3 Super Spices for Your Blood Sugar
Certain spices could help control high blood sugar or minimize the damage it causes. The kitchen roll call? Cloves, allspice, and cinnamon — three holiday favorites.
Undo Sugar Damage
A recent lab study revealed that the antioxidants in cloves, allspice, and cinnamon may inhibit the formation of bad-for-your-body high-blood-sugar compounds — the very compounds that can lead to a host of diabetes-linked problems, like heart disease, nerve disorders, and eye and kidney damage. Other spices seemed to have a similar — though weaker — effect: sage, marjoram, tarragon, and rosemary. Cinnamon may not only inhibit high-blood-sugar damage but also help lower blood sugar.
Spice Advice
Of course, the real keys to blood sugar control are eating right, exercising, and keeping your weight down. But it’s nice to know there are some little things you can do — like cooking with low-cal, fat-free spices — that may support your efforts. Try cubing up your leftover turkey and using it in place of the ground turkey.
Blood Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice
It’s great on french toast. It’s lovely in apple pies, oatmeal, and eggnog. And now, it may be good for your blood sugar, too.
Give up? It’s cinnamon. People with diabetes who eat three-eighths of a teaspoon a day enjoy better blood sugar levels after a little over a month. Here’s what else will get your blood sugar under control.
It’s In Your Blood
How does cinnamon work its magic? Researchers aren’t sure yet. It’s possible that something in cinnamon helps make insulin receptors more sensitive. But more research is needed before doctors recommend it as a mainstay of diabetes treatment. Still, there are lots of other ways to help stabilize your blood sugar levels and keep type 2 diabetes at bay.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:41 am
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November 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
This is a very interesting and helpful article. Just simple things like this. When used daily along with other ideas can really help with diabetes. As for instance I have found getting on my bowflex regularly helps with my blood levels. Im going to cook more using these spices. Why not it cant hurt.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Thank you for commenting,Robert! Food and exercise can do so much, not only fot Diabetics, but for everyone.
January 7th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
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