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Cinnamon does more than give
a spicy lift to food: It also helps regulate blood sugar. |
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Cinnamon stimulates the production
of glucose-burning enzymes and increases the effectiveness
of insulin, says Richard A. Anderson, Ph.D., a chemist
at the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center
in Maryland. Taking between 1/4 and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon--the
same kind you buy at the supermarket--every day helps control
blood sugar levels.
Dr. Anderson’s search for a natural way to keep blood sugar levels normal
began more than a decade ago, when he and his coworkers tested plants and spices
used in folk medicine. They found that a few spices, especially |
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cinnamon, made fat cells
much more responsive to insulin, the hormone that regulates
sugar metabolism and thus controls the level of glucose in
the blood.
Dr. Anderson and his colleagues found that the
most active compound in cinnamon is methylhydroxy chalcone polymer
(MHCP), which increased glucose metabolism by about 20 times
in test-tube studies.
MHCP also prevented the formation of damaging free radicals. “That
could be an important side benefit,” notes Dr. Anderson. “Other
studies have shown that antioxidant supplements can reduce or
slow the progression of various complications of diabetes.”
Experiment with adding cinnamon to foods such as meat loaf or
oatmeal, suggests Dr. Anderson. His favorite way is to boil a
cinnamon stick in water for tea. “Just one stick gives
you the same benefit as 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon,” he
says.
Here are a few other ways to enjoy this tasty spice:
• Sprinkle it into low-fat yogurt, fruit smoothies, and
low-fat cottage cheese.
• Slice up an apple, place it in a plastic bag with a teaspoon
of cinnamon, shake, and enjoy.
• Add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to your morning oatmeal.
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