Millions of people around the world are affected with diabetes, and many more remain undiagnosed. While there's no cure to it yet, there are ways to control one of its symptoms, high blood sugar, by consuming cinnamon.
Before, it used to be a subject of a hot debate in the medical community. However, over the years, more studies have shown that it is indeed helpful in controlling glucose, or blood sugar.
Diabetes happens when the beta cells of the pancreas are damaged. The organ is compelled to produce more insulin to deliver blood glucose into the different body cells. These cells, however, may become less receptive to glucose and insulin. Thus, the level of sugar in the blood continues to rise.
Researches outline the many ways on how cinnamon can assist in reducing or controlling blood sugar. For example, it has a very low glycemic index, which means compared to other herbs and spices, it doesn't cause sugar spike.
Cinnamon also has 2.76 grams of fiber or 11% of the dietary value. This fiber can slow down the time it takes for the stomach to empty its contents. In other words, cinnamon can help curb hunger and decrease the sudden rise of glucose.
In a study conducted among 14 men and women with a healthy weight, they all ate 1.2 cups of rice pudding, but the others had their serving seasoned with 6 grams of cinnamon. Those who ate with cinnamon had lowered their stomach emptying rate to less than 35% from 37%.
Cinnamon also enhances the response of cells to glucose and blood sugar to insulin, especially for people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Because of the receptiveness is better, the blood sugar levels are also more controlled. Even half a teaspoon of it can already be beneficial to the body.
This also has huge amounts of manganese at 46%. Based on studies, those who are deficient of this mineral also have poor blood sugar control.