Pills for Your Porc and the Cinnamon Play (Really) April 27, 2005March 1, 2017 Clare: ‘I’ve been taking glucosamine with chondroitin for five or six years (on a maintenance dose after the first year). I started because my dog was so much better after starting it. I’m a zoo docent, and some of our animals are arthritic – and take glucosamine. One particular favorite of mine was a prehensile-tailed tree porcupine who was 17 years old, the oldest in captivity. (She died at 18, so I guess we now know how long they can live in captivity!) After starting her glucosamine with chondroitin, Julia was climbing back up her branches and being much more active. I’d tell this tale to grandparent-looking visitors and you’d be amazed how many responded that g-c had helped them, too. Although some people can’t take it, it’s been great for me and the animals.’ Frank Schrader: ‘If you take a blood thinner or a daily aspirin (of any strength), only take chondroitin under a doctor’s supervision. Its molecular structure is similar to that of the blood-thinner heparin, and the interaction could potentially cause excessive bleeding. Of course it’s possible to get glucosamine without chodroitin.’ Peter Kaczowka: ‘Mike Mattes wrote you that glucosamine with chondroitin worked for him but that (as a diabetic) he found that it sent his blood sugar levels out of control and he had to stop. Mike (and everyone else) should be aware that cinnamon (!) can significantly lower blood sugar levels, triglycerides and LDLs. I put a teaspoon in my coffee every morning, although the last gulp is pretty slimy. I read about this a few months ago in Science News (excellent weekly!). Google ‘cinnamon blood sugar’ and you’ll find many articles, including this one: Initially the scientists were testing the effects of a variety of commonly eaten foods on blood sugar. During these tests they found that apple pie flavoured with cinnamon defied expectations that blood sugar would increase and instead decreased. This finding led to more research into the cause of this unexpected result and into the properties of cinnamon. Interestingly, not only did blood sugar levels decrease in all the groups taking cinnamon while there were no significant changes in the groups on placebos, triglyceride and LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol also decreased in the groups on cinnamon. The reductions were: blood sugar – 23% to 30% triglyceride – 13% to 26% LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol – 10% to 24% ‘Your doctor and the drug companies, will never tell you about this because (says NewsTarget.com): Most U.S. researchers aren’t interested in looking at cinnamon simply because it doesn’t pay. Despite its innate healing characteristics, you can’t patent cinnamon. Therefore, no profits. ‘I searched in vain for a ‘pure play’ on cinnamon, although there appear to be cinnamon futures sold in India.’ THE NUCLEAR OPTION AGAIN (NO, THE REAL ONE THIS TIME) If you missed yesterday’s video, click here. Otherwise . . . Thanks to Peter Ludemann for forwarding this interesting piece by Stewart Brand. Brand, Sixties activists and environmentalists will remember, edited the Whole Earth Catalog. Is the population explosion is taking care of itself? He says it is. Is it time to look again to nuclear energy? He says it does.