Cinnamon
Well-loved for the sweet warmth it brings to foods, this spice may be an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes
Photo: Mike Lorrig
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The spice that we know as cinnamon is actually Cinnamomum cassia, a darker, spicier, less-expensive cousin of true Ceylon cinnamon. Just 1/2 teaspoon a day of cassia has been found to regulate blood sugar levels, according to a study at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Md. The results may mean that cassia can be helpful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Cassia is also prized for its potential antifungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic qualities, which may make it effective against yeast infections and the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.