Cinnamon: Health Benefits, Nutritional Information And Side Effects

Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the branches of “cinnamon” family trees. It is native to the Caribbean, South America and Southeast Asia.
In ancient Egypt, cinnamon is consumed from 2000 BC, where it was highly prized. In the medieval period, doctors used cinnamon to treat conditions like cough, rheumatism and sore throat conditions.

It is now the second most popular spice after black pepper in America and Europe.

Some studies on laboratories and animals have indicated that cinnamon may have some beneficial health properties, but more research and evidence is required to confirm these benefits.

Benefit

Taking cinnamon as a supplement can have health and disease effects. Supplements, however, are not monitored by the FDA and there may be concerns about quality, purity and strength in different brands of any supplement.

People use cinnamon as a supplement to treat problems with digestive system, diabetes, loss of appetite, and other conditions.

It has also been used in conventional medicine for bronchitis.

However, there is a lack of evidence supporting these uses.

Fungal Infection

According to the results of a lab study published in 2016, cinnamon oil can help treat some types of fungal infections, such as candida.

Diabetes

Research published in 2003 in Diabetes Care found that cinnamon may help to improve glucose and lipid levels in type 2 diabetics.

By consuming 6 grams of cinnamon in a day, 60 people with type 2 diabetes have less serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.

The authors suggested that if people with type 2 diabetes include cinnamon in their diet, then this could reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

However, in a review published in 2012, the researchers concluded that cinnamon contains low levels of glucose or glycosylation hemoglobin A! C (HbA1c) – The type of blood-sugar control measures of type-type or type 2 diabetes does not help.

In another small study it was not found that combination of cinnamon, calcium and zinc helped in controlling blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Animal studies have suggested that cinnamon may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

According to researchers from Tel Aviv University, an extracts found in cinnamon bark called CEPTT have properties that can prevent the development of symptoms. The rat who received extracts experienced a reduction in disease markers, such as amyloid plaques, and improved cognitive behavior.

If confirmed by further research, this extracts, but not necessarily the whole cinnamon, may be useful in developing the treatment for Alzheimer’s.

HIV

A study of Indian medicinal plants extracts found that cinnamon can help protect against HIV.

Of 69 extracts tested in a laboratory, cinnamon pill, or cinnamon bark, and cardiopulmonary helicabam, cinnamon pill and fruit were most effective in reducing HIV activity.

This does not mean that cinnamon foods can cure or prevent HIV, but cinnamon extract may be useful as part of a day of therapy.

Multiple Sclerosis

Cinnamon has been tested for activity against multiple sclerosis (MS).

Researchers tested rats who had consumed a mixture of cinnamon powder and water. The findings suggested that there might be an anti-inflammatory effect on the cinnamon central nervous system (CNS), due to improving the function in the hippocampus.

Studies have also suggested that cinnamon regulators can protect T cells, which are known as traggs. They are considered “master regulatory for immune responses”. People with MS have a low level of Tregs compared to those without condition. In mouse study, cinnamon treatment has prevented the loss of some proteins, which are specific to Tregs.

Cinnamon treatment has also been found to restore the level of myelin in rats with MS.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is researching more about how cinnamon may be effective in the treatment of MS.

Reducing the negative effects of high-fat food

In 2011, researchers concluded that rich diet in “antioxidant spices”, including cinnamon, can help reduce the body’s negative reaction to eating high-fat foods.

Six people consumed 14 grams of spiced dishes. Blood tests showed that antioxidant activity increased by 13 percent and the insulin reaction fell to 20 percent.

Treatment and Healing of Chronic Wounds

Research published in the journal ACS Nano reveals that scientists have found a way to package antimicrobial compounds from peppermint and cinnamon in a small capsule that can kill biofuels and actively promote therapies.

In this way, mint and cinnamon can become part of a drug for the treatment of infected lesions.

However, according to the NCCIH, ” I do not support the use of cinnamon for any health condition. “

Nutrition

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), one spoon ground cinnamon weighs 2.6 grams:

•  Energy: 6 calories (kilo calories)
•  Fat: 0.3g
•  Carbohydrate: 2.1 grams
•  Protein: 0.1 g
•  Calcium: 26 mg (mg)
•  Iron: 0.2 mg
•  Magnesium: 2 mg
•  Phosphorus: 2 mg
•  Potassium: 11 mg
•  Vitamin C: 0.1 mg
•  Vitamin A: 8 IU

There are also Vitamin B and K marks.

Types

There are two main types of cinnamon:

•  Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), often considered to be “true cinnamon”

•  Cassia cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum), which originates from southern China

Ceylon cinnamon is very expensive, so most food items in the United States and Western Europe, which include sticky buns, breads and other products, use cheap cassia cinnamon (dry cassia bark).

Side Effects

Used in the short term, consuming moderate amounts of cinnamon as a spice or as a supplement looks safe for most people.

However, the cauliflower is included in cinnamon, a natural flavor. Consuming too much Coumarin can lead to poor lever and affect coagulation. For people with anti-coagulants or other medicines or for people with diabetes, it is important to discuss the cinnamon supplement with your health care provider.

Cassia cinnamon powder, commonly used in food items in the United States and Western Europe, contains more Coumarin than the cinnamon cinnamon powder.

A German study study published in 2010 found that Kamarin content is very different in cinnamon samples from the same tree. The cassia cinnamon was particularly high in Coumarin.

People with liver disease should limit cinnamon intake.

Cinnamon should not be used instead of treatment for health conditions. Whoever is considering increasing cinnamon intake or taking supplement should first speak to the doctor.