Diving Into The Health Benefits of Ceylon Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice manufactured from the Cinnamomum tree's inner bark. It is well-liked and associated with health advantages like better blood sugar regulation and a reduction in several heart disease-related risk factors.
Cinnamon – What Is It?
Cinnamon, both a spice and traditional medicine, is highly recommendable because of its beneficial properties. You can buy it as a supplement from pills, teas, and extracts. However, doctors do not suggest it because there is still preliminary research on how spice benefits our bodies.
What Are the Two Types of Cinnamon?
Numerous cinnamon varieties come from the inner bark of various evergreen tree species in Cinnamomum. However, Cassia and Ceylon are the two types most likely commercially available for usage in food goods.
Given that cassia cinnamon is far less expensive than Ceylon cinnamon and readily available in supermarkets. When they are in powder form, it is challenging to distinguish between Cassia and Ceylon cinnamon visually, but the cinnamon sticks have a distinct appearance.
Comparing Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon sticks, Ceylon is multiple thin, delicate layers of bark rolled together. Additionally, Ceylon cinnamon frequently has a paler hue than Cassia.
Although it was formerly rare and expensive, cinnamon is now widely available. Ancient physicians used cinnamon to soothe sore throats, hoarseness, and coughs. Cinnamaldehyde, the oily component of cinnamon, gives it its distinctive sweet and sour flavor and aroma. People believe that this ingredient is what gives cinnamon its health advantages.
Health Benefits
Adding cinnamon to your food can improve your health and give it a sweet and spicy flavor: Cinnamon, the second-most common spice in the US and Europe, has multiple advantages for your health.
In traditional Chinese medicine, cinnamon is a common treatment for diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, and abdominal pain. Here are a few other positive effects on health.
High In Antioxidants
The beneficial antioxidants in cinnamon decrease the harm done by free radicals and slow down aging. In fact, scientists have so far discovered at least 41 different defensive chemicals in the spice.
Cinnamon comes in at seven among all foods, herbs, and spices on the ORAC scale, which assesses the level of antioxidants in various meals. It possesses more antioxidant strength than popular herbs like thyme, garlic, and rosemary.
The health advantages of cinnamon are due to its presence of a few particular types of antioxidants, such as polyphenols, phenolic acid, and flavonoids. These substances have helped prevent chronic disease and work to combat oxidative stress in the body. The antioxidants in cinnamon combat harmful free radicals and guard against oxidative stress.
Reduces Blood Sugar Levels
Researchers have conducted multiple studies to understand if cinnamon positively impacts people with diabetes. According to one study, daily cinnamon supplementation by insulin-treated individuals resulted in significant (and long-lasting) drops in blood sugar levels over 40 days. The blood sugar level continued to be lower than at the beginning of the test when the person stopped consuming the cinnamon.
Cinnamon shouldn't be used in place of more conventional medical care, though. The American Diabetes Association indicates that cinnamon can lower fasting blood glucose but not HgA1C (a long-term blood sugar measurement).
Fights against Diabetes and Heart Disease
Additionally, cinnamon possesses several qualities that can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly in people with diabetes. An older study examined the impact of cinnamon on specific indicators in people with type 2 diabetes.
The amount of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), triglycerides, and total cholesterol decreased in those who consumed 6 grams of cinnamon daily. The excellent cholesterol HDL stayed constant in the meanwhile.
Additionally, cinnamon offers considerable advantages for blood sugar regulation and anti-diabetic properties. An insulin hormone is vital in delivering blood sugar to the cells, which can be used as fuel. Insulin cannot function as efficiently in those with diabetes or pre-diabetes because they are insulin resistant.
Strong evidence from studies supports cinnamon's potential to increase insulin sensitivity, which in turn helps the hormone function properly and lower blood sugar levels.
Possesses Beneficial Effects on Neurodegenerative Diseases
The progressive loss of a nerve cell's structure or functionality is a symptom of neurodegenerative disorders.
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are two of the most prevalent diseases. Some compounds found in cinnamon seem to prevent the build-up of tau protein, one of the signs of Alzheimer's disease.
In a 2014 experiment, cinnamon protected neurons, restored normal neurotransmitter levels, and enhanced motor function in Parkinson's disease-affected rats. However, more research on humans will help to understand these consequences fully.
Is Cinnamon Safe for Everyone?
Cinnamon is safe when used as a spice and in small amounts; for most adults, 1 tsp daily is generally safe, while children must consume it in lesser quantities. Rarely, some individuals may develop allergic contact dermatitis.
Remember that Cassia cinnamon, which has a more robust flavor and is more affordable, makes up most of the cinnamon in supermarkets. However, it contains a lot of coumarins, which can be poisonous in excessive doses.
Ceylon cinnamon, sometimes known as "genuine" cinnamon, may be more tolerable because of its relatively low coumarin content.
Cinnamon may conflict with prescription drugs, particularly those for heart disease, diabetes, and liver disease, if taken in large doses.
The Bottom Line
Cinnamon is a multipurpose spice that has a variety of health advantages. It may aid in lowering blood sugar levels, lowering risk factors for heart disease, and reducing inflammation because of its several beneficial components.
Despite extensive research on cinnamon's health advantages, the NIH states that its effectiveness is still debatable. If you plan to take cinnamon as a supplement or try it as a preventative measure, consult your doctor first. For more information on the health benefits of cinnamon, check MeFirstLiving.Com.
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