Cinnamon, Diabetes, and Heart Health
I know this is long, but if you are going to read one post today, this should be it.
In past posts I have briefly wrote about the benefits of cinnamon, but I ran across some information today that has caused me to rethink including cinnamon in my daily regiment.
Let me ask – do you have high cholesterol? How about high triglycerides? Are you concerned about your blood sugar? If so, cinnamon might be your answer. A 2003 study by Alam Kahn found that small daily doses of cinnamon has substantial effects on blood sugar, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. I am not going to try to restate the whole study as I am sure I would mess something up, but I will summarize it. I highly encourage you to go read the study for yourself.
- blood sugar was lowered 18%-29%
- total cholesterol was lowered 12%-26%
- LDL cholesterol was lowered 7%-27%
- triglyceride was lowered 23%-30%
If that didn’t catch your eye, read it again. The results of this study are substantial. Lets put it in perspective. Using my results from yesterday, supposing I would have the same results (keep in mind, I do not exactly fit the profile of the participants), my blood sugar would go from 111 to somewhere between 78.81 and 91.02. My total cholesterol would go from 105 to somewhere between 77.7 and 92.4. My LDL cholesterol would go from 52 to somewhere between 43.16 and 48.36. Last, my triglycerides would go from 95 to somewhere between 66.5 and 73.15. Now I know that some of those sound unrealistic, especially since some of those numbers are already very good; however, I am trying to make a point. This is significant decreases. As I pointed out earlier, there was a certain profile for participants in this study, which included already having Type II Diabetes and being over 40, so other profiles may vary, but the results are significant enough that I am going to start taking cinnamon daily. I am not associated with the website, and I have nothing to gain from it; however, I do think the best deal I have found for real cinnamon sticks (unfortunately, what we have in the US is not real cinnamon sticks) is Dru Era. This study found that it didn’t take a lot of cinnamon to do the trick. In fact, it was statistically insignificant in most of these reading whether you had 1 grams or 6 grams of cinnamon daily. There was even evidence that those who took 1 gram daily had more lasting effects and that doses less that a gram might even be just as helpful.
Now, I know you might be thinking that this is just one study, but there is more. In fact, a more recent study done at the University of Hannover in Hannover, Germany which was published in a issue of the European Journal of Clinical Investigation found that the equivelant of 1 gram of cinnamon daily lowered blood sugar levels of its participants 10.3% over four months. While this is lower than the prior mentioned study, this cinnamon was cinnamon extract.
Two other studies with similar results were done by Heping Cao and Stephanie Mae Lampke, both of which had results which support cinnamon as a treatment for blood sugar.
Not only does cinnamon help with your blood sugar and heart health, cinnamon is also found to have other benefits than those mentioned above, including reduced proliferation of certain cancer cells, anti-clotting effects on the blood, relief of artheritis pain, increased cognitive function and memory, and more.
There is more information out there, but I think this proves my point, which is if you have a blood sugar problem or are concerned about your hearth health, cinnamon should be strongly considered in your daily diet. I know it will be in mine. I cannot wait for my physical in six months to see if it makes a difference.
Note: Cloves were also studied by all three of the above mentioned researchers and were also found to be beneficial.
I’ve long been a fan of cinnamon for health. It’s so easy to incorporate in your diet – just sprinkle over fruit or fruit salad, or add to your smoothies…
Great article, Steve!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Thanks Hanlie. I have been a fan too, now it just makes more sense.
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did the studies specifically target Ceylon cinnamon vs. Cassia cinnamon? I’m curious because you’ve made the distinction in your ordering recommendation…
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South Beach Steve Reply:
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:13 am
Fit Fan, only one study specified (that I noticed). It was the first one I mentioned. It specified Cassia. I chose to go with the Ceylon though because the Cassia is supposed to be bad for you in large quantities. While these studies do not cover this, my research has indicated that the properties of both the Ceylon and the Cassia should give similar results. Good question.
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Thanks for your contribution to Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival. I, too, have read of numerous studies showing the beneficial effects of cinnamon on blood sugar.
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South Beach Steve Reply:
May 27th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Thanks Helene. I will be sure and post a link back to the carnival tonight.
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