Vinegar and cinnamon can lower blood sugar
JOE GRAEDON and TERESA GRAEDON, Ph.D.
Knight Ridder Tribune News Service
I suffer with type 2 diabetes. My doctor prescribed Glucotrol for my blood
sugar. It helped to a degree, but I have found that by adding apple cider
vinegar and cinnamon to a careful diet, I can control my blood sugar even
better. I know I haven't made this up, but is there any data showing that these
natural remedies work?
There is. High-carbohydrate meals containing white bread or rice can raise blood
sugar. We would not have imagined that vinegar could counteract this effect, but
there is growing evidence to support your experience. Scientists in Sweden
report that vinegar given with white bread reduces blood sugar and insulin. It
also helps people feel fuller up to two hours later (European Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, September 2005).
Japanese researchers have found that vinegar can counteract the effect of white
rice on blood sugar. And investigators at Arizona State University report that 2
tablespoons of vinegar before a starchy meal can significantly reduce the rise
in blood glucose (Diabetes Care, January 2004). There is also research showing
that 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon daily can lower cholesterol, triglycerides and
blood sugar levels (Diabetes Care, December 2003).