For thousands of years, cinnamon has been a popular household spice, and it has been used around the globe. It was formerly used as money, but its pleasant flavour and warm aroma have made it popular in the kitchen, especially in baking and curries, where it may be found in plenty.
The spice is derived from the inner bark of a tiny evergreen tree, which grows in the Amazon. After peeling and laying it out to dry, it coils up into rolls known as cinnamon sticks, which is what we call them in the United States. Cinnamon may also be found in powdered form, which is convenient.
Find information on the health benefits of cinnamon in our comprehensive resource library, as well as some delectable cinnamon recipes ranging from cinnamon buns to cinnamon tea.
Take a look at these six health benefits of cinnamon:
Proven Health Benefits of Cinnamon: How to Use
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- 1. Aspects of it that inhibit the growth of viruses, bacteria, and moulds are found in this plant
- 2. Contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects
- 3. Its prebiotic characteristics have the potential to boost gut health
- 4. It helps to lower blood pressure
- 5. It helps to lower blood sugar levels and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- 6. It helps to alleviate stomach pain
- 7. Reduction of the risk of heart disease
- 8. Improves Sensitivity to the hormone insulin
- 9. Protects against Cancer
- 10. Potential Ability to fight against HIV virus
- 11. Helps in Combating Acne
- Types of cinnamon
- Commonly Asked Questions
1. Aspects of it that inhibit the growth of viruses, bacteria, and moulds are found in this plant
Cinnamon is believed to offer a wide range of therapeutic and relaxing characteristics, and it is commonly employed in traditional Chinese herbal medicine practises. Cinnamon's unique scent and flavour are derived from the essential oils found in the bark, which are collectively referred to as cinnamaldehyde. Cinnamaldehyde has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antifungal effects, according to research.
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2. Contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects
The antioxidant polyphenols found in cinnamon are present in high concentration in this spice. Antioxidants, which may be found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices, can assist to protect the body against illness by reducing inflammation. Cinnamon has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of antioxidants.
3. Its prebiotic characteristics have the potential to boost gut health
Spices like cinnamon, for example, contain prebiotic qualities, which serve to encourage the development of helpful bacteria while simultaneously suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria. As a result, having spices in your diet on a regular basis may assist to promote gut health.
Also a good source of manganese, cinnamon also includes trace levels of calcium and fibre in tiny quantities.
4. It helps to lower blood pressure
The use of cinnamon has been linked to a short-term drop in blood pressure, according to some data. It would be premature to prescribe cinnamon for blood pressure management until a complete randomised controlled study (RCT) including a larger number of patients has been carried out, despite the encouraging preliminary findings. Recent research has shown less encouraging results, at least for the time being.
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5. It helps to lower blood sugar levels and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
A modest impact on glycemic control and helping the treatment of type 2 diabetes has been proposed for cinnamon, according to certain research. However, the findings are conflicting, and bigger randomised controlled studies in well-defined demographic groups utilising standardised treatments are required in order to definitely assess the effectiveness of cinnamon in people with diabetes. The consumption of a little quantity of this product at breakfast or in baking will not cause any damage and may be included in a healthy diet as part of a balanced diet.
6. It helps to alleviate stomach pain
Cinnamon extract has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders in both Eastern and Western medicine for many years to relieve discomfort. A carminative with digestive, anti-microbial, and antioxidant qualities, it has been referred to as a panacea for digestive problems and inflammation. Ayurvedic practitioners utilise cinnamon bark oil to cure flatulence and digestive imbalances, according to ancient practises. In order to help combat disease, it is thought that the warmth of cinnamon stimulates blood flow and boosts blood oxygen levels in the body.
Cinnamon is used as part of a hot beverage to help reduce stomach issues (much like a tea). It's far simpler to utilise ground cinnamon in this situation than it is to attempt to grate cinnamon sticks yourself from scratch.
7. Reduction of the risk of heart disease
The world’s most common cause of premature death is heart disease. About a half teaspoon per day has shown good effects on the blood markers of people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Hearing from sources we all know about bad cholesterol and good cholesterol, cinnamon reduces the level of this bad cholesterol and a lot of triglycerides drastically but keeps a steady level of good cholesterol. As we know cinnamon controls the blood pressure level, thus combining all of these qualities will drastically reduce the risk of heart disease.
8. Improves Sensitivity to the hormone insulin
Insulin is the hormone of the body secreted by the pancreas. Its main feature is to regulate the metabolism and energy usage of the human body. In some cases, a problem arises where people resist the effects of insulin. This is known as insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. A number of studies have shown that cinnamon can reduce insulin resistance drastically, helping insulin to do its required job.
9. Protects against Cancer
Simply defining Cancer is uncontrolled cell growth which can cause serious and life-endangering complications. Cinnamon is being studied and researched for its use in cancer prevention. Research has shown that cinnamon helps in detoxifying enzymes in the colon, thus protecting it from further cancer growth. It has also been witnessed that cinnamon activates the protective antioxidants in the body to fight against cancerous cells.
10. Potential Ability to fight against HIV virus
Human Immuno Deficiency is a deadly virus that breaks down our immune system and which leads to AIDS, which is untreatable. Now on the other hand cinnamon which is extracted from Cassia varieties helps against preventing the effects of the most common strain of HIV virus which is HIV-1. It was found out that out of 69 medicinal plants cinnamon was proven the most effective in fighting against the HIV virus.
11. Helps in Combating Acne
Acne-causing bacteria can be stopped in their tracks with the help of cinnamon. The perfect solution for acne-free skin is cinnamon because of its antifungal and antibacterial properties. With enhanced blood flow cinnamon dries out the skin in a couple of hours. A small homemade face mask can be made by combining 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon which forms a paste. Have it on for 10 mins and wash it off. The result will be clean and refreshed skin tone. The next day you can witness the acne slowly vanishing away from your face.
Types of cinnamon
- Cinnamon flourishes in tropical climates, with the most common species being Ceylon cinnamon, which is derived from the Cinnamomum Zeylanicum plant, which originates in Sri Lanka.
- The second major form of cinnamon is Cassia cinnamon, which has a stronger flavour and is somewhat less expensive than the other types.
- Regardless of the kind of cinnamon used, the most important thing to remember is that it must be consumed fresh to maximise its medicinal potential and health advantages.
- However, although some people prefer the sweet, delicate flavour of Ceylon cinnamon in sweets, while others prefer the greater strength of Cassia cinnamon in savoury meals, most commercial cinnamon is a blend of the two types.
Commonly Asked Questions
Is drinking cinnamon every day beneficial?
Cinnamon is of course beneficial but it also has its side effects. It’s good to have cinnamon in adequate amounts but having too much can cause health problems because it contains a high amount of a compound called coumarin which can harm the liver. As cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde a compound that can trigger an allergic reaction to the mouth causing mouth sores if it is consumed in high amounts. The allergy can also trigger mouth bleeding and white rough patches near the gums. Cinnamon can also have effects on breathing because cinnamaldehyde is a throat irritant . Accidentally inhaling cinnamon due to its small texture can lead to gagging and coughing. So we need to remember, that cinnamon should b consumed in adequate amounts or it can result in serious health complications. So in conclusion it’s not a good suggestion to include cinnamon always in your everyday diet.
What makes honey and cinnamon a powerful combination?
In everyday households, honey and cinnamon are the most common ingredients and both of them are filled with multiple benefits. From a homeopathic point of view, this combination can be more beneficial. From curing a small stomach upset to improving the immune system, this mixture can treat almost any health issue with zero side effects. Acne, arthritis pain, bladder infection, common cold, and throat pain, these typical health issues can easily be cured with this combination of honey and cinnamon. That’s why we can say honey and cinnamon are some of the most powerful combinations to cure general disorders and everyday health issues in the human body.
What are the differences between Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon?
Cinnamon is of two types, one is Ceylon cinnamon and another is Cassia cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon comes from the Cinnamomum cassia tree. Cassia is generally dark brown in color with thicker sticks a rougher texture than Ceylon cinnamon. Cassia is used in a lot of herbal medicines and is mainly used in cooking.95% of Cassia is cinnamaldehyde which gives it a very strong, spicy, and smooth flavor.
Ceylon cinnamon is also known as ‘true cinnamon’ comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum verum tree. Tan-brown in color containing many tight sticks and layers, these features provide Ceylon with a highly beneficial texture and quality.50% of Ceylon consists of cinnamaldehyde with gives it a milder and aroma flavor. Ceylon is mainly used in desserts because of its sweet flavor.
