Cinnamon is well-known for its ability to decrease blood sugar levels to support glycemic control. Perhaps it could be used as a natural preservative in foods and cosmetics. It can lower blood sugar levels, reduce heart disease risk factors and has a plethora of other impressive health benefits. Cinnamon has been shown to reduce fasting blood sugar levels, having a potent anti-diabetic effect at 1–6 grams or 0.5–2 teaspoons per day. Visit us - www.bloggerpile.com Cinnamon is well known for its blood-sugar-lowering properties. However, the evidence is limited and so far cinnamon has not been shown to reduce infections elsewhere in the body. Cinnamon's main, active ingredient is cinnamaldehyde; oils made using this ingredient can help treat ailments from respiratory tract infections to the flu. A study in mice with colon cancer revealed that cinnamon is a potent activator of detoxifying enzymes in the colon, protecting against further cancer growth (30). Cinnamon has been shown to significantly increase sensitivity to the hormone insulin. But, a teaspoon of ground cinnamon does include these and trace amounts of many other vitamins and other nutrients: Longe, J., ed.The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, second edition, 2004. Cassia Cinnamon- which is the most common cinnamon found in stores could be harmful in higher amounts. Cinnamon is a popular spice. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Cinnamon also contains large amounts of polyphenol antioxidants. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. This greatly improves glucose uptake by your cells, though it acts much slower than insulin itself. High doses might be toxic. Test-tube studies have shown that cinnamon can help fight HIV-1, the main type of HIV virus in humans. Cinnamon can fight many types of bacteria that make people sick, including salmonella, E. coli, and staph. However, human research is lacking. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are two of the most common types. Whether cinnamon has any effect in living, breathing humans needs to be confirmed in controlled studies. It’s grown in southeastern Asia. Ceylon is easier to grind but it may not have the same health benefits. There is much more good news, however! The authors concluded that, “Based on currently available literature, cinnamon may have a beneficial effect on fasting plasma glucose, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglyceride levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.” The Bad News About Cinnamon: It can also inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, including Listeria and Salmonella (32, 33). It’s used in cooking and baking, and added to many foods. In this study, cinnamon also increased “good” HDL cholesterol levels (11). It’s also essential for transporting blood sugar from your bloodstream to your cells. HIV is a virus that slowly breaks down your immune system, which can eventually lead to AIDS, if untreated. Cinnamon is ranked number 7 on the ORAC scale, which measures the concentration of antioxidants in different foods! Consuming normal amounts of cinnamon isn’t likely to have a big impact on your health. For a list of 13 foods that could potentially lower your risk of cancer, you might want to read this article. It is native to the Caribbean, South America, and Southeast Asia. Cinnamon may improve some key risk factors for heart disease, including cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure. One of the health benefits of cinnamon is that it contains healthy antioxidants, which help protecting and healing the body. There are four major types of cinnamon. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. When it comes to nutrition, more is not always better. For more information on how you can lower your blood sugar levels, check out 15 easy ways to lower blood sugar levels naturally. The antioxidants in cinnamon have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower your risk of disease. Cinnamon has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, the world’s most common cause of premature death. There are two main types of cinnamon (1): Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. Insulin is one of the key hormones that regulate metabolism and energy use. Cinnamon has been widely studied for its potential use in cancer prevention and treatment. Refrigeration helps extend this lifespan. One of the most important active ingredients in cinnamon is cinnamaldehyde. By Sandi Busch Updated November 28, 2018. This article reviews whether mayo is safe when…, Apples are highly nutritious, but you may wonder whether they can really keep the doctor away. Cinnamon does have antioxidant, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory properties, but for now, there aren’t enough studies to prove it works that well in people. It reduces triglycerides and LDL cholesterol by around 25%. It has antioxidant properties and could protect the immune system and help it to fight off free radicals in the body. The risk is coumarin. One review suggests that cinnamon might help with obesity and weight loss. It’s been suggested that cinnamon also might help with: But many of the studies done have been done in cells or animals. READ MORE In fact, cinnamon has been shown to reduce several of the most common risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels and high blood pressure to keep your heart healthy and strong. It creates bad health effects in longer use. Cinnamon has received a lot of popular press in recent years due to its many health benefits, particularly with regard to blood sugar control. The effective dose is typically 1–6 grams or around 0.5–2 teaspoons of cinnamon per day. Cinnamaldehyde, one of the main active components of cinnamon, may help fight various kinds of infection. It used to be rare and valuable and was regarded as a gift fit for kings. The health benefits of cinnamon have been known for a while, which is what makes it a great substitute for other, less healthy sweeteners as well as a real food itself. Ceylon (“true” cinnamon) is much better in this regard, and studies show that it’s much lower in coumarin than the Cassia variety (39). It has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. Cinnamon provides immune support through its ability to reduce free radical damage due to its high antioxidant content. Note: Please consult a doctor before adopting our suggestions. These effects need to be studied further in humans. Because cinnamon is unproven as a treatment, there isn’t a set dose. Ceylon cinnamon, also known as true cinnamon, is frequently used in other countries. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. It acts by reducing the growth of cancer cells and the formation of blood vessels in tumors and appears to be toxic to cancer cells, causing cell death. Cinnamon is effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Here are 8 foods that are incredibly healthy, but can cause severe harm if eaten in excess. Well, let’s just say that it is extremely beneficial for the heart. Cinnamon is sourced from the inner bark of various species of cinnamon trees. Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties. Promotes a Healthy Heart: Want to know about the benefits of cinnamon powder? It’s used in flavorings and fragrances. 10 Delicious Herbs and Spices With Powerful Health Benefits, 8 Health Foods That Are Harmful If You Eat Too Much, Ceylon vs. Cassia — Not All Cinnamon Is Created Equal, How Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar and Fights Diabetes, What to Do If You Have a Cinnamon Allergy, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI. 15 easy ways to lower blood sugar levels naturally. Cinnamon offers anti-clotting and anti-microbial benefits, boosts brain function and contributes to a healthy colon. Others (Korintje , Cassia and Saigon) are cassia varieties. When combined, all these factors may drastically cut your risk of heart disease. Strips of the bark are dried and rolled into sticks, ground into a powder, or made into an extract. Animal and test-tube studies indicate that cinnamon may have protective effects against cancer. All rights reserved. Natural Standard Patient Monograph: “Cinnamon.”, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: “About Herbs: Cinnamon.”, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: “Cinnamon.”, Nutrition Journal: “The glycaemic outcomes of Cinnamon, a review of the experimental evidence and clinical trials.”, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: “Differentiation of the four major species of cinnamons (C. burmannii, C. verum, C. cassia, and C. loureiroi) using a flow injection mass spectrometric (FIMS) fingerprinting method.”, Pharmacological Research: “Cinnamaldehyde in diabetes: A review of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and safety.”, Complementary Therapies in Medicine: “The impact of cinnamon on anthropometric indices and glycemic status in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.”, Diabetes Care: “Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes.”, Clinical Nutrition: “Cinnamon supplementation positively affects obesity: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.”, U.S. Department of Agriculture: “Food Data Central: Spices, cinnamon, ground.”, Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: “Cinnamon: A multifaceted medicinal plant.”, Cancer Letters: “Cinnamaldehyde induces apoptosis by ROS-mediated mitochondrial permeability transition in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.”, Current HIV Research: “Effects of plant extracts on HIV-1 protease.”, Comparative Study: “Cinnamon bark oil, a potent fungitoxicant against fungi causing respiratory tract mycoses.”, Comparative Study: “Comparative study of cinnamon oil and clove oil on some oral microbiota.”, Randomized Controlled Trial: “A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study of intranasal standardized cinnamon bark extract for seasonal allergic rhinitis.”. Not all cinnamon is created equal. Unfortunately, most cinnamon found in supermarkets is the cheaper Cassia variety. It’s used in flavorings and fragrances. The antimicrobial effects of cinnamon may also help prevent tooth decay and reduce bad breath (34, 35). Cinnamon tea contains lots of antioxidants, which are beneficial compounds that help keep you healthy. One of the most important active ingredients in cinnamon is cinnamaldehyde. Honey and cinnamon can both boost your health, but some people think they have even more powerful benefits when combined. Cinnamon is a sweet but pungent spice that is derived from the inner bark of the branches of wild cinnamon trees, which grow in tropical areas across Southeast Asia, South America and the Caribbean. Here's how this wonder spice can help beat heart disease. It’s sometimes used for irritable bowel syndrome or other stomach or intestinal problems. According to one large review in Annals of Family Medicine, cinnamon consumption has been linked to lower blood sugar levels when used between four to 18 weeks. Ceylon (true) cinnamon is healthy, while the Cassia variety can be harmful in large amounts. Slow boil the cinnamon so as to extract the most out of it. Here are more potential health benefits of cinnamon, plus 10 delicious ways to use it. Cinnamon lowers hyperlipidemia, fights low blood pressure, obesity, and other heart problems. 2. Just make sure to get Ceylon cinnamon or stick to small doses if you’re using the Cassia variety. At the end of the day, cinnamon is one of the most delicious and healthiest spices on the planet. The problem is that many people are resistant to the effects of insulin. Antioxidants protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. It’s true that cinnamon contains almost no protein or fat and won’t play a big role in your overall nutrition. Fat. Cinnamon has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Cinnamon does not cause health problems when it's consumed in the amount typically found in foods. To add a daily dose of cinnamon to your diet, you can try: sprinkling cinnamon on your toast; mixing cinnamon into your oatmeal or other hot cereal All cinnamon should have health benefits, but Cassia may cause problems in large doses due to the coumarin content. It’s not a good idea to eat a lot of it either. It may also help control blood sugar in people with diabetes. Ground cinnamon will stay good for 6 months in the proper conditions while cinnamon sticks will last about a year. 1. Cinnamon is a herb with warm, digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. The use of cinnamon dates back thousands of years and was highly prized among many ancient civilisations. So, what do you do if you have a cinnamon allergy…. Cinnamon is a spice, sprinkled on toast and lattes. 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