What is cinnamon?
Cinnamon is a spice that has been known for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. Cinnamon, as a supplement, can be found in capsules and teas. Cinnamon is a spice used on toast, pastries, and lattes. But extracts from the cinnamon tree’s, leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots have been used over thousands of years in traditional medicine worldwide. It’s used in cuisine and baking as a flavouring ingredient to many foods. So far, doctors do not recommend it for any health issues. Although exploration suggests intriguing possibilities.
Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and other helpful composites. Some research suggests that it may help support blood sugar control, protect against heart complaints, and fight against inflammation.
Types of cinnamon
Cinnamon is made by cutting cinnamon trees. The inner dinghy is also uprooted, and the woody corridor is removed.
When it dries, it forms strips that coil into rolls called cinnamon sticks. These sticks can be based to form cinnamon grease paint.
The distinct smell and flavour of cinnamon are due to the unctuous part, which is veritably high in the emulsion cinnamaldehyde.
There major types of cinnamon sold around the globe are as follows.
- Darker-coloured cassia cinnamon is the one most generally sold in countries like United States. It’s grown in Asia. Cassia cinnamon is the most common variety moment and what people generally relate to as common cinnamon.
- Ceylon cinnamon, also referred as true cinnamon, is constantly used in most countries as a spice.
The cinnamon we usually buy at the store could either be of two types, Ceylon or cassia, or a mixture of both. Ceylon cinnamon is easier to grind but may have different health benefits.
Cinnamon nutrition
You may not have known about the surprising health benefits and the nutritional content of cinnamon. It’s true that cinnamon contains nearly no protein or fat and won’t play a big part in your overall nutrition. But a tablespoon of ground cinnamon does include these and trace quantities of numerous other vitamins and other nutrients that can boost health.
| Nutrients in cinnamon | |
| Energy | 6 calories |
| Fat | 0.03 grams |
| Protein | 0.1 grams |
| Carbohydrates | 2 grams |
| Fibre | 1 gram |
| Calcium | 25 mg |
| Potassium | 10 mg |
Health benefits of cinnamon
Some of the most appreciated health benefits of cinnamon are as follows.
Medicinal properties
Cinnamon is a spice from trees scientifically known as Cinnamomum verum. It has been used as a valuable component, and was regarded as a gift from nature due to its medicinal properties. These days, cinnamon is affordable and extensively available in leading supermarkets.
Loaded with antioxidants
Antioxidants are particles in the body that fights against free radicles to cover it from oxidative damage caused by them.
Cinnamon is loaded with essential antioxidants, including polyphenols. One study showed that cinnamon supplementation could significantly increase antioxidants in the blood while reducing labels used to measure inflammation.
The antioxidant goods of cinnamon are so vital that they can indeed be used as a natural food preservative.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Inflammation is significant, as it helps your body respond to infections and form bowel damage. Still, inflammation can become problematic when it’s habitual and directed against your body’s tissues. Cinnamon may be helpful in this regard.
Lower Blood Sugar
Several studies of grown-up people with diabetes have revealed that cinnamon can help lower blood sugar, though others may claim that the studies have not shown similar results. Scientists still need to learn how cinnamon may work.
Cinnamon is well known for its blood-sugar-lowering properties. Cinnamon has been shown to drop the quantum of sugar that enters your body after a meal.
It does this by acting with the digestive enzymes, lowering the speed of the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract.
Alternatively, cinnamon may mimic the goods of insulin to facilitate sugar uptake into the cells.
Various studies on humans have verified the salutary goods of cinnamon, showing that it significantly lower fasting blood sugar situations and ameliorate haemoglobin A1c, a marker of long-term blood sugar control.
The practical cure is generally 1 – 6 g, or around 0.5 – 2tsp. Of cinnamon per day
Boost Metabolism
Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde that can target your fat cells and make them burn more energy. This is instigative news for anyone trying to lose weight, but the exploration is still early. We have a long way to go.
Ameliorate skin health
A small study that set up Ceylon cinnamon can specifically resist the types of bacteria known to beget acne. It also revealed that cinnamon contains properties to boost collagen production, which might help your skin look young.
Treat cancer
Cinnamon may cure cancer. Cinnamon has been extensively studied for its implicit use in cancer treatment.
Overall, the research is limited to test-tube and animal studies, which suggest that cinnamon may fight against cancer. More human research is required to prove the claim.
It acts by reducing the growth of cancer cells and that appears to be cancerous, causing cell death.
One study with rats with ovarian cancer showed that cinnamaldehyde could block the production of specific proteins involved in cancer growth.
These findings were supported by test-tube trials, which showed that cinnamon could reduce the growth and spread of ovarian cancer cells.
However, further exploration is needed to estimate the impact of anti-cancer properties of cinnamon in humans.
Lower Blood Pressure
Several studies conducted on random samples suggest that eating cinnamon every day for three months or more can bring the systolic blood pressure down by 5 points. More extensive studies are demanded to check effects and understand how long the effect lasts.
Cognitive health
Cinnamon is believed to stop the buildup of Alzheimer’s disease. In another study on lab rats who were given cinnamon did better in a maze that were specifically designed to test their memory. However, we need to see if these findings carry over the same effects on the brain when tested on humans.
Fight Inflammation
Cinnamon was a top inflammation- fighter due to its healthful properties. Since seditious conditions like rheumatoid arthritis become more common as you age, research support consuming cinnamon as a natural remedy for aged grown-ups to help with these types of conditions.
Lower Cholesterol
When 60 adults, in a small study, ate about 1/4 tablespoon of cinnamon daily for 40 days, their LDL(“bad”) cholesterol went down. Another research has established that equal quantities of cinnamon, eaten daily for over 18 weeks, can lower LDL and total cholesterol while raising HDL (good) cholesterol. But it’s too early to recommend cinnamon as a treatment for high cholesterol.
Fight against bacterial and fungal infections.
Cinnamaldehyde, one of the main active factors of cinnamon, may be helpful against colourful kinds of infection.
Test-tube studies suggest that cinnamon oil painting could help kill certain fungi that beget respiratory tract infections.
It may also inhibit the growth of few bacteria, including Listeria and Salmonella.
Plus, the antimicrobial goods of cinnamon may also help tooth decay and reduce bad breath.
Regulate Menstrual Cycles for PCOS
In a study conducted, women taking about 1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon each day for six months, found that their menstrual cycle was regulated.
Could help against heart problems
Cinnamon has been linked to a reduced threat of heart complaints, which is the leading cause of death around the globe.
According to a review, supplementing with at least 1.5 g, or about 3/4 of a teaspoon of cinnamon per day, was suitable to reduce situations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol), and blood sugar in people with a metabolic complaint.
Another review of 13 studies showed that cinnamon could reduce triglyceride and total cholesterol, both of which are threat factors for a heart complaint.
Cinnamon is also shown to reduce blood pressure when consumed constantly for at least eight weeks. Combined, all these factors could help reduce your threat of heart complaints.
What are the side effects of consuming cinnamon?
Vexation and disinclinations generally cause with no side effects. But heavy use of cinnamon can irritate your mouth and lips, causing blisters. Some people are antipathetic to it.
Cassia cinnamon could be poisonous, especially if you have liver problems. Consuming too much cinnamon can turn out to be toxic. Coumarin, a component in cinnamon products, can cause liver problems, but the quantum you’d get is so tiny that it presumably won’t be a problem.
Given the lack of substantiation about its safety, children, and pregnant women should avoid cinnamon as a treatment.
Cinnamon can help lower blood sugar. Cinnamon may affect your blood sugar, so if you have diabetes and take cinnamon supplements, you might need to acclimate your treatment.
It is best to talk to a doctor before you start using cinnamon supplements. Some supplements can affect how antibiotics, diabetes medicines, blood thinners, heart drugs, and others work.
To sum up
Cinnamon offers antioxidants and other beneficial compounds to the body. A tablespoon of ground cinnamon does include trace quantities of numerous other vitamins and other nutrients that can boost health.
Various experts suggest that consuming around 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon a day can be beneficial. It is important to remember not to consume too much cinnamon to trigger any side effects.
It is best to talk to a doctor before you start using cinnamon supplements If you take any medications regularly.
