You
may have seen cinnamon bark in the health food store or on wellness sites, and
wondered, "What could cinnamon possibly do for my health?"
A
lot, actually. But before we discuss that, let's talk about what cinnamon is and
where it comes from.
Cinnamon
comes from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum Zeylanicum tree, which grows primarily
in India, China, and Sri Lanka. The cinnamon we're familiar with are made from
the inner rind of the tree, dried and rolled into cylinders.
When
boiled, the fruit of the tree and the coarser pieces of bark form an aromatic
oil.
Cinnamon
is one of the most popular spices because of its fragrance and aroma.
But
now cinnamon has been proven to be good for your health, as well, which puts the
lie to the idea that anything that tastes that good must be bad for you.
Cinnamon
has strong antioxidant properties, and improves overall health.
Cinnamon
Bark can also lower cholesterol, which can be a great boon to heart health.
But
perhaps the best benefits of cinnamon bark come in regulating blood sugar and
maintaining healthy levels.
This
is great news for diabetics who can supplement their treatment regime with cinnamon
bark for even better control of blood sugar levels.
In
the last ten years, studies have shown how this work. The body believes cinnamon
extract is insulin, because the action of cinnamon extract is so similar to that
of insulin. Cinnamon extract prevents insulin resistance, thus regulating blood
sugar levels.
The
blood sugar benefits of cinnamon bark have been documented in several studies.
In
Malaysia, at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysa, a three-year study showed that
cinnamon has positive effects on Type II diabetes.
A
study by the USDA in 2004 showed that "extracts from cinnamon enhance the
activity of insulin."
A
study reported in Diabetes Care in December 2003 showed that "cinnamon improves
glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes."
Clearly,
there is evidence that cinnamon bark can help in promoting healthy blood sugar
and treating diabetes. Of course diabetes is a serious illness and any treatment
should be undertaken with the assistance of a medical professional, but cinnamon
bark can greatly increase the overall health of anyone, and especially those suffering
from diabetes.
A
less obvious group who can benefit from cinnamon bark is women suffering from
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. PCOS is caused, primarily, by insulin resistance,
and the blood-sugar regulating effects of cinnamon bark can greatly reduce this
insulin resistance and improve health for those suffering this painful disease.
Cinnamon
bark has many benefits on health, and in addition, has no side effects. It is
hard to imagine a better choice for wellness than something that is natural, does
not cause unpleasant side effects, and has so many positive effects on overall
health and especially on blood sugar levels.
Cinnamon
Bark comes in capsules; the usual dose for most brands is one to three capsules
per day, or as directed by a healthcare professional.
Todd
Alexander writes health articles for EarthTurns.com.
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