Senior
Health Links
Cinnamon for Diabetes
It tastes good, especially
with a pinch of sugar. It smells good, even purported to have male-arousal
effects.
Scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) began studies
on cinnamon ten years ago. It was then found to make fat cells much
more responsive to insulin (that's positive.) They are still working
on an ingredient in the plant, but have already found that this substance
(MHCP,) prevented the formation of "damaging oxygen radicals...."
As Dr. Richard A. Anderson of ARS states, "[it] could be an important
side effect, [since] other studies have shown that antioxidant supplements
can reduce or slow the progression of various complications of diabetes."
This MHCP ingredient, the ARS found, is water soluble and is not found
in the spice oils sold as food additives. Anderson added that this substance
reduced blood pressure in animals with high pressure readings.
NOTE: The way to use it, it would seem, is to buy sticks of cinnamon,
grind it if you can and add it to bread recipes and as a tea with sugar.
More great information
on cinnamon and other natural remedies to lower blood sugar:
http://www.diabeteshelpcenter.com