  |
How Does Cinnamon Bark Help with Blood Sugar Issues? |
|
How Does Cinnamon Bark Help with Blood Sugar Issues?
|
Darrell Miller | 07/20/11 |
Date:
July 20, 2011 12:41 PM
Author: Darrell Miller
(dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: How Does Cinnamon Bark Help with Blood Sugar Issues?
Even with the advanced technological innovations and discovery of new treatments nowadays, there are still many people who prefer to undergo traditional medicine. One of the promising traditional methods of treatment is the use of herbs or plants. Many opt to use this because aside from the fact that it is safe because it is all natural, it is also effective and economical. One of the oldest medicinal herbs widely used to help control blood sugar levels is cinnamon bark.
Cinnamon bark is from the cinnamon tree which can originally be found in many areas in Southeast Asia. Cinnamon is popular as a food and beverage flavoring as well as in tooth pastes, mouth washes, chewing gums and candies because of its pleasant taste and aroma. Together with its popularity in the culinary world, cinnamon bark has also been widely used as an herbal medicine.
The glory of cinnamon bark primarily lies on the herb’s ability to regulate glucose levels in the blood. Studies reveal that cinnamon enhances the ability of the body to uptake insulin, which is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body to carry glucose molecules from the blood stream to the cells to be used as energy. Half of a teaspoon of cinnamon powder can already yield an impressive effect in blood sugar levels.
In addition to its glucose – lowering properties, cinnamon bark is also helpful in lowering blood cholesterol levels. In specific, it decreases the amount of triglycerides about 20 to 30 % and the bad cholesterol or LDL by 5 to 30 % while improving the levels of good cholesterol or HDL about 15 to 25%. In relation to this, cinnamon bark helps in decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks.
Cinnamon bark also has a remarkable anti – oxidative property. Antioxidants are important to the body because these chemicals are the ones responsible for neutralizing the free radicals inside the body occurring after any biologic reactions. These free radicals are harmful chemicals if not eliminated from the body. Cinnamon bark can also prevent early aging by making your cells healthy and giving you a youthful smooth skin and strong hair.
It also contains certain oils which is high in antimicrobial elements. It has been long used as an antiseptic agent to kill bacteria, viruses and fungi. Microbial studies show that cinnamon bark can actively fight Candida albicans which causes yeast infections and Helicobacter pylori which causes gastric ulcers.
Cinnamon bark is generally safe. But experts still highly recommend that it would be best that you should take cinnamon bark supplements after consulting a physician and discuss with your doctor your health status and other medications taken. As mentioned above, cinnamon bark could affect glucose levels; therefore, people who are taking hypoglycemic agents or any drug that can lower blood sugar levels should not take cinnamon extracts unless permitted by your physician. Taking these medications concurrently may cause excessive drop in glucose levels. It is also not advisable that you will stop taking your diabetes medications and replace it with cinnamon supplements instead.
