Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices in the world but did you know that it also has excellent benefits for your health?
Here are some of the health benefits of cinnamon;
- Cinnamon can protect your body. Cinnamon is loaded with powerful antioxidants such as polyphenols and protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. It is so powerful that it can be also used as a natural food preservative.
- Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies have shown that antioxidants in cinnamon has potent anti-inflammatory activity and helps the body fight infections and repair tissue damage.
- Cinnamon can lower the risk of heart disease. Cinnamon has been shown to reduce blood pressure, lower LDL (bad) Cholesterol while increasing HDL(good) cholesterol.
- Cinnamon has anti-diabetic effect. It has been proven that cinnamon can improve the sensitivity to the hormone insulin and lower blood sugar, and it may help treat type 2 diabetes.
- Cinnamon may have beneficial effects on Neurodegenerative diseases. Two compounds found in cinnamon appear to inhibit the buildup of a protein called tau in the brain, which is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Also cinnamon helps to protect neurons, normalize neurotransmitter levels and improve motor function.
- Cinnamon helps fight against infections. Cinnamaldehyde, the main active component of cinnamon, may help fight various kinds of infection, and cinnamon oil has been shown to effectively treat respiratory tract infections caused fungi. It can also inhibit the growth of certain bacteria including Listeria and Salmonella.
- Cinnamon is good for teeth. Anti-bacterial properties in cinnamon is effective to help prevent tooth decay and reduce bad breath.
- Cinnamon is good for sore throat and cough. Because of the anti-bacterial properties and warming properties and its propensity to increase blood flow, cinnamon can improve blood oxygen levels to fight illness. It’s especially effective at the beginning stage of cold such as sore throat and cough.
- Cinnamon can enhance your mood. There is some evidence that certain types of gut bacteria may make you more susceptible to depression. Cinnamon as a powerful anti bacterial may help you remove the bad bacteria. Also some studies have found that smell of cinnamon can enhance your mood.
However, not all cinnamon is the same. The Cassia variety or Chinese cinnamon, contains significant amounts of a compound called coumarin, which is believed to be harmful in large doses such as liver toxicity. Whereas Ceylon cinnamon contains much lower in coumarin than the Cassia variety. Moreover, Cassia variety doesn’t have as many health benefits as Ceylon cinnamon.
Although most cinnamon found in supermarkets is the cheaper Cassia variety, Ceylon can also be found in some health food stores, and my recommendation is to go for Ceylon cinnamon.
