Cinnamon May Improve Blood Sugar Control In People With Prediabetes
- Date:
- The Endocrine Society
- Summary:
- Cinnamon improves blood sugar control in people with prediabetes and could slow the progression to type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.
Cinnamon improves blood sugar control in people with prediabetes and could slow the progression to type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
It is estimated that nearly 90 million people in the United States have prediabetes, which occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal and often leads to type 2 diabetes. Identifying strategies to prevent the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes is challenging, yet important for a large population.
“Our 12-week study showed beneficial effects of adding cinnamon to the diet on keeping blood sugar levels stable in participants with prediabetes,” said the study’s corresponding author, Giulio R. Romeo, M.D., of Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Mass. “These findings provide the rationale for longer and larger studies to address if cinnamon can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes over time.”
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Cinnamon To Savory And Sweet Canning Recipes
How to use?
- You can use cinnamon mainly in recipes like pumpkin or apple butter, applesauce, and canned apples
- Add 1/4 -1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon powder to the jar containing other fruits, like strawberries or canned peaches
- You can also add cinnamon with onions, green beans, beets, bell peppers, and even cucumbers
Might Cinnamon Help You With Blood Sugar Control
Q. I have seen reports about taking organic Ceylon cinnamon for blood sugar. My A1C was 6.7 and my doctor wanted to put me on medication for diabetes.
I have AFIB and take Xarelto and verapamil already, so I said no. I also take a tart cherry pill for gout, and my doctor said that was OK.What is your opinion about cinnamon? It seems risky to me, yet I dont want to go on medication.
A. For years, researchers have been considering whether cinnamon might help with blood sugar control. Relying on cinnamon without tracking your blood glucose or your HbA1c could be risky. You wouldnt know whether or not you were maintaining healthy levels.
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Final Words: Should You Consume Cinnamon For Diabetes Prevention
Cinnamon is a sweet spice that has health benefits for diabetic patients and can help regulate blood sugar levels.
Cinnamon, typically used in cooking and baking, has been linked to enhancements in the treatment of conditions, including diabetes mellitus.
Research has concluded that cinnamon can improve blood glucose levels and enhance insulin sensitivity.
The consumption of organic food is highly recommended by health experts and nutritionists, as it can safeguard your children and family from cancer-inducing pesticides sprayed on the farm.
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.
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Research Design And Methods
This study was conducted in the Department of Human Nutrition, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan and was approved by the Ethics Committee and Human Studies Review Board of the University of Peshawar. Selection criteria for the study included the following for people with type 2 diabetes: age > 40 years, not on insulin therapy, not taking medicine for other health conditions, and fasting blood glucose levels between 7.8 and 22.2 mmol/l . A total of 60 individuals with type 2 diabetes, 30 men and 30 women, were selected for the study. The mean age of the subjects was 52.0 ± 6.87 years in the placebo groups and 52.0 ± 5.85 years in the groups consuming cinnamon. The duration of diabetes was also similar: 6.73 ± 2.32 years for the placebo group and 7.10 ± 3.29 years for the cinnamon groups. There was also an equal number of men and women in the placebo and cinnamon groups. All subjects were taking sulfonylurea drugs, i.e., glibenclamide medications did not change during the study.
On days 0, 20, 40, and 60, 5 ml of fasting blood was collected from each subject. Blood samples were transferred to sterilized centrifuge tubes and allowed to clot at room temperature. The blood samples were centrifuged for 10 min in a tabletop clinical centrifuge at 4,000 rpm for serum separation. Serum samples were stored in a freezer at 0°C for later analyses.
Two-way ANOVA and randomized complete block design were used for statistical analysis . Values are means ± SD.
Cinnamon May Have Antibacterial And Antifungal Properties
Cinnamon, or more accurately its main active component Cinnamaldehyde, may help fight various kinds of infection.
Cinnamon oil has been shown to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria as well as effectively treat respiratory tract infections caused by fungi. Cinnamon may also help prevent tooth decay and reduce bad breath.
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Effects Of Cinnamon For Diabetes
Several controlled studies have concluded that cinnamon might be favourable for people with diabetes.
Studies have discovered that consuming just one, three, or six grams of cinnamon every day for 40 days decreased serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL, as well as total cholesterol among 60 middle-aged diabetic patients.
Another study published by the Agricultural Research Magazine concluded that consuming just one gram of cinnamon for diabetes every day can boost insulin sensitivity and help regulate or even reverse type 2 diabetes.
An analysis printed in 2007 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that consuming six grams of cinnamon dampens stomach emptying and substantially lowers hyperglycemia after meals without altering satiety .
The daily consumption of organic foods is beneficial for you and your family, as it adheres to the international standards of healthy meals.
Organic farming can protect the environment because of its eco-friendly cultivation practices and no pesticidal involvement.
Among copious health benefits, many studies indicate that cinnamon use for diabetes is typically safe and beneficial for most people to enjoy by adding it in food unless you are suffering from liver problems.
How Much Cinnamon Should You Take For Blood Sugar
It has been proven that Cinnamon is good for blood sugar.
A lot of studies have been conducted about Cinnamon for blood sugar, and most of them have used at least 1 6 grams of Cinnamon a day. You shouldnt use Cassia in this situation since it can potentially harm your liver. Ceylon, on the other hand, can be consumed daily since it has low Coumarin content. However, doctors suggest that you can start with 1.2 teaspoons of Ceylon Cinnamon a day. You can go beyond the recommended amount. However, you shouldnt go overboard since Ceylon still contains Coumarin.
Now, if youre adamant about taking Cassia Cinnamon, you should never go beyond 0.5 1 gram of Cassia Cinnamon per day. Anything that exceeds that number is a red flag if youre taking Cassia.
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Reader Testimonials On Cinnamon To Reduce Your Cholesterol:
Q. I read your column in my local newspaper and enjoy it very much. Ive read some very interesting remedies.
Yesterday your column was on foods such as cinnamon to help lower cholesterol. Ive been eating cinnamon toast for almost 6 months and am very curious to see if it helps me.
A. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have teamed up to recommend statins for tens of millions of Americans. We suspect that lots of folks would like to control their cholesterol with food first. A surprising number of foods can actually make a difference on these numbers. Cinnamon is just one of them . A study of cinnamon, cardamom, saffron and ginger found that each of these spices lowered cholesterol over the course of two months .
Other readers have reported their experiences. You may find them helpful.
Jim wrote:
I have been using Saigon cinnamon for about two months as a supplement to my diet and medication. It goes in my coffee, cereal, or oatmeal .
A sprinkle of cinnamon daily keeps my blood sugar from spiking. I still must maintain a diet of low carbs and no sugar, but my glucose remains fairly constant levels whereas without the spice it would spike sometimes as high as 230 for no apparent reason. Also, my A1C has dropped to 6.1 from the low 8s during this time.
Diane also experienced benefit:
JLB got two benefits from a cinnamon extract:
Morning Star had a response she didnt expect:
Does Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar
Why would adding cinnamon to your meal affect your glucose levels? Heres what the research shows and some tips for working cinnamon into your diet.
For thousands of yearspossibly even before it was used for flavorpeople have held cinnamon in high regard for its medicinal value. Ancient Egyptians used it in embalming, and traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda prescribed it for respiratory, digestive, and gynecological troubles.
In recent decades, many studies have found cinnamon can lower blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. While fewerstudies have examined its metabolic impact on healthy people or people with prediabetes, growing evidence suggests benefits there as well, and researchers have identified multiple potential glucose-affecting mechanisms at work. In addition to its anti-diabetic qualities, cinnamon also shows other health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
So if the idea of eating a little extra cinnamon tickles your taste buds, read on to learn about the effects of cinnamon and how to add it to your diet.
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Here Are Some Reasons To Consume Cinnamon For Diabetes Prevention
Effective Ways to Use Cinnamon for Diabetes Management
17.11.2020
Cinnamon is not merely a spice loaded with healthful antioxidants, but it can also help patients regulate their blood glucose levels. Cinnamon promotes digestive health as well, which is linked directly to diabetes.
Medical experts recommend consuming cinnamon in moderation, about 3-6 grams cinnamon powder in a day.
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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Cinnamon Caused A Reduction In Blood Sugar After 12 Weeks
Cinnamon resulted in a significant reduction in the area under the curve of plasma glucose during oral glucose tolerance tests by the 12-week mark. There was no change in the placebo group. And cinnamon resulted in a significant decrease in plasma glucose two hours after the oral glucose tolerance test at 12 weeks compared to baseline.
While the impact of cinnamon was modest, there is evidence that even small changes among those with prediabetes can be clinically meaningful. One study showed that mortality can decline by as much as 10% if patients can lower A1c by just 0.2% from a baseline of 5-6.9% .
There were no significant adverse events in either group, and none of the researchers could attribute any to the treatment.
Romeo notes that previous studies looked at patients with type 2 diabetes, many of whom were on other medications at the time. Our study shows a positive impact on people who are not yet on any medication, potentially meaning they will never have to be, he said.
“It is still unknown why some patients who are considered prediabetic end up progressing to diabetes and some dont,” Romeo says. There is speculation that people with impaired gastrointestinal tracts are more at risk, but testing for that is not routine practice. That makes getting to this patient population with simple and cheap ways to improve glucose levels a potential win in the absence of other known risk factors.
Here Is How You Can Include Cinnamon For Diabetes Regulation In Your Diet
If you are looking to consume cinnamon for diabetes control and add it in your diet, here are a few ways to help you do that
- Replace sugar with cinnamon
Since cinnamon has a zesty flavour, it can replace modest amounts of sugar in stove-top recipes, meat, sauces, and vegetable dishes.
Replacing a sweetener with cinnamon can reduce the amount of sugar you consume, consequently improving your blood glucose levels.
Prefer cinnamon use for diabetes prevention rather than brown sugar or regular sugar in candied vegetable dishes that include baby carrots, candied yams, or sweet stir fry. Cinnamon renders a complex, mellow flavour without a spike in glucose.
Cinnamon is safe when used in modest amounts, which is about ½ to 1 teaspoon or 1000 mg of consumption per day. Use a pinch or two of cinnamon in your coffee as a substitute for sugar or sweetener.
- Cinnamon in your breakfast
You can stir cinnamon and a minuscule amount of agave nectar into oatmeal for your morning breakfast.
You can also add berries and nuts to elevate its nutrition value. A sprinkle of cinnamon on a buttered whole-grain toast with a crystallized sweetener like Stevia or Splenda is also a healthy beginning to your day.
You can also consume cinnamon for diabetes prevention with peanut butter or sugar-free jam on toast.
- Prefer cinnamon in baking
- Include cinnamon to savoury canning recipes
When utilized judiciously, cinnamon can be an excellent addition to sweet canning recipes.
- Add Cinnamon to Curries
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Cinnamon Can Help Lower Blood Sugar But One Variety May Be Best
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Studies suggest cinnamon can help control blood sugar, but if you want to incorporate more of this spice in your diet, consider using the Ceylon variety.hide caption
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If I say cinnamon, you say … sugar? It’s a popular combination, of course.
But if you’re interested in the health-promoting effects of cinnamon, you may want to think anew about the spice.
For instance, says John Critchley, executive chef at Bourbon Steak Restaurant in Washington, D.C., why not add it to savory dishes? He uses cinnamon to create a spice and herb rub for lamb loin. He also whips up a great spinach salad with raisins, pine nuts and cinnamon.
Critchley is a fan of the intense aromatics in cinnamon, especially in Saigon a cousin of the cassia varieties of cinnamon most commonly used in the U.S. and Europe. And he says adding cinnamon to spice blends is a great way to layer flavors when you’re cooking.
And when you start to look at the potential health-promoting effects of the spice, there’s even more incentive to experiment with it in the kitchen.
Cinnamon comes from the bark of trees. It has long been considered a medicinal plant. There are several varieties, harvested from southern China to Southeast Asia.
John Critchley, executive chef at Bourbon Steak Restaurant in Washington, D.C., uses cinnamon in many savory dishes, including a spice and herb rub for lamb loin. Allison Aubrey/NPRhide caption
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Adding Cinnamon To Your Diet
In addition to adding cinnamon to your food, there are also cinnamon supplements that you can buy online and at nutritional supplements stores. There are no guidelines for the appropriate use of these supplements, although some manufacturers recommend 2,000 milligrams per day.
An April 2019 review in Clinical Nutrition reported that the most common side effects from cinnamon consumption include gastrointestinal symptoms and allergic reactions. Side effects tended to be transient and improve on their own treatment was stopped.
Cinnamon may be unsafe to use with medications or supplements known to reduce sugar levels, such as alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil’s claw, fenugreek, garlic, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, Siberian ginseng, and psyllium.
That said, adding reasonable amounts of cinnamon to food isn’t likely to be harmful. In studies that found cinnamon had a positive effect on blood sugar levels, subjects ingested the equivalent of one teaspoon per day amounts small enough to easily work into a regular diet simply by sprinkling it on morning oatmeal, adding it to a chili recipe, or sipping it in tea.
As with all dietary supplements, it should be noted that supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Since much more research is needed to prove cinnamon’s effectiveness in reducing glucose levels, the American Diabetes Society does not endorse using cinnamon supplements to manage diabetes.
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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
- in your coffee
- 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.