Tom's Blog on Life

Some more data on the harmful effects that wheat has on ouyr health.
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/your-body-and-brain-gluten

An interesting indictment of wheat as a causative agent in adverse health issues. It is up there at the top of the list with drugs!
One reason I use no wheat in my entire range.
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/display/toxic-ingredient

Cinnamon – from a Dr Al Sears newsletter
Cinnamon can help balance your blood sugar.
That’s especially important today. Our modern diet causes your pancreas to produce too much insulin.
And too much insulin overwhelms the insulin receptors in your cells and makes them insulin-resistant. This leads to high glucose levels, which in turn causes prediabetes and ultimately full-blown type 2 diabetes.
Big Pharma has hundreds of drugs to try to treat diabetes. But studies show they do nothing to save lives. And they have terrible side effects.
I help my patients balance their blood sugar with natural alternatives, including cinnamon.
A USDA study found that cinnamon significantly increases insulin production and balances blood sugar.1
And in a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people ate about a cup of rice pudding with or without a teaspoon of cinnamon. Adding the cinnamon slowed the rate the stomach emptied by up to 37%. That significantly slowed the rise in blood sugar levels. It also increased levels of a peptide that helps prevent overeating which can lead to spikes in blood sugar.2
Cinnamon is also a powerful antioxidant. It reduces inflammation and promotes heart health.3 And it can help you lose weight. Studies show that cinnamon actually mimics insulin to clear glucose from your blood so your body stops storing excess sugar as fat.4
Other research shows that cinnamon helps:
Reduce blood pressure
Relieve arthritis
Alleviate menstrual cramps
Support healthy blood clotting
Boost memory
Improve digestion
I recommend using a teaspoon of cinnamon powder a day. But make sure you get the right kind of cinnamon…
You see, that jar of “cinnamon” in your cupboard is probably not true cinnamon at all, but a very similar spice known as “cassia” (Cinnamomum cassia).
True cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is usually labeled “Ceylon cinnamon.” It is sweeter, lighter and more refined than cassia. It’s most suitable to flavoring desserts. Cassia is heavier and more suited to robust, savory dishes.
Ceylon cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean. It’s more expensive and harder to find. But it’s what I recommend for my patients. You see, cassia has higher levels of coumarin, a natural blood thinner. In fact, cassia has about 250 times more coumarin than Ceylon cinnamon does. Too much coumarin can cause liver toxicity and cancer.
And patients on blood thinners like warfarin (brand name Coumadin) are often advised to limit their intake of cinnamon. But that applies to cassia more so than to real cinnamon.

Been doing it sweet for a while now!