Cinnamon is a common, traditional spice found in almost every household. It adds tremendous flavor to the food and it smells heavenly, which is why it is used in bakeries and sweet treats. History tells us that this spice is so prized that it was once used as a currency! But is that all?
Cinnamon is also famous among older people, who value its medicinal properties along with its great taste. It is said to have a varied range of medicinal properties and it is now being widely used for these properties. Cinnamon has an impressive nutritional profile.
It is rich in Vitamin A, ions like iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. It also contains antioxidants like alpha and beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and choline and has traces of vitamin B and vitamin K.
Cinnamon has a lot of therapeutic benefits as well which could be used to cure a lot of chronic diseases. Along with that, it may also be used for the general well-being of our body.
So, below I have mentioned some of the benefits that you could get from this wonder spice, cinnamon-
Contents
- 1 12 Cinnamon Benefits
- 1.1 May Have Antioxidant Properties
- 1.2 May Have Anti-inflammatory Properties
- 1.3 May Have Antifungal And Antibacterial Properties
- 1.4 May Contain Antiviral Properties
- 1.5 May Control Blood Sugar Levels
- 1.6 May Prevent Alzheimer’s And Parkinson’s Disease.
- 1.7 May Prevent Multiple Sclerosis
- 1.8 May Help In Healing Wounds
- 1.9 May Reduce The Risk Of Cardiovascular Diseases
- 1.10 May Help In Preventing Cancer
- 1.11 May Help In Treating Nausea
- 1.12 May Help In Weight Loss
- 2 Bottomline
12 Cinnamon Benefits
May Have Antioxidant Properties
Cinnamon, which is usually available in the form of sticks or powdered, is obtained by peeling and sun-drying the bark of cinnamon trees.
Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants due to the presence of a plant compound called as Polyphenol. Polyphenols have antioxidant properties and these antioxidants protect our body by reducing the oxidative stress caused due to free radicals. These free radicals can cause cell damage leading to blindness, many types of cancers, and early skin aging.
In fact, due to this property of cinnamon, they are now actively being used in many different kinds of supplements and as a natural food preservative.
May Have Anti-inflammatory Properties
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to any kind of infection or injury and it is very important to keep your body healthy and fight off infection. But as we age, many diseases affect the body in such a way that these inflammations get chronic.
The antioxidants present in cinnamon have proven to be effective against the inflammation caused in the body.
May Have Antifungal And Antibacterial Properties
The medicinal properties of cinnamon include its antifungal and antibacterial properties. This antimicrobial property was confirmed after a lab study proved that cinnamon oil, which is very rich in a compound called Cinnamaldehyde, was effective against a type of fungus that affects the bloodstream. It can also help in eliminating fungi that cause respiratory tract infections.
It is also being used as an active ingredient in mouthwashes because of its antibacterial properties. Cinnamon can reduce bad breath, prevent tooth decay, and overall may help you maintain good oral hygiene.
Ever heard your grandparents asking you to drink cinnamon tea when you have the flu or sore throat? Well, the reason is that cinnamon may have antiviral properties. These may be also used for protection against many viral diseases such as HIV and dengue fever. It has been suggested that a variety of cinnamon called Cassia can be utilized to fight HIV and become a part of the therapy against it.
May Control Blood Sugar Levels
There are a lot of speculations going on about whether cinnamon helps in lowering blood sugar levels or not. Well, let’s just leave that to the scientific studies being conducted. But so far, it is being shown that people with Type II diabetes, who consumed cinnamon daily showed a significant decline in their blood glucose levels.
Not only that, but it may also increase insulin sensitivity. As you might know, insulin is the hormone necessary for glucose uptake by cells, and insensitivity to this hormone results in Type II diabetes.
May Prevent Alzheimer’s And Parkinson’s Disease.
These diseases are neurodegenerative which means that they are caused due to damage to the nerve cells like the loss of function or damage to the structure. These diseases are most commonly seen in older people due to the aging of the brain.
Cinnamon may possess properties to reduce the build-up of special Tau proteins in the brain that results in causing Alzheimer’s disease. These may also protect the nerve cells from damage caused due to free radicals and also improve motor functions.
Cinnamon has been linked with enhancing the levels of neurotransmitters in patients and an extract derived from cinnamon called CEppt can be used as a therapeutic agent in therapies against Alzheimer’s.
These results have been proven in the case of test tube studies but still, need to be tested in humans to use them to treat such diseases.
May Prevent Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a grave disease of the central nervous system. There has been very insignificant development in the treatment of this disease since it affects the nerve cells. But it has been seen that in mice with multiple sclerosis, the nerve damage done was restored and the myelin sheath that is missing or damaged in them was repaired.
It also protected the T regulatory cells, a type of immune cell that is lost during multiple sclerosis. More and more research is being performed to support this study on how cinnamon helps to treat multiple sclerosis.
May Help In Healing Wounds
The anti-microbial properties of cinnamon are well known to us. These properties are used to treat wounds. Cinnamon actively kills the bacteria on open wounds and can also promote healing. This, however, needs to be scientifically proven and then cinnamon can be used as an antiseptic to treat wounds.
May Reduce The Risk Of Cardiovascular Diseases
In today’s world, the hectic schedule and poor eating habits have contributed to a poor lifestyle. This has resulted in making cardiovascular diseases the leading cause of death around the world.
Cinnamon has been linked with lowering blood cholesterol levels and reducing the negative effect of fat-rich meals on the body. Cinnamon consumption can significantly reduce triglyceride and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels which are considered major reasons for heart issues.
May Help In Preventing Cancer
Many experiments conducted in labs and animal models have shown that cinnamon possesses anti-cancer properties. The cinnamon extract, Cinnamaldehyde, is said to have a role in blocking certain proteins that are necessary for the growth of cancer cells. It acts by reducing the formation of blood vessels in tumor cells and thus reducing the overall growth of cancer cells. It has also shown great results against ovarian cancer in test tube studies, where it prevented its growth and stopped it from spreading.
May Help In Treating Nausea
Cinnamon is said to be a versatile spice and is commonly added as a potent cooking element. It may help in treating acidity, and heartburn, and could also be used as a good home remedy for nausea. In addition, you may also drink it by adding a small cinnamon stick to boiling water and consuming it favorable temperature. As per a study, cinnamon may also help in treating intestinal motility, and gastric satiety, and could be an effective remedy for bloating.
May Help In Weight Loss
Cinnamon is fiber-rich, which may help reduce cravings and increase satiety levels and fullness. Therefore, you may consume fewer calories by adding this weight-loss herb to your daily diet and experiencing its health benefits. Several people also use cinnamon and honey for weight loss as it may also help reduce metabolic syndrome’s effects and help manage obesity.
Bottomline
Thus, this wonder spice has prebiotic properties as well that maintain the balance of the bacteria present in your gut and keep your bowel movements going. A lot of studies are being done to know more about the benefits of cinnamon but although these studies are promising, there still is a need for a lot of strong data to make good use of all the amazing benefits cinnamon has.
While cinnamon is a great spice to use, it needs to be kept in mind that it’s very strong in nature and needs to be consumed in limited amounts. No more than 1 tsp should be consumed in a day, by adults. Instead of direct consumption of cinnamon, you could use it in healthy recipes so that you can enjoy consuming it. Along with that, some people may be allergic to cinnamon and show a sudden response to it, when consumed. Thus, you should be aware of any underlying allergies or medical issues before you decide on adding this spice to your daily routine.