Cinnamon is far more than a tasty spice that can enhance a beverage or dish. The health benefits of cinnamon are numerous. This long-sought-after ingredient, once even used as currency, contains properties that make it both delicious and nutritious. Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a small evergreen tree. The bark is peeled off of the tree and laid in the sun to dry. While it dries, it curls up into rolls known as cinnamon sticks, these are often ground and packaged into the product we see commonly at the supermarket.
There are four types of cinnamon that are commonly used for commercial purposes: Ceylon cinnamon, Korintje cinnamon, Saigon cinnamon, and Cassia cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon is what you probably know as cinnamon. This type of cinnamon is the most commonly ground in form and found in cabinets and grocery stores across the world. There are three specific types of cassia cinnamon: Indonesian, Chinese, and Saigo.
Ceylon cinnamon is sometimes referred to as the "true" cinnamon" and is native to Sri Lanka. Most of Europe used Ceylon Cinnamon primarily because this was the first spice European explorers traded, but due to Cassia cinnamon being cheaper to produce, it has become less common.
If you are consuming large amounts of cinnamon you should know that coumarin is a naturally occurring substance it contains that can cause liver damage or complete failure. Only Ceylon Cinnamon has low levels of Coumarin, while all other varieties of Cinnamon have high levels of Coumarin. If you are taking Cinnamon for health reasons, then you must and should switch to Ceylon Cinnamon. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.1 mg/kg body weight of Coumarin in Cinnamon.
The health benefits of cinnamon are incredibly diverse in part to the component cinnamaldehyde, an antimicrobial agent. As a whole, this plant has a few amazing benefits:
In herbal Chinese medicine, cinnamon is frequently used as a cure-all. This is because many harmful microbes absolutely hate it. In fact, some gardeners even use it as a natural insecticide.
Cinnamon contains large amounts of polyphenol antioxidants which have been found to be effective to guard against UV damage. Antioxidants can also help protect the body from disease. They are found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. The specific antioxidants in cinnamon have also been found to have anti-inflammatory effects.
When included in your diet regularly, cinnamon may function similarly to yogurt, kombucha, and other probiotic-rich foods. Cinnamon may promote the growth of beneficial bacteria while helping suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
In addition to balancing your gut health, another health benefit of cinnamon is that it can soothe an upset stomach. Many cultures around the world have included cinnamon in tea blends specifically for this purpose. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, cinnamon bark oil is used for treating both flatulence and digestive imbalance. It is believed that the warmth of cinnamon increases blood flow and improves blood oxygen levels to help fight off illness.
Some studies suggest that the consumption of cinnamon is associated with a short-term reduction in blood pressure. Although the evidence is hopeful, this study has a very small sample size meaning that the results might not apply to the general public.
When used topically, another of the health benefits of cinnamon is that it promotes healing in skin wounds. Ground cinnamon is a great exfoliant as its small particles result in a gentle scrub. The rich antioxidants can also help clear scars and blemishes.
Cinnamon has also been said to:
The health benefits of cinnamon alone are a convincing argument to add the spice to your diet. In addition, its skin benefits entice you to use it as a skincare product. There's no wonder why this spice is so well known and coveted all over the world. Cinnamon is a gift from nature that we are lucky enough to have easy access to today, you probably have some in your spice cabinet right now. So go ahead, add a sprinkle to your coffee, throw it in your homemade scrub, add some into a curry, scatter some over your garden or use it as an air freshener, its applications are endless!
Written by Kiana St. Onge
