Cinnamon spice is a small tree that usually grows in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, and Egypt. It’s one of the oldest known spices. To prepare it, the bark of the cinnamon tree is dried and rolled into cinnamon sticks, also called quills. Cinnamon can also be dried and ground into a powder. It is called dalchini in south Asian countries.
Cinnamon Spice
Cinnamon has long been a popular spice in baking and cooking. Research has found that it is not only delicious but it’s healthy, too. Just make sure that you’re buying true cinnamon and not cassia, which is often sold as cinnamon in stores. Here are some important Health Benefits of Cinnamon that may make you want to include it in your diet every day.
- Lower Cholesterol: Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol.
- Blood Sugar Regulation: Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes.
- Yeast Infection Help: In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections.
- Cancer Prevention: In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
- Anti-Clotting: It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
- Arthritis Relief: In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.
- Anti-Bacterial: When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
- Brain Health: One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
- High in Nutrients: It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.
- Weight loss advantages: Through effects of slowing food glucose absorption, and enhancing the body’s ability to use glucose in metabolically active cells via direction of insulin, rather than store it away as fat, cinnamon improves body composition. The body accumulates less fat as a result of ideally-regulated blood sugar concentrations. A handful of animal and human research has shown these effects – more studies may have also seen these results, but they were not reported as weight and body composition was not the primary outcome of interest. However, as noted above, cinnamon given therapeutically can improve glucose use and blood concentrations, which are known to favorably influence body fat levels (causing body fat levels to decrease – which is much of the premise of lower carbohydrate and lower glycemic index diets).
If you’re ready to start taking cinnamon as a natural remedy, check out the 4 Best Cinnamon Powders to see what the best true cinnamon, or Ceylon cinnamon, is according to user reviews. Also see Side Effects of Cinnamon for possible side effects and contraindications.
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