Malaysian researchers have found new proof that cinnamon can relieve diabetes by lowering sugar levels, a report said Friday.
A three-year study carried out by the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia showed that the spice has positive effects on Type II diabetes, the kind which typically develops during adulthood, the Star newspaper said.
Research chief Mohammad Roji said herbalists all over the world used cinnamon to treat diarrhoea and arthritis because of its ability to improve circulation, heal wounds and prevent ulcers and allergies.
"In the last decade, laboratory studies have also revealed that cinnamon extract mimicked insulin action in the cells," he said, according to the daily.
Insulin regulates the body's ability to use sugars in the blood, but in people with diabetes the cells lose their ability to respond to the hormone.
Rapidly developing Asian nations are now being hit with rising rates of diabetes, which is linked to lifestyle factors such as obesity and unhealthy diets.
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