Can I use honey instead of sugar in my coffee? I am a diabetic.

Sure, you can.


There is a lot of hype about honey and its miraculous healing properties. If you are a diabetic you can certainly use honey but you should know a few facts. 
Honey is very high in calories and can also raise your blood sugar. If you decide to use honey, use it sparingly.


As far as its medical benefits are concerned, there are only isolated reports which have never been verified in blind randomized trials.


There are reports that applying honey on diabetic wounds can lead to rapid healing. Unfortunately, none of these studies from the Middle East have ever been reproduced and the results have been inconsistent.  

Can cinnamon lower blood sugars?

Cinnamon is a decent food flavoring agent and recently there has been a lot of hype about its ability to lower blood sugars. There are many reports indicating that cinnamon has many other medial benefits. However, all these are anecdotal reports and have never been proven in properly conducted clinical studies. 


There has been one study from Asia which showed that cinnamon taken daily for more than 3 months can help lower blood sugars in type 2 diabetics. However, the results were not sustained and the benefit was only seen in a few patients.


What the consumer should under stand is that cinnamon is a spice that has been used in every day cooking by millions of Orientals and Indians. And yet there people have some of the highest levels of diabetes of all ethnic groups. While cinnamon is not a bad flavoring agent, its anti diabetic properties are simply exaggerated. 


All diabetics should know that cinnamon is not a substitute for the conventional diabetic medications or insulin. If you  are a diabetic and want to live a hassle free life free of complications, better speak to your doctor before you start mucking around with cinnamon as your treatment for blood sugars.

Can you tell me what herb/supplement I can take to control my blood sugars?

Unfortunately, outside of insulin and the oral hypoglycemic drugs, there is nothing that can help lower your blood sugars. The majority of health supplements marketed for blood sugar control are junk, untested and do not serve any real medical benefit. Moreover, these supplements contain contaminants, many are even fakes and all of them are expensive.

The one thing you can is to exercise. There is a lot of evidence that regular exercise can help you lower your blood sugar, reduce your weight and even lower your cholesterol. It really does not matter what exercise you do, as long as you do something that is physical. There is no easy way out. Popping supplements/herbs has become an easy solution for everyone wanting to cure their medical problems. The problem with the health supplement market is that it is unregulated with no quality control. 

So if you want to leave a hassle free life with diabetes, start walking today. Walking is free, allows you to enjoy nature and does work-if you remain motivated.

Can I take L-tryptophan (5 HTP) for my depression?

5-HTP is a well-known dietary supplement also known as l tryptophan. The amino acid is available in many health food stores and sold for the treatment of depression, pain disorders, sleep difficulties, obesity, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. 

The problem is that l tryptophan has never been fully assessed clinically in randomized clinical trials and so all reports about its efficacy are anecdotal. In the last few years the quality and quantity of l tryptophan sold has also come under question. Moreover, no two same products of L-tryptophan contain the same dose. 

Alternative health care practitioners recommend anywhere from 50- 1,500 mg per day of L tryptophan. As to whether it really works for any disorder is anyone’s guess. Few reports indicate that l-tryptophan may work but the anti depressant effects are mild and usually do not start to occur for about 4-6 weeks. 

If you do decide to use L-tryptophan, a word of warning. Many health supplements come from the Orient and are often spiked with real pharmaceutical drugs- so knowing where to buy your health supplements is also very important.