Healthy living
Healthy eating
Spice suppresses sugar surge
Sprinkling a spoonful of cinnamon on your dessert may help reduce the blood sugar level surge that follows a sweet treat, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The findings may one day help people with diabetes control their condition, which occurs when the body is unable to properly control glucose levels in the blood.
Researchers in Sweden took a group of 14 healthy volunteers and gave them each a bowl of plain rice pudding. Blood tests were taken at regular intervals after the dessert had been eaten. They then repeated the experiment with a cinnamon-sprinkled version.
The team found that the blood sugar level of the volunteers rose less after they had consumed the spiced pudding. Ultrasound scans revealed that when the volunteers ate the cinnamon pudding the food passed more slowly through the digestive system. The presence of cinnamon also reduced the rate at which sugars passed into the blood stream after eating the sweet food.
This research backs up previous studies that suggest that cinnamon may help blood sugar control. However the team conclude that more research needs to be done to show that the spice can be used as an effective means to control blood sugar levels in diabetes sufferers.
There are currently over 2 million people with diabetes in the UK, and up to another 750,000 people with diabetes who have the condition and don’t know it. People suffering from diabetes are unable to control their blood sugar levels because their body is unable to properly use the sugar-regulating hormone insulin. There are two types of diabetes.
In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin, and treatment, normally in the form of insulin injections, is essential. This type of diabetes usually occurs in childhood. Type 2 diabetes is more common and tends to develop after the age of 40 and occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body is unable to use the insulin properly.
The charity Diabetes UK does not recommend that people with diabetes start taking large doses of the spice. "We would be interested in seeing more research in this area," says a spokesman. "What is far more important for people with diabetes and those who may be at risk is eating a healthy balanced diet - low in fat, sugar and salt, and containing plenty of fruit and vegetables - and, of course, getting regular physical activity and taking any prescribed medication."
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes include
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
- Increased urination, especially at night
- Weight loss
- Sores that do not heal
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
