The miracle spice

About two months ago I read that about 1/2 teaspoon of regular, ground cinnamon can help control blood sugar.  Since I had gestational diabetes during my pregnancy I thought I'd try it to help keep real diabetes away.

The effects were almost instant (possibly instant, since I wasn't expecting any changes, so I wasn't paying attention).  It was like taking medication.  All of a sudden I had very little appetite and lots of energy.  That's the exact opposite of the way I normally feel.

The weird thing is, that at first I didn't want to tell anyone about because I selfishly wanted to lose weight and make it look easy.  Then I got mad at myself for that attitude and started sharing it with everyone who would listen.  Guess what?  No one cared.  Not even friends who've been on diets their entire life.  I've told at least a dozen people and I don't think even one has tried it. 

Anyway, cinnamon will probably only work for you if you have blood sugar problems, but it's cheap and worth a try.  The only thing to consider is that it's also a blood thinner so if you're already taking blood thinners or have naturally thin blood you may want to talk to a doctor.

I've lost 17 pounds in two months and I feel great so I hope it works for someone else out there.  Sorry for the long post. 

I've been using ground cinnamon on my oatmeal and in tea for a while now and it really does help reduce my sweet cravings, which may be a blood sugar thing after all. I don't have "blood sugar problems" but I think everyone is naturally prone to cravings after eating starch because of the insulin yo yo effect.

I make a sugar free apple crisp with lots of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice, and a rye flour/whole oats/almond topping. It's a great dessert and it doesn't make me feel yucky afterward, thanks in part to the cinnamon. 

I ran out and got my cinnamon at lunch after reading this!!!  Can't wait to start trying it!!!  :)

Good point, Jenniferger. 

People without blood sugar problems can probably still get some real benefits from cinnamon.  It won't be the dramatic change that I experienced, but who cares, anything that keeps your blood sugar from spiking and crashing is probably a good thing for everybody.  If it helps your cholesterol while you're at it, even better. 

"Commission E has approved cinnamon for use when there is complete loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints. Cinnamon will cause increased intestinal activity."

Does this mean it will make you hungry?

You know, I saw that too, but I haven't experienced it. 

It's had the opposite effect on me, but because it helps cells utilize energy, perhaps it can somehow perk up sluggish cell activity and require more energy overall, giving people their appetite back.

That's just a guess, but it does seem to do different things for different people depending on your own personal problems.  I wasn't exaggerating when I called it the miracle spice.

Have to be capsule form for me. It took me years to actually enjoy it in apple pie. (It made reading"Dune" a miserable experience!).   Cincinnati  style chili is supposed to have a lot of cinnamon from the influence of the Greeks living there. Doubtless some curry powder mixes can use a higher cinnamon addition if you are trying to figure out ways to increase cinnimon with out it being too dominant. 

how is this working out for everyone? ive been trying it in capsules for a few days and nothing has happend to my appetite at all. anyone with a better outcome? ill carry on for a few as a i have a whole pot but does it take time to have an effect or is my body just werid

I've been putting cinnamon in fruit and yogurt smoothees.

and also count me in.  I have heard about this before but never knew anyone who had experience with it.  Thanks for sharing.

I put cinnamon on porridge or oatmeal in the mornings,  also I add it to low fat yoghurt and eat it with lots of melon.  I find that cinnamon takes the edge of my appetite, and also seems to cure the "sweet" craving.  Occasionally when I treat myself to a capuccino, then I have it sprinkled on top instead of chocolate....

i put tons in my coffee to get my cinnamon dose!

it's funny b/c i had the same response as kk when i started telling people- no one cared! i thought this was the most amazing discovery. i couldn't wait to tell my diabetic mom and uncle who was JUST diagnosed and even offered to give them shakers of cinnamon, but they seemed sooo skeptical and unexcited.

oh well, i'm glad you all have had great results with it too!

Chelsea, I've never used the capsules, so I'm not sure how effective they are.  Before you give up, try the regular powdered kind.  It only takes half a teaspoon so if you don't like the taste put it in something that can disguise it a bit.

HB, isn't it crazy?  I would understand if we were trying to sell them something or if it were expensive, but most people I know already have cinnamon in their kitchen and if they don't, it's pretty cheap.

 

Wow thats awesome! I wish I knew that when I was preggo, it may have helped me with the gestational diabetes. My husband is diabetic (we checked his sugar levels at home) and refuses to go to the doc, maybe this will help as his sugars were not insanely high, just high enough to put him into the realm of having diabetes. He hates cinnamon but I am sure I can figure something out where he won't know it's there. Thank you

Thanks for this information! I was so intrigued by the post that I decided to start trying this. I don't have diabetes, but I have always had extreme reactions to low blood sugar - when I get hungry I get shaky and I get overly emotional (either snappy or weepy).

So, day two of the cinnamon experiment and I actually think it's making a difference. I have 1/2 tsp in my mini breakfast of Greek yogurt and honey, and another 1/2 tsp in my peanut butter sandwich that I cut into quarters and eat throughout the day. I feel much more satisfied and less hungry, plus it does help cut sweet cravings. I think it's because I associate cinnamon with sweet foods, so when I eat it, I feel like I'm getting a sweet treat, even when I'm not. 

CINNAMON:

How much is everyone eating a day?  I've been having 1/2 tea a day.  Is that enough?  I tried mixing it in cold water and you ahve to stir forever.  Will try mixing it in other things.

I was taking it for high blood pressure, and just started and haven't seen a difference................but patience.

To control appetiate in the evening I wonder when a good time would be to take it.  I'm hungriest between 7-10 pm.

Just wanted to say thanks for the reminder! My mom has sworn by cinnamon for years to help kill cravings, and my diabetic mother-in-law said it's helped even out her blood sugar as well.  I actually love cinnamon, so I have no excuse not to put it on everything! I particularly love it mixed in with plain yogurt or cottage cheese. Yum!

Ohio, I take 1/2 teaspoon a day in my oatmeal in the morning.  On bad days I take a second dose in the afternoon.  It's not really that soluble in water so I suggest mixing it with your breakfast.

Before I started taking it, I was like you, hungriest in the evening.  Now I find I'm hungriest from around 11am to 3pm. 

If your problem isn't blood sugar related, it will still probably help a bit, evening out spikes in blood sugar and helping with cravings. 

For those of us with blood sugar problems it will be a lot more noticeable, but it's still not a miracle cure.  I'm still on a diet and counting calories, the difference is that now I'm able to do it without feeling like I'm starving all the time and when I exercise I have more energy to keep going.

The brand of cinnamon extract capsules I take is called Cinnabetic II.

A recent study published in Diabetes Care magazine revealed that individuals treated with cinnamon for a period of 40 days showed decreases in fasting glucose levels of 18 – 29 percent, cholesterol decreases of 12 – 26 percent, and decreases in triglycerides of 23 – 30 percent (Khan, A, et al. Diabetes Care 26:3215-3218, 2003).

Additionally, USDA research has shown that the water extraction process leaves Type-A polymers responsible for glucose metabolism intact, while removing potentially dangerous compounds found in cinnamon (Anderson, R, et al. J. Agric. Food Chem. 52:65-70, 2004).

=^..^= MOLLY

Thanks for the info, Molly. 

I've read about some of the dangerous compounds and I think they're a danger when you ingest very large amounts.  I try to stick one teaspoon a day but it is a blood thinner so anyone with any concerns should definitely see a doctor.