Spices Health Facts: Cinnamon
Who doesn’t know what cinnamon is? Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices since time immemorial. It is considered a sweet spice and is widely used to enhance the flavor of many dishes, beverages, teas and more importantly, sweet delights. Moreover, cinnamon is not only popular as a flavoring but also for its many health benefits.
Cinnamon contains:
- Essential minerals such as calcium, manganese and iron
- Vitamins C and K
- Dietary fibers
- Antioxidants, anti-clotting, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal and anti-viral properties
Health Benefits of Cinnamon
- Arthritis – Arthritic pain is commonly linked to the presence of cytokines. Combined with honey, cinnamon has been found to help reduce cytokines, thereby giving relief to arthritic pain. A study conducted at Copenhagen University shows that patients suffering from arthritic pain find relief after a week of taking one tablespoon of honey with half a teaspoon of cinnamon every morning just before breakfast.
- Cancer – A study at the University of Texas which was published in the Nutrition and Cancer journal shows that Cinnamon is capable of reducing the proliferation of cancer cells, which is effective in cancer prevention and cure. Another study published by the Maryland US Department of Agriculture cited the ability of cinnamon to reduce the proliferation of certain cancer cells especially leukemia and lymphoma.
- Fungal Infection – Cinnamon contains very powerful antifungal properties which help fight fungal infections
- Headache – Drinking cinnamon tea is found to help relieve headache and migraine
- High Cholesterol – Include at least ½ teaspoon of cinnamon in your daily diet and it can help lower your bad cholesterol which in turn reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease
- Infection – Cinnamon has a natural anti-infection property which is effective in fighting H. pylori which is the common cause of ulcers as well as other infections causing pathogens
- Infertility – The presence of cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon helps to balance the hormones among many women. Hormonal imbalance is the major cause of infertility.
- Neurodegenerative Diseases – According to a study conducted by the Cytokine Research Laboratory at the University of Texas, cinnamon can help reduce chronic inflammation linked to several neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, meningitis and brain tumor.
- Memory Problem – Smelling cinnamon is said to help boost the memory and cognitive functions
- Menstrual Cramps – It has been proven that cinnamon can alleviate menstrual pain in women
- Type 2 Diabetes – Cinnamon also helps lower blood sugar level thereby helping the body produce more insulin which is needed to fight Type 2 Diabetes
- Weight Loss – A dash of cinnamon in your morning tea can help stabilize your blood sugar level which is great to lose weight
- Yeast Infection – Studies have shown that cinnamon is also capable of fighting yeast infection
- Others – Other health benefits of cinnamon include its anti-clotting property on the blood which helps stabilize moods swings and unstable energy levels
During the ancient times, cinnamon is valued more than gold because of its culinary and medicinal uses. But now, even though cinnamon is no longer looked upon as more valuable than gold, it still deserves our recognition because of its many health benefits. Having a dash of cinnamon every day will not only spice up our dish or sweeten our tea but it will also provide many benefits for our health.
