March/April 2004
HEALTH BYTES

Cinnamon may help treat diabetes

       A recent study found that diabetics who consumed less than a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon per day showed a decrease in levels of blood sugar, cholesterol and blood fats by up to 30 percent. Researchers say that incorporating the spice into the diet may help protect diabetics from risk of heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and other potential complications of the disease. Some suggestions: add a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon to breakfast cereals, or boil sticks of cinnamon with water to make a tea. Moreover, cinnamon may help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in at-risk people. According to researchers, cinnamon contains compounds that improve the ability of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. (Diabetes Care, 2003)