Cinnamon and Diet-A hidden Secret!

There is a growing interest in cinnamon and diet – namely how it affects a diabetic if used regularly in their diet.  Some diabetics put cinnamon in their tea and have noticed their glucose levels have reduced.  Others put it on their toast or oatmeal every day and have also noted a significant reduction.

Is having cinnamon in your diet a proven remedy?  Could it really be so simple – that using a spice you can find in your kitchen could control or even cure diabetes?

Don’t go off your meds yet.  While cinnamon does seems to lower glucose levels, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), there are still concerns.   One of the concerns is that patients will discontinue their medications, choosing to take cinnamon instead.

As with any kind of regimen, you should consult your doctor if you decide to take cinnamon as a dietary supplement.  It may change the dosage of medication you take and drastically affect your health.

The kind of cinnamon usually found in grocery stores naturally contains courmarin.  At high levels, courmarin can damage the liver and thin the blood. Those patients with bleeding disorders should not take cinnamon in their diet as a supplement to treat their diabetes.

Another form of cinnamon can be found in a concentrated oil form.  The oil comes from cinnamon bark and is extremely potent.  Not only is it not generally meant for human consumption, but an overdose could affect the central nervous system.

Bottom line, do not consume the oil unless under the close supervision of your doctor.

There doesn’t seem to be any affect on lowering the blood sugar or insulin levels for postmenopausal women taking the supplement, but pregnant women should avoid trying to use it as a supplement.

As a spice, cinnamon is a delicious spice to add to your cooking or enjoy with a cup of tea.  But until the theory of using cinnamon in your diet to treat your diabetes is proven, it is best to take precautions.  Consult with your doctor and monitor your blood.  Left untreated, diabetes can lead to many other serious health conditions such as kidney disease and stroke.