Spices, Herbs Boost Health for Diabetics

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Spices, Herbs Boost Health for Diabetics

 

Study finds antioxidants lower inflammation caused by high blood sugar

Posted October 17, 2008

By Randy Dotinga

HealthDay Reporter

 

FRIDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Spices may do more than flavor

your food: New research suggests a shake of this and a pinch of that

could also boost the health of diabetics.

 

Researchers bought 24 herbs and spices and found that many appear to

have the power to inhibit tissue damage and inflammation brought on

by high blood-sugar levels in the body.

 

The study didn't examine the direct effects of spices on diabetics.

Also, spices are typically used in small amounts, making it unclear

if those who eat them would get much benefit.

 

Still, " this gives people a tool to work with in terms of keeping

their health as they want it to be, " said study co-author James

Hargrove, an associate professor at the University of Georgia.

 

Hargrove and his colleagues were intrigued by spices because they're

rich in antioxidants, which are thought to protect cells from

damage. " One can put a lot of antioxidant power into meals by using

spices " without making people fatter, he said. " Because of the way

they're prepared, herbs and spices tend to have low calorie contents. "

 

In addition, spices are cheaper than many other food products, he

said.

 

The researchers decided to look into the anti-inflammatory properties

of spices. " We said, 'Let's just go to Wal-Mart, get all the

McCormick brand spices we can find, and check those. That was as

complicated as our study design was. "

 

The findings appear in a recent issue of the Journal of Medicinal

Food.

 

In laboratory tests, the researchers found that many of the spices

and extracts appeared to inhibit a process known as glycation, which

has been linked to inflammation and tissue damage in diabetics.

 

The spices that seemed most likely to help diabetics included cloves,

cinnamon (previously pegged as a possible blood-sugar reducer),

allspice, apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice, Hargrove said. Top

herbs included marjoram, sage and thyme.

 

Other spices and herbs were " still rich compared to other foods " when

it comes to the effect, he said.

 

Lona Sandon, national spokesperson for the American Dietetic

Association, said that while research does suggest that spices are

high in antioxidants and may reduce blood-sugar levels, it's

difficult to make recommendations about how much to use.

 

Even so, " I say add as much herbs and spices as your taste buds and

tummy can take, " she said. " They add flavor and fun to foods without

adding calories or fat. Their potential for promoting health

outweighs any risks, unless, of course, you have an allergy to a

particular spice. "

 

 

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/10/17/spices-

herbs-boost-health-for-diabetics.html