Cinnamon is the dried bark of a tropical tree. When the inner bar is cut from the tree, it curls as it dries, making cinnamon sticks. It was known to ancient Egyptians as a tool for embalming and is mentioned in the Bible as incense. The ancients typically used it to flavour meat, but today it is more often used in sweet items.
2 Types
The standard type of cinnamon comes from Southeast Asia. It is a strong flavour with a hot cinnamon bite. The less common variety of cinnamon is from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). This cinnamon is lighter coloured and has a milder flavour. Ceylon cinnamon is sometimes called true cinnamon, but because it is more expensive, it is less common.
Nutritional Benefit
Cinnamon has some minerals and vitamins, but because we eat so little of it, it doesn’t have much nutritional impact. One of the best ways to use cinnamon is to add it to anything you would add sugar to. The cinnamon flavour can make up for less sugar.
Improves Blood Sugar
Cinnamon improves the effects of insulin, making it more effective, so that blood sugar stays lower. For this benefit, a dose of 1—6 grams per day (1—2 teaspoons) is ideal.
Cholesterol.
A teaspoon of cinnamon daily can also help lower cholesterol. In one study with 60 patients, cinnamon lowered bad cholesterol by 10% and tri-fats (triglycerides) by 20%.
Hormonal
There is also some evidence that cinnamon can help uterine fibroids and painful periods.
Down Sides
Mouth sores
Many people are allergic to cinnamon, which can cause a sore mouth and a burning sensation in larger amounts.
Inhaling
Because cinnamon is a fine powder, it can easily be inhaled. Be careful that you don’t inhale a teaspoon of dry cinnamon, especially if you have asthma or breathing problems. Cinnamon that is inhaled can be absorbed into the lungs, where it can cause damage. The lungs are unable to break down cinnamon, and it can cause a form of pneumonia. Always mix cinnamon with something. Never take it dry.
Cinnamon OD
Cinnamon has a compound known as coumarin. It is possible to exceed the recommended daily dose of coumarin if you eat a lot of cinnamon. There have been studies on animals that show that consuming large amounts of coumarin can cause liver damage. Humans have a different way of processing and detoxifying coumarin than animals. Only a handful of human cases of coumarin impairing liver function are known, and those did not cause long-term damage. And these overdose cases occurred with doses equivalent to cups of cinnamon per day. If you are concerned about getting too much coumarin, use Ceylon cinnamon, which contains about 1/10 the amount of coumarin in ordinary cinnamon.
Coumarin’s Versatility
Coumarin has been used in high doses in cancer research. It is known to have an anti-carcinogenic effect as well as an anti-inflammatory effect. Coumarin is also used in fragrances due to its scent of vanilla with a hint of hay. Also, coumarin is not a blood thinner, but it is used to make the blood thinner Coumadin.
Enjoy the Ancient Spice
Sprinkle cinnamon on your daily apples or nearly any fruit. Oats also pair well with cinnamon. Cinnamon is also great in tea or coffee. Enjoy cinnamon in various ways to get its health benefits.
