The relevance of diet in managing diabetes is indisputable. But unfortunately, no single food is able to offer the full range of nutritional and health benefits required for optimal health. Yet some scientific studies have linked specific foods to lower blood sugar levels. One spice, in particular, has risen to the task – lowering blood sugar levels by 30 percent in just 40 days.
In one 2013 study published in the Annals of Family Medicine and Diabetes Care, researchers found cinnamon to be beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
The findings showed that individuals who ate one or more grams of cinnamon saw their blood sugar levels fall by 30 percent, compared to those who didn’t.
The results were observed in middle-aged diabetics who consumed just one, three, or six grams of cinnamon after just 40 days.
The study also observed a significant reduction in triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels of more than 25 percent.
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The connection is believed to be partly due to cinnamon’s chromium concentrations, a mineral that enhances the effects of insulin.
Its polyphenolic qualities may also deliver benefits, acting as a buffer against free radicals in the blood.
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This in turn helps lower inflammation in the body, which could protect against diabetes and heart disease.
These findings were later confirmed in a study reported in the July 2000 edition of Agricultural Research magazine, which confirmed a daily intake of one gram may suffice to help increase insulin sensitivity.
These may include blurry vision, intense third, increased need to urinate, fatigue, or numbness and titling in the hands and feet.
There is a widely held belief that type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which takes longer to develop, are irreversible conditions, but these views have been challenged in recent years.
Certain researchers argue that significant weight loss could improve the odds of remission.
This is particularly true of prediabetes, a condition characterised by high blood sugar levels, but not yet high enough to qualify as type 2 diabetes.
In all cases, diet coupled with regular exercise offers the best chances of reversing the condition.
Source: Daily Express
