Cinnamon and Type 1 Diabetes
April 19th, 2009In the spring of 2006, a study of cinnamon and type 1 diabetes appeared in the Journal of Nutrition. This study evaluated 25 post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes who were treated with 1.5 grams of cinnamon daily for six weeks. Cinnamon was not associated with a significant change in insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance or cholesterol profile. Other tests have shown significant improvements in the effect of cinnamon on diabetes.
But regardless of the tests, it doesn’t mean that anyone with diabetes should rush out and begin taking voluminous doses of cinnamon. For one thing, cinnamon contains the flavoring coumarin. Even though coumarin is a natural flavoring, it is also a known carcinogen. Coumarin is banned in many countries and it was banned in the United States as a food additive in 1978. An exception is made if coumarin is contained in parts of another plant that is used to flavor food. This is the case with cinnamon which is why it is allowed to be used in cinnamon.