Fall is upon us, which means that you likely see pumpkin spice on virtually everything in stores. There are pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin spice chapstick, and even pumpkin spice deodorant.
Luckily, if you’re living with diabetes, then this could be good for you. This is because the primary ingredient in pumpkin spice is cinnamon, which is known for its anti-diabetic benefits. Here are three ways in which pumpkin spice is good for you.
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1. It Fights Diabetes
Cinnamon helps fight diabetes by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Insulin is the 
hormone responsible for converting glucose into energy so that your blood never becomes too saturated in glucose. With diabetes, insulin sensitivity decreases as does overall insulin production. With a little bit of cinnamon each day, you can stabilize your glucose levels by making your body more receptive to insulin.
2. It is Full of Antioxidants
Antioxidants protect against free radical damage, which can come from virtually anything we do. The damage is small at first, but over time it can break down our cells and even negatively impact our DNA. While free radical damage is unavoidable, we can help protect ourselves against it. Cinnamon, for example, has over 40 different protective compounds that can protect us from oxidative stress. So a serving of cinnamon a day may just keep the doctor away!
3. It is Anti-Inflammatory
Cinnamon lowers inflammation throughout the body, proving to be a powerful all-natural anti-inflammatory substance. As diabetes is a disease that causes inflammation, this is especially beneficial to those living with diabetes.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice
Recipe Adapted from Whole New Mom
Recipe makes 1/2 cup
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons ground ginger
- 3 teaspoons ground cloves
Directions
- Combine everything in a glass jar.
- Secure the lid and shake vigorously.
- Enjoy!
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[expand title=”References“]
Dr. Axe. URL Link. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
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