Why Is Cinnamon So Popular in Medicine?
Cinnamon is a nutritious spice that adds flavors to various dishes and is used both as a potent medicine and culinary ingredient all over the world in every culture. The scientific name for cinnamon is Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and it originates from the tree barks native to Sri Lanka. The use of cinnamon as a traditional herb and spice dates as far back as the days of Ancient Egypt to the present day. Thousands of years ago, this spice was not readily available and was considered of immense value. Over the last few centuries, cinnamon is now readily available for commercial use and marketing. It was also used in ancient medicine, both in traditional Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, to treat coughs, hoarseness, sore throat, upper respiratory tract issues, and more.
Cinnamon is primarily made by obtaining the stem from the cinnamon trees and then drying them up in stick forms. These sticks are then ground into cinnamon powder. The oily part of cinnamon can yield a distinct, sweet, and spicy smell and flavor, that is obtained from the cinnamaldehyde compound.
What Is the Nutritional Content of Cinnamon?
One tablespoon of cinnamon provides around 20 calories, nearly 0.211 ounces of carbohydrates, and around 0.14 ounces of fiber. Cinnamon contains negligible amounts of both protein and fat. However, it does contain different micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, which are responsible for the healthy metabolic functioning in the human body. It is believed that the compound cinnamaldehyde is the one responsible for yielding all the nutritional benefits of cinnamon. It was used in traditional Chinese medicine commonly for treating conditions like abdominal pain or cramps, lowered appetite, diarrheal tendencies, and dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). It is also widely used in Ayurvedic traditions, as well as in Siddha and Unani streams of medicine.
How to Include Cinnamon in Diet?
The simplest way to include cinnamon as part of a regular diet regimen is to flavor foods like daily toast and yogurt that can improve the overall nutritional consumption every day. Similarly, cinnamon tea which is a globally popular way of consuming cinnamon can add a great deal of antioxidants to the system and make for a refreshing enjoyment.
Cinnamon sticks are equally healthy and can be added to breakfast oatmeal or herbal tea. Cinnamon tea is also popular for its medicinal use in relieving gut anomalies acts as an appetizer and boosts digestion. Cinnamon is a major ingredient in most of wellness drinks around the globe offering flavorful and health benefits. For example, it can be paired with fruits like apples, pears, or oranges in juices or baking. Additionally, cinnamon can be combined with turmeric in milk for an energizing drink.
How Should Cinnamon Be Stored?
Most cinnamon purchased in stores commercially is the Cassia cinnamon. This cinnamon has a warm, pungent aroma and sweet flavor. Cassia cinnamon can be used for a wide range of culinary needs and can be used in different forms for various recipes. Ceylon cinnamon is the second variety of cinnamon that is used in the world of baking popularly for both cookies and cake preparation. Cinnamon should be preferably always stored in dark, cool, dry places only. Exposure to sun and heat can make the cinnamon lose both flavor and shelf life.
What Are the Contraindications and Allergies Related to Cinnamon?
Some individuals have cinnamon allergies and the symptoms after consumption would be redness, inflammation, or irritation of the skin or oral mucous membranes. In such cases, consulting with an allergist or healthcare provider is advised. When large amounts of cassia cinnamon variety are ingested in individuals who suffer from hepatic or renal issues, then it would be potentially toxic. The supplements of cinnamon can also interfere with the medicative efficacy of certain drugs like anti-diabetic medication, blood thinner medication, cardiovascular medication, and antibiotics as well.
What Are the Health Benefits of Cinnamon?
A. Prevents Bad Cholesterol Accumulation: Research suggests that individuals who consume more or equal to 0.211 ounces of cinnamon daily may experience reduced triglyceride levels and also LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol or the "bad" cholesterol would decrease as well in the body. Hence cinnamon can be useful in lowering triglycerides.
B. Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Reduces Blood Sugar: Research studies not only suggest strong evidence that shows improved insulin sensitivity levels in diabetics but also can help reduce blood sugar spikes in type 2 diabetic patients, especially after a meal. Clinical research shows that the pancreas which tends to release many digestive enzymes for breaking down sugars immediately post eating a meal would be slowed down considerably after cinnamon consumption thus also slowing down the release of carbohydrates into the digestive tract preventing immediate sugar spikes in blood. This would be a great benefit for diabetics owing to the property of the cinnamaldehyde compound.
C. Antibacterial Effect: Cinnamon oil has been demonstrated to inhibit bacterial growth and prevent or have an anti-bacterial effect on Listeria and Salmonella bacterium, thus improving the health of gut flora. Other studies also show that because of this anti-bacterial effect, cinnamon oil would be useful in preventing dental caries and halitosis (bad breath).
D. Use in Alternative Medicine: In alternative medicine, practitioners use cinnamon to address a variety of issues, including diabetes (high blood sugar), hypertension (high blood pressure), metabolic syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (a gastrointestinal disorder), yeast infections, simple oral infections, and coughs or colds. However, research is lacking in this field because health experts think that every individual may not respond to cinnamon treatment as effectively, especially in people who may be prone to allergies and thus it cannot have a full-fledged action in relieving systemic disease alone.
E. Anticancer Effect: It can also exert an anti-cancer effect by preventing the conversion of potential cancer-causing compounds because of the high antioxidant content in them that prevents cellular damage.
F. Antitoxic Effect: Cinnamon can be used either in powdered form from the tree bark or as cinnamon oil or even the leaf forms. Adding or sprinkling cinnamon powder just like other common herbs and spices as part of the diet would help eliminate certain toxins and waste products accumulated in our metabolism, promote nutrient absorption, and also help in healthy weight loss according to ayurvedic research.
Conclusion:
Cinnamon is thus an efficacious spice beneficial for overall systemic health and can be easily incorporated into a diet enriching daily doses of antioxidants and boosting immunity. Its diverse health benefits, including improved cholesterol levels, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and antibacterial properties, make it a valuable addition to a balanced diet. Regular consumption of cinnamon contributes to better metabolic health and helps prevent various diseases.
