Type 2 Diabetes may be prevented by cinnamon intake
January 4th, 2008
American scientists have claimed that the onset of type 2 diabetes may be prevented by a teaspoon of cinnamon a day.
Researchers from the Agricultural Research Unit in Maryland found that cinnamon rekindled the ability of fat cells in diabetics to respond to insulin and increase glucose removal. It is thought that the substance MHCP in cinnamon is the main reason for these results.
Following successful testing on mice, testing the response of humans to MHCP has now begun. It has been recommended that type 2 diabetics should take a quarter to one full teaspoon of cinnamon per day.
Well known as an ‘energizing’ spice, cinnamon is also a rich source of magnesium, which is essential for maintaining bone density, electrolyte balance, certain enzyme function and other biochemical processes.
Past research has been carried out in order to establish a metabolic defect in diabetes that prevents the absorption of magnesium. As cinnamon provides a readily available source of MHCP and magnesium it would appear to be a very cost effective method of offsetting future health problems related to glucose/insulin imbalances.
Angela Hoffman (Senior Clinical Nutritionist, London Medical) comments:
‘There is no magic bullet to prevent Type II diabetes. Your risk of developing this common disease can be substantially reduced by the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, such as maintaining a healthy body weight, partaking regular physical activity, moderating your intake of alcohol and keeping stress levels low.
In Type II diabetes, taking 1 teaspoon of cinnamon daily may help temper the blood glucose surge when carbohydrate foods are eaten, due to slower gastric emptying. No such benefit has been observed, however, in Type I diabetes.’
Please consult with your doctor before taking cinnamon as it may affect your medication requirements.
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