Cholesterol meds in the spice cabinet?

Cholesterol meds in the spice cabinet?: “A pinch of cinnamon may prevent and control blood sugar and cholesterol levels for patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study done in Peshawar, Pakistan, and reported in the December issue of Diabetes Care magazine. ‘These effects are very substantial, very significant,’ said Richard Anderson, lead scientist at the US Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Md., which worked on the study with the Pakistani Department of Human Nutrition. The study, which involved 60 patients who were not on insulin therapy, found that both blood sugar and cholesterol levels decreased if subjects consumed 1, 3 or 6 grams of cinnamon per day for 40 days. Blood sugar and cholesterol levels in the placebo group did not change. Doctors probably will wait for a larger, more-conclusive study before recommending cinnamon-flavored treats to their patients. ‘The results are interesting,’ said Dr. Om Ganda, director of the lipid clinic at Joslin Diabetes Center. ‘We have to study these herbal and indigenous food products in more detail.’ Anderson said the lab plans a more complete study, focused on isolating the active component in cinnamon.”