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What Type Of Cinnamon Is Best For Lowering Blood Sugar


Tips For Using Cinnamon

Is Cinnamon A Natural Diabetes Cure For Lower Blood Sugar?

The studies so far on the glucose-altering effects of cinnamon have used small quantities of the spice usually a teaspoon or less.

Just as different medications produce varying results and side effects in different people, cinnamon will not reduce blood sugar in every individual that tries it. Some people may even experience side effects.

Tips for consuming cinnamon safely and effectively include:

  • Keep a food log.
  • Stick to a diabetes care plan. Cinnamon is not a substitute for blood sugar monitoring, a healthful diet, or diabetes medications.
  • Speak to a doctor before trying any new treatments for diabetes, including cinnamon and other herbal remedies. These might interact with existing medications or have unexpected effects on blood sugar.
  • Use cinnamon as a flavoring agent for healthful foods, such as oatmeal and muesli. People should avoid eating cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, or other sugary foods that are rich in cinnamon or cinnamon flavoring.

Helps Manage Blood Pressure

All varieties of cinnamon contain cinnamic acid. It has anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-inflammatory property helps blood flow through the body and puts less strain on the heart.


Research on Ceylon cinnamon dates . The research concluded Ceylon cinnamon could help blood pressure. Weakening of the heart due to problems in the cardiovascular system often causes heart disease. Ceylon cinnamon supports cardiovascular function and contributes to healthy heart function.

Can Taking Cinnamon Supplements Lower Your Blood Sugar

2003 study, but a more expensive variety could be even better, Canadian researchers found that cinnamon significantly reduced blood pressure in type 2Ceylon cinnamon is an excellent natural remedy to stabilize blood sugar levels for three reasons: Regulates blood sugar, Both whole cinnamon and cinnamon extract lowered fasting blood glucose

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Is Ceylon Cinnamon More Helpful

It is possible that Ceylon cinnamon, also known as true cinnamon, might also be able to moderate blood sugar levels after meals and help control type 2 diabetes. It has been tested in in animal research . French scientists have also found that Ceylon cinnamon extract can block an enzyme that breaks starch down into its constituent sugars . As a result, healthy volunteers getting this extract had a significantly lower increase in blood sugar after a meal.

Unfortunately, there are no studies comparing cassia to Ceylon cinnamon, so we cant answer your question about effectiveness. We hope there will soon be more high-quality trials such as this one, under the code name CINNAMON . We are sending you our Guide to Managing Diabetes for more information on using cinnamon and other non-drug approaches to control blood sugar.


Best Foods For Lowering Blood Sugar Plus Three Quick Tips For Reducing Your Diabetes Risk

Cinnamon for diabetes  myth or science?
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In 2000, there were around 11 million adults in America with diagnosed diabetes. By 2050, that number is projected to rise to 29 million. The greatest prevalence will be in people aged 75 or older, but its a concern for everyone, both from a health standpoint and from an economic one.

Knowing about foods that lower blood sugar could help many people take control of their risk for diabetes before it becomes an issue, and it could help alleviate trouble for people who are already insulin-resistant. If youre interested in learning more, read through this list of the 12 best foods for lowering blood sugar. At the end of this list, Ill share three quick tips for reducing your risk of developing diabetes type two.

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May Also Help Prevent Diabetic Complications

Research suggests that cinnamon may also help protect against diabetic complications. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that guard against oxidative stress and chronic inflammationunderlying factors in most degenerative disorders, including diabetes-related damage to the nerves, kidneys, eyes, and arteries.

Lab studies suggest that cinnamon also inhibits the formation of advanced glycation end products . Formed when sugar molecules bind to proteins and fats in a process called glycation, AGEs interfere with normal cellular function. Chronically elevated blood sugar accelerates glycation, which leads to an accumulation of AGEs and contributes to the development of diabetic complications.


Heart disease is the most serious complication of diabetes. According to a 2021 meta-analysis, cinnamon supplementation improves several cardiovascular risk factors in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. This review of 35 clinical trials concluded that supplemental cinnamon was associated with meaningful reductions in total/LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, waist circumference, and blood sugar. Another recent meta-analysis confirmed benefits for reducing waist circumference, BMI, and other markers of obesity.

Reducing Coumarin While Lowering Blood Sugar:

Q. I was recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes. From reading previous Peoples Pharmacy columns, I was aware that cassia cinnamon can be toxic unless put in a paper filter with coffee grounds. I have been mixing one teaspoon of cinnamon in my coffee grounds before brewing my coffee every morning.

In a recent column, a reader wrote that he wound up in the emergency room after consuming the same amount of cinnamon on a daily basis that I have been taking. Is it no longer considered safe to put cinnamon in coffee as I have been doing? I love the taste of cinnamon and would hate to have to take it in capsule form.

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Three Quick Tips For Reducing Your Diabetes Risk

Now that youve read about the 12 best foods for lowering blood sugar, lets discuss some other things you can do to help reduce your risk of developing diabetes.


TIP #1: Get Enough Sleep

Even light sleep deprivation can increase insulin resistance, and that can increase blood sugar levels. Getting a good nights rest is one way to help your body lower blood sugar levels and help normalize insulin. Andits free!

TIP #2: Drink Enough Water

One quick, easy way to help lower your blood sugar levels is to drink enough water. Your body can eliminate excess sugars through urine, and since water doesnt contain any calories, it wont increase your blood sugar levels, either.

TIP #3: Walk It Off

People who walk a lot have a lower risk of developing diabetes than people who dont walk or exercise much. In addition, people who have high blood sugar levels can lower those levels by walking or performing other types of exercise. This happens because, as you exercise, your body uses the excess glucose for energy.

Which Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar

Does Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar in Type 2 Diabetes?

In many research reports, the investigators do not specify which type of cinnamon they used in their study . Consequently, we have some difficulty determining which cinnamon lowers blood sugar most effectively. The first studies were conducted using cassia cinnamon. Soon thereafter, scientists began to examine C. verum to see if it can moderate blood sugar and insulin spikes after meals. Although initial results were discouraging , research in rats and a handful of human volunteers suggests that C. verum may also be useful for blood sugar control .

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How Can I Incorporate Cinnamon Into My Diet

Theres no official recommended dose of cinnamon for healthy people who want to take advantage of its benefits. However, most of the existing research has found effects at doses between one and six grams. This lines up with the 2003 USDA study mentioned earlier, which found benefits of taking even just half a teaspoon, or a little more than a gram.

Here are our three favorite ways to incorporate cinnamon into meals:

  • Add 1-2 teaspoons to a smoothie
  • Put it in your coffee. Dont just dump a big spoonful in your joe or you could end up with a sludgy mess. Here are tips for incorporating cinnamon into your coffee. And heres a recipe for a cinnamon coconut latte made with cinnamon and slow-digesting fat .
  • Add it to a rub for meat or tofu. Cinnamon is one of the spices in Chinese Five Spice, a great addition to veggie or tofu dishes. If you eat meat, add cinnamon to your rub.

Avoid eating cinnamon by itself, as the experience will be, at best, unpleasant, and at worst, life-threatening, as its fine texture can present a choking hazard.

If youre not a fan of the taste, taking cinnamon supplements might be a viable option. Although researchers havent compared the effects of raw cinnamon and cinnamon capsules, both have been used in studies and produced similar outcomes.

Ranking The Best Blood Sugar Supplements Of 2021

Blood sugar supplements are designed to support your bodys natural blood sugar regulation. Blood sugar is a vital part of our health. If it gets thrown off, we can develop diabetes.


A surprisingly high percentage of the population already has prediabetes, though most of the time, this disease goes undiagnosed .

You can support your bodys natural ability to regulate your blood sugar with a supporting supplement. While these supplements wont cure diabetes or prediabetes, they can be helpful alongside a dietary change.

Here are some of the best supplements on the market for regulating blood sugar:

Research

GluControl is specifically designed to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It aids in the metabolism of glucose and contains scientifically-proven ingredients like cinnamon.


This supplement is vegan, dairy-free, and organic.

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Interactions With Other Medicine

Additionally, cinnamon may interact with certain medications. Because of the coumarin content, you should use caution when taking cassia cinnamon with other medications that can harm the liver. This includes acetaminophen and cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins. Additionally, since cinnamon may lower blood sugar, it should be used with caution alongside other diabetes medications. If you are thinking about taking cinnamon supplements, talk to your healthcare provider for a full list of medications that may have an interaction.

But lets return to the question at hand, whether cinnamon should be used to treat diabetes or not. In short, there currently is not enough evidence to recommend that anybody use cinnamon to control their blood sugar. Instead, staying compliant with your diabetes medications, regularly seeing your doctor, and engaging in weight loss, diet, and exercise are still the best ways to control diabetes.

People’s Pharmacy: Does Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar

Can cinnamon lower your blood sugar?
  • Joe and Teresa GraedonKing Features

Q. Ive just bought a pound of Ceylon cinnamon, since that is supposed to have the least coumarin and be best for lowering blood sugar. Unfortunately, I cant find anything on dosage just that too high doses are risky. Do you have specific recommendations? I am a woman of 67 who needs to lose about 30 pounds.


A. A pound of Ceylon cinnamon will last you a very long time. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 35 clinical trials found that doses of 1.5 grams or more of cinnamon lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and serum glucose and insulin .

We were curious how to measure 1.5 grams of powdered cinnamon, so we got out our sensitive kitchen scales. We found that 1/4 teaspoon weighed just over 2.5 grams . We conclude that 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon daily would be enough to help lower blood sugar if someone were following a sensible low-carb diet. Please have your health care provider monitor your progress.

You are correct that Ceylon cinnamon has the least coumarin, a compound found in some cinnamon bark that can be toxic to the liver . Overall, Ceylon cinnamon has the best activity profile for controlling blood sugar.

To learn more about natural approaches to controlling blood sugar, you may want to read our eGuide to Preventing & Treating Diabetes. This online resource is located under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

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What Are The Drug Interactions I Should Watch Out For When Taking Ceylon Cinnamon

According to various studies, the intake of Ceylon cinnamon causes lowering of the blood sugar levels. Hence, it must be taken with caution when diabetes medications are also being used as maintenance. Interaction of anti-diabetics and Ceylon cinnamon may cause the blood sugar to drop and lead to low blood sugar incidents. So if you are on insulin or sulfonylurea drugs consider monitoring blood sugar more often and discuss with your endocrinologist about lowering your other diabetes medications.

Monitoring of the blood glucose levels is vital in individuals who take both. The dose of either of the two may be adjusted as necessary. Some oral anti-diabetic agents include glimepiride, rosiglitazone, chlorpropamide, tolbutamide, glyburide, and others. Watch out for hypoglycemia if you are taking the mentioned drugs!

How Does Cinnamon Affect Diabetes

Results from a clinical study published in the Diabetes Care journal in 2003 suggest that cassia cinnamon improves blood glucose and cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes, and may reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

A daily intake of just 1, 3, or 6 grams was shown to reduce serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL or bad cholesterol and total cholesterol after 40 days among 60 middle-aged diabetics.

Another study reported in the July 2000 edition of Agricultural Research Magazine found that consuming just 1g of cinnamon per day can increase insulin sensitivity and help manage or reverse type 2 diabetes


In addition, more recent analysis published in 2007 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that 6g of cinnamon slows stomach emptying and significantly reduces hyperglycemia after meals without affecting satiety.

As a result of the scientific evidence available, many health experts claim that cinnamon contains properties that are beneficial for blood sugar regulation and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

However, bear in mind that like many natural compounds cinnamon is yet to be medically approved for prevention or treatment of any disease.

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Are There Any Risks To Eating Cinnamon

All cinnamon contains a compound called coumarinhigher in cassia than ceylon. Coumarin can cause liver damage and tumors in animals at high doses. The risk to humans is primarily in people with existing liver damage, and even then when ingesting far higher amounts than you would typically get in your diet.


If youre upping your cinnamon intake, its best to start small and build up to larger amounts gradually. You may find that too much cinnamon irritates your digestive system, or you could have an allergy that doesnt present itself in lower quantities. That allergy, though rare, could lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as swelling, burning, itchiness of the mouth, or mouth sores.

Since cinnamon lowers blood sugar, you may want to avoid taking extra cinnamon if you are already at risk for low blood sugar . Coumarin is also a natural blood thinner, so you may want to avoid it if youre already taking blood thinners, such as warfarin or statins.

Its also unknown whether taking extra cinnamon has any side effects during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so it may be best to err on the side of caution.

Cinnamon And Blood Sugar

Cinnamon and Diabetes: Taking Cinnamon To Lower Blood Sugar

Research looking at the potential effects of cinnamon on blood sugar levels suggest the spice may be beneficial in two ways. The first is by having an insulin-like effect in the bodyin other words, triggering cells to remove glucose from the blood. The second is by increasing the activity of the transporter proteins that move glucose out of the bloodstream and into cells.

Conclusive studies investigating the use of cinnamon in managing diabetes are lacking. Those that do exist are contradictory, with some showing significant positive effects and others showing little to no effect.


However, there have been some positive findings. The conclusions tend to be limited given the small size of the studies. Others are simply poorly designed.

Among the positive findings, a 2013 meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials concluded that ingesting cinnamon can, in fact, lower fasting blood sugars. The analysis also found that cinnamon had a positive effect on total cholesterol, triglycerides, and “bad” low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

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Is Cinnamon Good For Diabetics

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Diabetes is a chronic health condition. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled in the past 40 years.1

After we eat, food is broken down into sugar and taken up through the blood. Insulin is needed to take up glucose from the blood.2 Without proper functioning insulin, too much sugar stays in the blood and causes serious health complications.

Managing diabetes is important so that it doesnt lead to more complicated illnesses, such as heart disease and nerve damage.

What Is Ceylon Cinnamon

From the inner bark of tiny evergreen Cinnamomum trees, It is native in Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia. It is also known as Cinnamomum verum, comes in a lighter color when compared to other types of cinnamon. It also tastes brighter and lighter with hints of citrus tones.

The inner bark of the cinnamon tree is dried until they curl into rolls, typically known as cinnamon sticks. The inner bark may also be ground, so it can quickly add sweetness to different dishes. Lastly, the bark can also be used as extracts. It is an essential spice incorporated in drinks, pastries, other baked goods, candies, and curry.

The unique and beneficial properties come from the presence of essential oils containing cinnamaldehyde. This substance is responsible for the aroma and flavor it gives off. Cinnamaldehyde is also the reason for the many health benefits this unique spice has.

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