Cinnamon is a very popular spice that commonly gets added to both savory and sweet dishes. It comes from the bark of dozens of varieties of evergreen tree. Most people buy it in a powdered form, but it is also sold in curled sticks that are often used to stir hot beverages. In recent years, it has become available in a capsule form too because it works so well for controlling blood sugar levels.
Controlling Blood Sugar Spikes
Insulin is produced by the pancreas. It gets released every time a person eats or drinks something that is sweet or starchy. The insulin brings down the sugar in the blood by helping the cells use it for energy. However, if a person doesn’t produce enough insulin, or they become insulin resistant, then this sugar stays in the blood with nowhere to go. This causes a multitude of health problems, such as diabetes and obesity. But if cinnamon is taken regularly, it helps the cells open up to accept sugar the way that insulin does, making it one of the best natural blood sugar control supplements.
How Much Cinnamon Do You Need?
Research has shown that it takes about a teaspoon of cinnamon a day to help control blood sugar levels. However, some people may need to take this dose once in the morning and once in the evening if they have excessively high blood sugar levels. It can be sprinkled on food or dissolved in hot water to make a tea. There are now easy-to-take, all natural supplement capsules available on the market to make adding this to your everyday routine easier. It should be noted that the effects of cinnamon might not be noticeable at first. It has to be taken consistently to be effective. Most studies have proven that the results are often seen after taking it for one month or more.
Is Cinnamon Safe for Everyone?
Although cinnamon is safe for most people to take, there are a few warnings that should be mentioned. This spice is a bit taxing to the liver, so anyone who is having liver problems should try a different herbal supplement. Also, those who are diabetic should check with their doctor before taking cinnamon because it may interfere with some other diabetes medications. High doses of cinnamon can irritate the stomach lining and esophagus too, so it is best to start out with a small dose of it to see how it will affect you if you suffer from ulcers or acid reflux disease.
