A recent study headed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified a link between cinnamon intake and reduced risk of diabetes and heart disease. According to the research, water-soluble cinnamon extract, which is high in antioxidants, helps to decrease glucose levels in the blood as well as reduce oxidative stress in the body.

Richard Anderson, a chemist with the USDA and study lead, and his colleagues evaluated 22 participants who were obese and considered to be “pre-diabetic” based on their cells’ interaction with insulin. The team divided the participants into two groups, one of which received a placebo, and another that received 250 milligrams (mg) of dried, water-soluble cinnamon extract twice a day for 12 weeks. Follow-up tests revealed up to a 23 percent increase in antioxidant levels among those taking the cinnamon.

Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, and the cells that would normally accept insulin from the pancreas in order to lower these levels begin to reject it. If not addressed quickly, pre-diabetes can quickly develop into full diabetes.

Based on the study, cinnamon is a viable, natural treatment for maintaining healthy blood glucose levels and preventing the onset of diabetes. Other studies have also shown that cinnamon plays a vital role in maintaining healthy circulation and energy levels in the body.