Spicy Food May Soothe a Diabetic Heart
Blood pressure, blood sugar and other gains are often long-lasting

(HealthDay News) -- Along with shaking the doldrums out of your diet, herbs and spices also just might counteract some of the harmful effects of high blood sugar.

A study from the Journal of Medicinal Food suggests that numerous herbs and spices contain inflammation-lowering antioxidants that could help people with diabetes improve their health.

Although the study didn't directly examine the effect of spices and herbs on people with diabetes, study co-author James Hargrove, an associate professor at the University of Georgia, told HealthDay that the finding "gives people a tool to work with in terms of keeping their health as they want it to be."

Almost 24 million Americans have diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational. The one thing they have in common is an impaired or absent ability to process blood sugar.

And, that may be where spices can play a role.

Hargrove and his colleagues simply purchased several dozen types of herbs and spices at a local store and tested them in the lab.

They found that many spices and extracts were able to inhibit glycation, a process that occurs when blood sugar levels are high. Blood sugar actually binds to cells, such as red blood cells, when levels are too high. By measuring the level of glycated red blood cells, doctors can get a picture of long-term diabetes control. This test is commonly called the A1C test or the hemoglobin A1C. Glycation has also been linked to inflammation and tissue damage.

The herbs that appeared most likely to help people with diabetes were marjoram, sage and thyme. In the spice category, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice appeared to have the most promise for people with the blood sugar disease.

"One can put a lot of antioxidant power into meals by using spices," Hargrove said. And, "because of the way they're prepared, herbs and spices tend to have low calorie contents," he added.

What's not clear is what levels might be effective, or even if they'd truly be effective at preventing glycation.

Still, Lona Sandon, national spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, seemed hopeful. "I say add as much herbs and spices as your taste buds and tummy can take," Sandon 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."

On the Web

For some spicy recipe ideas, check out information from the American Diabetes Associations' magazine.

SOURCES: HealthDay News ; James Hargrove, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.; Lona Sandon, M.Ed., R.D., assistant professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; June 2008, Journal of Medicinal Food; National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov)
Author: Serena Gordon
Publication Date: Nov. 30, 2009
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