Try Cinnamon

It's the time of year when cinnamon starts appearing in warmed apple ciders, teas, and baked goods. That's good news for people trying to control their blood sugar.

A study that appeared in the December 2003 issue of Diabetes Care found that cinnamon could:

• Lower blood glucose by 18 to 29%
  
• Lower triglycerides by 23 to 30%
  
• Lower total cholesterol by 13 to 26%

The study participants received either 1, 3, or 6 grams/day of ground cinnamon (that's about 3/4 tsp, 2 tsp, or 3-3/4 tsp respectively). Benefits in blood glucose were similar regardless of the amount taken. The cinnamon was consumed for 40 days, with the best results seen at the end of that time.

More research needs to be done before a recommendation can be made. But it's worth adding 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon to your diet, once or twice a day, and testing your blood glucose to see if it works for you.

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For the study (no registration required):
Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 Diabetes