Should You Use
Cinnamon can offer a variety of health benefits when it comes to managing blood sugars and diabetes, but how much should you take?
Most studies use between 1 to 6 grams per day as a supplement or in a powdered form added to food. For perspective, 5 grams is equal to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
One study compared taking 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon and the impact that each amount had on blood sugar levels. They found that blood sugar levels decreased by the same amount with all three doses, indicating that the lower dose may be just as effective as a higher one.
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Can Cinnamon Help Control Sugar Levels In People With Prediabetes
A small new study found that cinnamon helped to stabilize blood sugar levels compared to a placebo in patients with prediabetes.
Researchers theorize that compounds in cinnamon have both metabolic and antioxidant benefits.
The spice could be a safe, affordable treatment to help prevent prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes, although more long-term research is needed.
If you are struggling to manage your blood sugar, a solution could found in your spice rack, according to a new study published 1. Cinnamon, in large doses over time, could help improve measures of blood sugar control, according to new evidence.
Researchers from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston and the Korean Medicine Clinical Trial Center in Seoul studied 51 participants from Korea and the US, half of whom received a supplement containing 500 milligrams of cinnamon three times a day for 12 weeks. The other half received a placebo.
At the 6-week check-in, there was not a significant difference between the two groups.
However, at 12 weeks, the patients that took cinnamon supplements showed significant improvements in measures of blood sugar control.
These findings support previous evidence 2 that large doses of cinnamon over several months is linked to more stable blood sugar levels, with no apparent side effects, in people with type 2 diabetes.
References
Image Credit: gate74 from Pixabay
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Raw Massaged Kale Salad With Fresh Figs And Oranges
Full of fiber, greens, calcium and magnesium, this hearty salad has everything you need to feel your best. Add a lean protein option like hemp seeds, tempeh or tofu, or some edamame, chickpeas or pumpkin seeds, and youve got yourself one long-lasting meal. Cinnamon added to this recipe really puts a nice touch, while also providing additional blood sugar benefits.
Cinnamon For The Blood Sugar: Ceylon Vs Cassia
Cinnamon is known for its healing wonders, particularly on Type 2 Diabetes and Cinnamon contains Cinnamaldehyde. This compound is able to imitate insulin as well as its function. Insulin produced by your pancreas. What it does is that it brings glucose from the bloodstream and transports them to your cell. If you have Diabetes, the insulin in your body is not enough to transport the glucose from your bloodstream. This results in a high blood glucose level.
Cinnamaldehyde has the power to imitate the insulins function, which is to transport the glucose from your blood into your cells. Basically, it assists the insulin in your body to help it cope with the amount of glucose within your bloodstream.
Now, as stated earlier, there are two types of Cinnamon, which both contain Cinnamaldehyde. However, Cassia Cinnamon has a high Coumarin content which can kill your liver and kidney, when taken in excess amounts. Doctors strongly suggest that Cassia shouldnt be taken daily, or your liver may suffer. Ceylon Cinnamon for blood sugar , on the other hand, has very low coumarin content and is safe for daily use.
Overall, Ceylon Cinnamon for blood sugar is the ideal type of Cinnamon for diabetes.
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What Are The Health Benefits Of Cinnamon
In addition to regulating blood glucose and lowering cholesterol, cinnamon has been shown to:
- Have an anti-clotting effect on the blood
- Relieve pain in arthritis sufferers
- Boost the bodys immune system
- Stop medication-resistant yeast infections
- Reduce the proliferation of leukaemia and lymphoma cancer cells
- Preserve food by inhibiting bacterial growth and food spoilage
- Be a great source of vital nutrients, including calcium, fibre, managanese and iron
The majority of these health benefits are associated with use of true cinnamon and not cassia bark cinnamon, which is the species involved in most diabetes research.
How To Use Cinnamon To Get Rid Of Stubborn Belly Fat
Probably the best way to benefit from cinnamon is to use it daily in your meals. You can use it in:
- yogurt or cottage cheese
- or anything else you can think of where it would go well
You could also use a cinnamon capsule before each of your meals, especially meals that contain more than 30 grams of carbs.
Taking cinnamon before meals can help you control blood sugar and insulin response from your meals. This helps control your appetite and cravings throughout the day, helping you to lose body fat more effectively over time.
So now you can see that not can is cinnamon help you to control blood sugar and get a leaner body it has numerous other health benefits as well!
If you are interested in learning more about the power of eating natural foods for losing weight and boosting your health I really recommend Mike Gearys book. You can read more about it in my Fat Burning Kitchen Review.
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Study Design And Dietary Intervention
Subjects were selected based on the inclusion criteria among the patients who came to the .
We randomized the patients by blocking . Investigators and subjects were blinded to group assignment and to capsule content. Cinnamon and placebo were ground finely and put into capsules which could not be distinguished by color, odor, or taste. Each capsule contained 500 mg product.
After explaining the research objectives to the patients and taking their consent, demographic and related data were collected by interview and using patient’s medical file. Then, boxes of A and B that included 60 capsules of cinnamon or placebo, prepared by collage of pharmacy, were given to the patients. Patients had to use two capsules after breakfast and dinner with their drugs for first 30 days, then after 8h of fasting, 5 ml of blood was collected for glucose test. Then two capsules were given to patients for use for second 30 days and also, their blood glucose at the end of the second 30 days was evaluated.
Compliance to the supplementation protocol was supervised by a research technician who contacted the subjects once a week. Each subject was required to return the original bottle of their respective supplement for capsule counts and compliance was monitored by counting the unconsumed capsules each week.
Cinnamon For Blood Sugar: How Long Does It Take For Cinnamon To Lower Blood Sugar
Researchers are still working on their studies regarding this matter. However, one thing is for sure. Cinnamon shouldnt be taken for an extended period of time. This is because there are still a lot of things to discover about Cinnamon, so dont take the risk.
But, if we base this to the duration that researchers use whenever they conduct a study regarding Cinnamon and Diabetes, they mostly take 6 months. Within these six months, significant changes regarding the Blood Sugar Level can be observed.
However, paying your doctor a visit with regard to this matter wont hurt you. Your doctor knows your condition best, and each condition is different for each person. They can tell you whether you should go on with your Ceylon Cinnamon treatment and how long it should take.
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Other Health Benefits Of Cinnamon For Diabetes
- Cinnamon is used for medicinal purposes as it has antifungal and antibacterial properties.
- It helps to reduce high blood pressure.
- Cinnamon bark oil treats digestive imbalance and flatulence. The powerful spice increases blood flow and oxygen levels to combat an illness.
- Some studies suggest that it can help prevent Alzheimers disease.
- Experts have seen cinnamon to help prevent multiple sclerosis.
Cinnamon Improves Glucose And Lipids Of People With Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes Care
Alam Khan, Mahpara Safdar, Mohammad Muzaffar Ali Khan, Khan Nawaz Khattak, Richard A. Anderson Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 Diabetes . Diabetes Care 1 December 2003 26 : 32153218.
OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to determine whether cinnamon improves blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSA total of 60 people with type 2 diabetes, 30 men and 30 women aged 52.2 ± 6.32 years, were divided randomly into six groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 consumed 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon daily, respectively, and groups 4, 5, and 6 were given placebo capsules corresponding to the number of capsules consumed for the three levels of cinnamon. The cinnamon was consumed for 40 days followed by a 20-day washout period.
RESULTSAfter 40 days, all three levels of cinnamon reduced the mean fasting serum glucose , triglyceride , LDL cholesterol , and total cholesterol levels no significant changes were noted in the placebo groups. Changes in HDL cholesterol were not significant.
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Are There Any Risks To Eating Cinnamon
All cinnamon contains a compound called coumarinhigher in cassia than ceylon. Coumarin can cause liver damage and tumors in animals at high doses. The risk to humans is primarily in people with existing liver damage, and even then when ingesting far higher amounts than you would typically get in your diet.
If youre upping your cinnamon intake, its best to start small and build up to larger amounts gradually. You may find that too much cinnamon irritates your digestive system, or you could have an allergy that doesnt present itself in lower quantities. That allergy, though rare, could lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as swelling, burning, itchiness of the mouth, or mouth sores.
Since cinnamon lowers blood sugar, you may want to avoid taking extra cinnamon if you are already at risk for low blood sugar . Coumarin is also a natural blood thinner, so you may want to avoid it if youre already taking blood thinners, such as warfarin or statins.
Its also unknown whether taking extra cinnamon has any side effects during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so it may be best to err on the side of caution.
Cinnamon And Blood Pressure
There is limited evidence to support claims for using cinnamon to control blood pressure. A 2021 review of eight trials including a total of 582 people found that cinnamon supplements might help reduce diastolic blood pressure. A small 2021 study with 40 participants also found that cinnamon supplements caused a moderate decrease in systolic blood pressure.
Diastolic blood pressure is your blood pressure between heartbeats, while systolic blood pressure is your blood pressure during a heartbeat.
A 2021 review also concluded that cinnamon might be helpful for people with cardiovascular disease. The authors found evidence that cinnamon could help lower blood lipids, improve the immune response, and reduce inflammation. However, they also noted that because there haven’t been many studies in humans, more research is needed.
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The Best Type Of Cinnamon For Blood Sugar
Here is the answer to your most curious question. Ceylon cinnamon is a type of cinnamon that serves the best for blood sugar. By crushing the leaves and by peeling the outer bark of the tree, emanates a strong cinnamon smell. Ceylon cinnamon is said to have the low coumarin content of 0.017 g/kg. It is the lowest coumarin content amongst the different types of the cinnamon present in nature.
The lowest coumarin content in the Ceylon cinnamon makes it the best spice for lowering blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. It possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-bacterial properties and is arich source of antioxidants. The spice contains specific chemical properties that stimulate the insulin receptors and allows the glucose to enter the cells. Eventually, it lowers the blood glucose levels.
What Type Of Cinnamon Should You Use
Its important to understand that not all cinnamon is the same, or provides the same benefits. All cinnamon comes from the Cinnamomum tree, which includes several different species.
The two forms of cinnamon are Cassia and Ceylon. Cassia is more common, less expensive, and most often found in food products. Ceylon, also known as true cinnamon, is more expensive and is also more effective when it comes to health benefits.
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Ceylon Vs Cassia: Which Is Better
Cinnamon is typically grouped into two different types Ceylon and Cassia.
Cassia cinnamon can be derived from a few different species of Cinnamomum trees. Its generally inexpensive and is found in most food products and the spice aisle of your grocery store.
Ceylon cinnamon, on the other hand, is specifically derived from the Cinnamomum verum tree. Its typically more expensive and is less common than Cassia, but studies have shown that Ceylon cinnamon contains more antioxidants .
Because it contains more antioxidants, its possible that Ceylon cinnamon may provide more health benefits.
Nevertheless, although several animal and test-tube studies have highlighted the benefits of Ceylon cinnamon, most studies demonstrating health benefits in humans have used the Cassia variety .
Summary:
Both varieties of cinnamon likely lower blood sugar and fight diabetes, but studies in humans are still needed to confirm that Ceylon provides more benefits than Cassia.