Are you ready to spice up your life and add a little flavor to your well-being? Cinnamon is a spice powerhouse that not only adds a dash of yumminess to your favorite recipes, but it also comes with some surprising benefits for your blood sugar and hormone health.
Cinnamon is known for its many uses as an anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, lipid-lowering, and cardiovascular-disease-fighting compound (Kumar 2012, Gunawardena 2015).
Studies show that cinnamon can dramatically reduce insulin resistance, helping this important hormone do its job (Qin 2012). The chromium (Cr) and polyphenols in cinnamon are proven to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose control, and, therefore, lower blood sugar levels. (Anderson 2008).
In studies with Type 2 diabetes patients, cinnamon improved glucose and lipids, showing a statistically significant decrease in levels of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels, and an increase in HDL-C levels (Khan 2003, Allen 2013, Santos 2018).
It also has blood-sugar-regulating properties! It has been shown to decrease the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal (Akilen 2010).
In addition to blood glucose, cinnamon has proven to lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure (Mahmoodnia 2017).
Lastly, this superfood is loaded with powerful antioxidants, which protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals (Rao 2014, Dhuley 1999, Shan 2005).
But wait, there's more! Cinnamon doesn't stop there; it also has some tricks up its sleeve when it comes to hormone health. This fragrant spice has been found to have a positive impact on hormone balance, particularly in women (Dastgheib, 2022).
Now go ahead and let cinnamon spice up your life in more ways than one!
