Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a highly delicious spice. It has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.

1. Cinnamon Is High in a Substance With Powerful Medicinal Properties

Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner bark of trees scientifically known as Cinnamomum.
It has been used as an ingredient throughout history, dating back as far as Ancient Egypt. It used to be rare and valuable and was regarded as a gift fit for kings.
There are two main types of cinnamon:
Ceylon cinnamon: Also known as "true" cinnamon.
Cassia cinnamon: The more common variety today and what people generally refer to as "cinnamon."
Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed.
When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. These sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder.
The distinct smell and flavor of cinnamon are due to the oily part, which is very high in the compound cinnamaldehyde.

2. Cinnamon Is Loaded With Antioxidants

Antioxidants protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
Cinnamon is loaded with powerful antioxidants, such as polyphenols.
In fact, it is so powerful that cinnamon can be used as a natural food preservative.

3. Cinnamon Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Inflammation is incredibly important. It helps body fight infections and repair tissue damage.
However, inflammation can become a problem when it’s chronic and directed against body's own tissues.
Cinnamon may be useful in this regard. This spice and its antioxidants have potent anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Cinnamon May Cut the Risk of Heart Disease

Cinnamon has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
In people with type 2 diabetes, 1 gram or about half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood markers.
It reduces levels of total cholesterol, “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while “good” HDL cholesterol remains stable.
When combined, all these factors may drastically cut your risk of heart disease.

5. Cinnamon Can Improve Sensitivity to the Hormone Insulin

Insulin is one of the key hormones that regulate metabolism and energy use.
It’s also essential for transporting blood sugar from your bloodstream to your cells.
Cinnamon can dramatically reduce insulin resistance, helping this important hormone do its job.
By increasing insulin sensitivity, cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels.

6. Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar Levels and Has a Powerful Anti-Diabetic Effect

Cinnamon is well known for its blood-sugar-lowering properties.
Apart from the beneficial effects on insulin resistance, cinnamon can lower blood sugar by several other mechanisms.
First, cinnamon has been shown to decrease the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal.
It does this by interfering with numerous digestive enzymes, which slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract.
Second, a compound in cinnamon can act on cells by mimicking insulin.
This greatly improves glucose uptake by your cells, though it acts much slower than insulin itself.

7. Cinnamon May Protect Against Cancer

She 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 a potent activator of detoxifying enzymes in the colon, protecting against further cancer growth.

8. Cinnamon Helps Fight Bacterial and Fungal Infections

Cinnamaldehyde, one of the main active components of cinnamon, may help fight various kinds of infection.
It can also inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, including Listeria and Salmonella.
The antimicrobial effects of cinnamon may also help prevent tooth decay and reduce bad breath.

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At the end of the day, cinnamon is one of the most delicious and healthiest spices on the planet.
It can lower blood sugar levels, reduce heart disease risk factors and has a plethora of other impressive health benefits.