Let’s Talk About The Benefits Of Cinnamon

What are the health benefits of cinnamon?

Cinnamon is also believed to provide certain health benefits. Candace O’Neill, RDN, LDN, explains how cinnamon can boost your health – and how to incorporate it into your diet. Ginger, in particular, is often touted as a healthy and delicious spice. Cinnamon, which comes from the bark of the tree, is also beneficial to health.

As an anti-inflammatory, it has many benefits

Herbs and spices contain powerful antioxidants that can lower your risk of heart disease. Cinnamaldehyde, one of cinnamon’s antioxidant compounds, is thought to be responsible for its benefits, which include both its aroma and flavor as well as its ability to reduce inflammation.  The compounds in cinnamon have anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Researchers have studied cinnamon for decades to see if it can help people with Type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels. Studies found that people taking cinnamon supplements daily saw significant (and lasting) drops in blood sugar levels after 40 days. However, cinnamon should not be viewed as a substitute for more traditional treatments.

Possibly reduces cholesterol

Participants in the same study also had lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, in addition to a lower blood sugar level. In addition, a separate meta-analysis of ten studies found that cinnamon consumption decreased total and LDL cholesterol in a statistically significant way.

Since the amount of cinnamon in a dose as well as the length of time a person consumes cinnamon, it is not possible to say definitively whether cinnamon lowers cholesterol. Cinnamon can help lower triglyceride levels in the blood. In addition, the hormone improves the sensitivity of cells to insulin, which transports glucose to the cells to be used for energy.

• There are two common types of cinnamon:
  • Cinnamon Cassia. You can buy this more common (and inexpensive) type of cinnamon at grocery stores and use it for baking. It originates from southern China.
  • Cinnamon from Ceylon. Cinnamon of this type is less common – in fact, it usually has to be purchased from a specialty store – and it has a stronger aroma. Originally from Sri Lanka and India, Ceylon cinnamon has an exotic flavor.

  Can cinnamon be harmful?

  Cassia cinnamon contains a compound, coumarin, that can be toxic if consumed in large quantities. It may also reduce the risk of cancer, heart attacks, atherosclerosis, inflammatory disease, and promote weight loss, among other benefits. Furthermore, it prevents high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and promotes wound healing. Additionally, cinnamon has also been used to treat various skin conditions.

Cinnamon helps with weight loss, right?

Many tree species in the genus Cinnamomum produce cinnamon from the inner bark. Aromatic condiments and flavors have been used as a seasoning for years. It has gained popularity, however, more recently, because of its many health benefits, including weight loss. This spice has been used in cooking and baking for thousands of years. It has been used in many countries for thousands of years, dating back to Ancient Egypt. Cinnamon can also improve body metabolism by targeting fat deposited in the abdominal area.

Why Cinnamon?

Cinnamon has been used medicinally throughout history. This is because it is widely beneficial and has been used for centuries. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the most popular spices and herbs in terms of antioxidant content. These antioxidants protect the body from free radical damage. The effects of oxidative stress on the body include DNA damage and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol levels, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and obesity.

Other conditions involving oxidative stress include cancer, high blood pressure, inflammatory conditions, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Excessive exposure to oxidative stress may lead to premature aging. Another study found that mice who were fed high-fat foods with cinnamon lost weight and had less belly fat than controls who weren’t given cinnamon.

8 Ways You Can Use Cinnamon for Weight Loss

If you want to lose some weight, especially around your tummy, start adding cinnamon to your diet. Why? It suppresses appetite, regulates blood sugar levels, lowers your cholesterol, and speeds up your metabolism, in addition to torching belly fat. Check out these simple ways to include this spice in your daily diet.

1.  Start your day with cinnamon, lemon, and honey.

   Cinnamon, lemon, and honey make a powerful combination that will help you lose weight and protect you against all sorts of health conditions and infections. Just boil a cinnamon stick in water, squeeze a whole lemon in it, add some honey and voila! You can also add other spices like cardamom, pepper, ginger, or mint to the tea if you like.

2. Boil cinnamon sticks in water                                                                                                                                                                         or sprinkle cinnamon powder on water and sip on it during the day, between meals especially. You can even drink some before you go to bed at night.
3. Sprinkle it on your coffee.                                                                                                                                                                              If you’re a coffee drinker, add a dash of cinnamon to your coffee to give it a great kick. If you’re adding cinnamon, you can cut down on the amount of sugar you add to your coffee, making it even more weight friendly.
4.  Add it to your juices.                                                                                                                                                                                            If you’re fond of fruit and vegetable juices, sprinkle some cinnamon on them to boost their flavor and nutritional value. Cinnamon goes especially well with apple juice, carrot juice, and even orange juice.
5.  Mix it into a protein shake.                                                                                                                                                                         Gym buffs, cinnamon makes a powerful addition to your protein shake.
6.  Cook with it.                                                                                                                                                                                                             A lot of Indian recipes call for cinnamon and it is an integral part of the garam masala mixture. Now, you can start adding a piece of cinnamon to dishes that don’t traditionally require it as well. The best part is that this versatile spice goes equally well with sweet, savory, and spicy
7. Add it to smoothies.                                                                                                                                                                                         Gym buffs, cinnamon makes a terrific addition to your protein shake.
8. Sprinkle it on your oats or cereal.
   If you eat oats or cereal for breakfast, a dash of cinnamon will go a long way toward improving the taste.

   

    

   RisksCeylon and Cassia cinnamon both contain coumarin. When coumarin is consumed in extremely high doses, it may cause some dangerous side effects. Ceylon cinnamon contains far less coumarin than Cassia cinnamon.

   However, as a spice, it would be unusual for someone to consume large enough amounts of either type of cinnamon to cause concern.

   Always talk to your doctor before making significant changes your diet.