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The effective dose is typically 1–6 grams or around 0.5–2 teaspoons of cinnamon per day.įor more information on how you can lower your blood sugar levels, check out 15 easy ways to lower blood sugar levels naturally. Numerous human studies have confirmed the anti-diabetic effects of cinnamon, showing that it can lower fasting blood sugar levels by 10–29% ( 18, 19, 20). This greatly improves glucose uptake by your cells, though it acts much slower than insulin itself. Second, a compound in cinnamon can act on cells by mimicking insulin ( 16, 17). It does this by interfering with numerous digestive enzymes, which slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract ( 14, 15). It’s high in cinnamaldehyde, which is thought to be responsible for most of cinnamon’s health benefits.Ĭinnamon is well known for its blood-sugar-lowering properties.Īpart from the beneficial effects on insulin resistance, cinnamon can lower blood sugar by several other mechanisms.įirst, cinnamon has been shown to decrease the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal. Scientists believe that this compound is responsible for most of cinnamon’s powerful effects on health and metabolism. The distinct smell and flavor of cinnamon are due to the oily part, which is very high in the compound cinnamaldehyde ( 2). These sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder. When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed.
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Cassia cinnamon: The more common variety today and what people generally refer to as “cinnamon.”Ĭinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees.Ceylon cinnamon: Also known as “true” cinnamon.There are two main types of cinnamon ( 1):
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These days, cinnamon is cheap, available in every supermarket and found as an ingredient in various foods and recipes. It used to be rare and valuable and was regarded as a gift fit for kings. It has been used as an ingredient throughout history, dating back as far as Ancient Egypt. Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner bark of trees scientifically known as Cinnamomum.
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