Cinannamon has been used as a spice and herbal medicine for thousands of years ago. In traditional Chinese medicine they use cinnamon as a means to provide relief from menstrual pain, colds, flatulence, nausea and diarrhea. It's also believed to improve blood circulation, acting as an anti-microbial, boosting brain function, and protecting against heart disease.
Recent studies have found that Cinnamon may help lower blood sugar levels, triglycerides (fatty acids in the blood), LDL (or "bad") cholesterol, and total cholesterol in people who have diabetes.
Scientists, led by Dr. Richard A. Anderson from the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture examined 60 people in Pakistan with Type 2 diabetes. This study had demonstrated that intake of 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon per day lowered fasting blood sugar by 18 to 29 percent, triglycerides by 23 to 30 percent, LDL cholesterol by 7 to 27 percent, and total cholesterol by 12 to 26 percent. One gram is the equivalent of about a half a teaspoon.
The study ran for forty days, but the healthful effects persisted even through the twenty day washout period from when the subjects stopped taking the cinnamon capsules and the last blood work of the study was performed.
But research results have not been consistent. As for cholesterol control, the effects seen in the Pakistan study don't equal those of better-studied statin.
According to Dr. Frank Sacks, a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and a professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health found that Cinnamon is a lot less effective than statins" at lowering cholesterol levels in the blood,
Anderson has cautioned that powdered cinnamon in your spice rack is not water soluble, meaning it can build up in your body's fat tissues. The toxic effect of high levels of cinnamon are not well understood. Also, saliva can break down some of the beneficial chemicals in cinnamon, so it must be taken in capsule form to be effective.
Cinnamon contain cinnamaldehyde and coumarin. These compound can be toxic in large doses, a regular use of substantial amounts (e.g. 1/2 teaspoon amounts) of ground cinnamon may be unsafe. Recent information provided by the Federal Institute of Risk Assessment "states that coumarin may damage the liver of particularly sensitive individuals.
The best advice is to always consult with your doctor before starting any medications or supplements if you have a health condition or if you're taking any medication. Take note that consuming a large amount of cinnamon (usually as a supplement) may cause you to experience a fast heart rate, upset stomach and excessive perspiration.
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