Cinnamon, like all spices, has a variety of health benefits. One of the best methods to add flavor to a dessert or meal is with a sprinkling of cinnamon, but it’s also good for boosting banana bread and oatmeal. Cinnamon supplements have been found in several studies to help reduce blood sugar levels.
High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can cause damage to nerves, blood vessels, and organs in people who have developed either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Hyperglycemia can be induced by a variety of factors including anxiety, other illness, lack of activity, eating too many carbohydrates, or forgetting to take insulin.
It’s especially crucial for individuals with diabetes to keep an eye on their blood sugar levels since keeping optimal blood sugar levels avoids a lot of serious health issues, such as heart disease, kidney illness, and eye diseases.
With all of the harmful effects hyperglycemia may have, it’s critical to understand what can help reduce blood sugar levels. Cinnamon supplements have been found to lower blood sugar in several scientific studies.
According to a study in Diabetes Care, 30 people with type 2 diabetes received cinnamon supplements for 40 days, while the 30 others received a placebo. All of the participants that recieved cinnamon supplements had lower blood sugar levels at the conclusion of the study, whereas those who took the placebo had no change.
According to the study, cinnamon, along with ginger and other spices including bay leaves and cloves, have “insulin-enhancing activity in vitro.” The participants who ate cinnamon for 40 days had significant reductions in blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol, according to the research. It goes on to say that incorporating cinnamon into your diet may help you “reduce diabetes risk factors,” as well as hazard factors for heart disease.
A previous study from Istanbul Medipol University discovered comparable findings and recommended the regular use of cinnamon or cinnamon supplements.
Cinnamon has also been found to lower oxidative stress, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes as well as a variety of other diseases, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
While cinnamon supplements undoubtedly have advantages, it’s important to remember that they don’t correct blood sugar or prevent diabetes on their own, and they do not take the place of a balanced diet and regular exercise.
The cinnamon supplements, on the other hand, should not be used in place of diabetes medication, as the American Diabetes Association advises against it. Cinnamon supplements, according to the American Diabetes Association, should not be used as a substitute for diabetes medication since they contain carbohydrates and could lead to adverse health effects if taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.