For type 2 diabetes, the USDA says a certain spice is pretty nice

The U.S. government isn’t what you’d call a big fan of alternative medicine.

But researchers over at the USDA don’t seem to have a problem with natural therapies.

New research from the USDA focuses on using cinnamon extract for the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

More than 20 subjects with metabolic syndrome (a key risk factor for developing diabetes) were given a cinnamon extract or placebo for 12 weeks. Those in the cinnamon group ended up with significantly lower levels of fasting blood sugar compared to placebo.

Here’s an added bonus: Subjects in the cinnamon group also increased lean muscle mass, while losing body fat and lowering blood pressure.

Of course, the news about cinnamon and diabetes isn’t news to us. But it turns out it isn’t news to the USDA either. When I searched past e-Alerts, I found another cinnamon study from 2003–conducted by…the USDA!

In that study, one gram of cinnamon extract, taken for 40 days, improved blood sugar, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels.

Maybe the FDA should get on the USDA’s mailing list.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson

Source:
“USDA examines diabetes benefits of cinnamon” Mike Stones, NutraIngredients-USA, 7/23/10, nutraingredients-usa.com