Cinnamon is a popular spice that’s commonly added to sweet foods such as cakes, cookies and even coffee due to its distinctive aroma and flavour. Yet did you know it also has many additional health benefits?
Various studies show that the compounds in Cinnamon have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial properties that may help to offer protection from cardiovascular disease, amongst other health conditions. [1]
Here are just nine of the healthiest reasons to add more Cinnamon into your life…
1. Diabetes Support
Researchers have found that Cinnamon may help to lower blood sugar levels by imitating the effects of insulin and increasing glucose transport into cells. [2] This may help to promote better blood sugar balance, making it ideal for diabetics. There are numerous studies that support the intake of Cinnamon for healthy blood sugar balance.
One Chinese study has found that diabetics who received a daily Cinnamon supplement for three months experienced reduced blood glucose levels, as well as a significant reduction in blood triglycerides. [3] While a small study of 18 people with Type 2 Diabetes found that taking Cinnamon is more effective than diet alone in lowering blood glucose levels. [4]
2. Alzheimer’s Disease
There is a strong connection between Alzheimer’s, Diabetes and Cinnamon intake. This is because Cinnamon has been shown to have positive effects on Type 2 Diabetes by lowering blood sugar and reducing oxidative stress.
Cinnamon has also shown promise in preventing or reducing plaques and amyloid factors that have been identified as causing dementia. In particular, Cinnamon has two compounds that have an inhibitory effect on a protein in the brain called tau. The compounds – Cinnamaldehyde and Epicatechin, can possibly prevent the aggregation of the tau protein which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
Researchers think that when tau proteins form clumps or tangles in the brain, it can be the cause of the disease. As tau is vulnerable to oxidative stress, this holds promise that taking Cinnamon can be beneficial for Alzheimer’s Disease according to recent studies. [5]
3. Improved Learning Ability
Taking Cinnamon may help to target a brain chemical involved in glucose and cholesterol. Improved memory is one of the main brain benefits, along with increased attention. Research shows that even just smelling Cinnamon can enhance cognitive processing and the Cinnamon spice has been shown to improve scores on tasks related to attention, memory and visual-motor speed. [6]
4. Cancer
By providing a significant source of Cinnamaldehyde, Cinnamon has been shown to protect against colorectal cancer. Research shows that Cinnamon works by reducing the growth of cancer cells and the formation of blood vessels in tumors appears to be toxic to cancer cells, causing cell death. [7] Several recent studies show that Cinnamon extract contains anti-cancer activity and this may help to inhibit cancer cell growth. [8]
5. Parkinson’s Disease
Typical symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease include tremors along with difficulty in normal movement and walking. A study from Rush University Medical Centre has found that Ceylon Cinnamon when fed to mice, may help to reverse the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. [9] The study found that when fed ground Cinnamon, it enters the brain and stops the loss of Parkin and DJ-1, protects neurons, normalises neurotransmitter levels and improves motor functions in mice with Parkinson’s Disease.
6. Weight Loss
If you’re struggling to lose weight, try adding Cinnamon to flavour your foods, instead of sugar as this may help as a weight loss aid, reducing the calories in food. There’s also some evidence that consuming cinnamon can speed up the metabolism and this may help some people to lose weight. [10] By increasing the metabolism, this encourages more calories to be burned and increased energy. So choosing to then engage in a higher level of activity may result in more weight loss.
7. Wound Healing
Combining Cinnamon and Peppermint essential oils has been found to be effective against antibiotic resistant bacteria, and also aids in cellular growth. Cinnamon essential oil is known to have antioxidant and antibacterial properties that may accelerate the wound healing process. Anyone looking to heal chronic wounds may therefore benefit from taking a Cinnamon supplement.
8. Bacterial and Fungal Infections
The primary component in Cinnamon known as Cinnamaldehyde and this works effectively by inhibiting bacteria such as Listeria and Salmonella [11, 12]. This is important as Salmonella and Listeria are typically food-borne and can cause serious illness when not controlled. These bacteria may also help to reduce tooth decay and bad breath. Cinnamon oil has also been shown to effectively treat respiratory tract infections caused by fungi.
9. Inflammation
As the body’s natural defense against infection due to tissue damage, inflammation is a normal response. It’s only when inflammation becomes chronic however, especially if left untreated, that it can cause damage to healthy cells, tissues and organs. Over time this can lead to the development of several types of diseases, including cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of Cinnamon are effective in reducing the harmful effects of inflammation anywhere in the body. [13]
Why Take High-Quality Cinnamon?
These are just some of the healthy reasons why you should consider adding Cinnamon into your lifestyle.
Ceylon Cinnamon is highly recommended as this is known as the “true” Cinnamon that is overall, healthier and safer to take. The reason Ceylon Cinnamon is considered a better choice when compared to Cassia Cinnamon is that it contains much fewer coumarin compounds.
Coumarin is a fat-soluble compound that can build up in the tissues causing liver damage amongst other issues, if too much is consumed.
By taking Ceylon Cinnamon not only do its antioxidant compounds called proanthocyanidins strengthen capillaries, they have even been shown to offer antioxidant protection against heart disease and cancer.
For all of these reasons, taking Cinnamon should be considered an essential supplement for anyone looking to improve their blood sugar levels, cardiovascular health and heart health.
References:
[1] https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2014/642942/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11506060/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6425402/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3698471/
[5] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130523143737.htm
[6] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160712214659.htm
[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31195168/
[8] https://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/5347-5354.pdf
[9] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140709095257.htm
[10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30799194/
[11] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8834832/
Recommended Examples
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