Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
What do pumpkin pie, apple cobbler and snickerdoodle cookies all have in common?
Well, besides enough sugar to send your blood glucose through the roof, they all contain an ordinary spice that has some extraordinary health benefits.
In fact, this everyday spice can even protect you from devastating diseases like diabetes and heart disease, and cognitive disorders like dementia.
And according to some research, taking this powerful protectant may even help reverse damage to the brain.
So what is this amazing spice?
Cinnamon.
Lower Sugar and Leaner Bodies
In a recent study, 22 men and women suffering from prediabetes and metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned to groups that took either 500 mg of a powerful cinnamon extract or a placebo.
After 12 weeks of supplementation, the subjects’ systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and body compositions were measured.
Those taking the cinnamon supplements showed significant decreases in fasting blood glucose and lower systolic blood pressure, and an increase in lean body mass when compared with those in the placebo group.
In fact, researchers even found that some of the participants experienced a decrease in body fat while taking the cinnamon!
These results suggest that supplementing with cinnamon could reduce the risks linked to heart disease and diabetes.
Better Brains Just a Spice Away
Due to cinnamon’s ability to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, cinnamon has been the subject of recent brain research as well.
Cinnamon contains antioxidant properties. Since oxidative stress can cause damage to blood vessel walls, it can also impede blood flow to the brain.
Recently, scientists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine concluded that the same cinnamon extract also combats oxidative damage to the brain and is also thought to work against oxidative stress throughout the entire body — including the circulatory system.
In addition, the study showed that cinnamon can also help your brain use glucose and oxygen more efficiently.
Actually, it found that cinnamon can even reverse the damage caused by oxygen and glucose deprivation! And since reduced cognitive function and dementia are linked to blood sugar issues, it’s important to maintain healthy insulin levels.
This research shows that taking a cinnamon supplement can improve insulin sensitivity, which, in turn can help improve cognition and behavior.
Fortunately, you don’t have to get your cinnamon fix with bucket of added sugar.
There are several cinnamon supplements available. Cinnulin PF is the cinnamon extract used in both studies.
As always, check with your physician before starting a supplement.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Sources
[1] Effects of a cinnamon extract on plasma glucose, HbA, and serum lipids in diabetes mellitus type 2.
