Spices have always been admired for their ability to improve the flavors of rudimentary dishes, and perhaps this will always remain their most loved feature. Despite their largely pragmatic uses in the kitchen, however, emerging studies continue to prove that many popular spices are nutritional powerhouses that possess undeniable medicinal value.

Spices that are proven to lower blood sugar levels should hold particular value to us, since diabetes affects approximately 24 million people in the United States alone. The three spices listed below fall into this category, so diabetic and pre-diabetic individuals should definitely consider incorporating more of them into their diets.

Turmeric

According to a 2012 study conducted at Harbin Medical University in China, patients with type II diabetes who took 300 mg/day of turmeric for three months experienced considerably larger drops in blood glucose levels, insulin resistance and hemoglobin A1C than those who took a placebo. The researchers attributed this result to turmeric’s impressive levels of curcumin, a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that gives the spice its trademark orange-yellow color and is linked to countless other health benefits.

Though turmeric is most commonly added to curries and rice dishes, the spice’s pleasant, nutty taste also enhances salad dressings, roasted vegetables, soups and much more. You can also mix turmeric with water, milk, apple cider vinegar or coconut water. Coconut milk is a particularly good choice, since it has a near-identical composition to blood plasma and thus can help deliver turmeric’s nutrients to our cells.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/043175_blood_sugar_levels_medicinal_spices_diabetes.html#ixzz2n2AOZqKH