As you may know, cinnamon is a great way to battle diabetes. Whether you’re trying to prevent or treat the disease, adding a little cinnamon to every meal can fight this terrible disease better than most drugs. But cinnamon isn’t the only nutrient you must take. Research shows that a mineral known for its heart and bone benefits also helps prevent diabetes.
A new study shows that prevention can be as simple as eating more magnesium every day. They enrolled about 4,500 men and women between the ages of 18-30. None of them were diabetic at the outset. They evaluated their magnesium intake from food. And they looked at how it related to diabetes development.
Over the next 20 years, 330 developed diabetes. Those with the higher magnesium intake (200 mg magnesium for every 1,000 calories) had a significantly lower risk. In fact, they were almost 50% less likely to get diabetes than those consuming half that amount. Those who ate more magnesium also had reduced inflammation and insulin resistance.
Magnesium is critical for sugar control and sugar burning in your cells. Magnesium alone can explain the terrific prevention. But, I also suspect a superior diet adds to the protection.
I think the majority of Americans are deficient in magnesium to some degree. You can find magnesium supplements in all health food stores. I like magnesium in the glycinate, lactate, and citrate forms over inorganic magnesium oxide. Supplementing at 250-500 mg per day is quite safe. Too much magnesium can cause loose stools. If this happens to you, simply decrease the dose.
Ref: Diabetic Medicine: A Journal of the British Diabetic Association, October 2010; Reuters September 24, 2010; Diabetes Care, August 31, 2010.
By Dr. Frank Shallenberger, MD
For more information about the Dr. Frank Shallenberger MD and the Second Opinion Newsletter Click Here!