Our keenness for cinnamon is really great. So, we decided to write a little more about this fantastic spice. Actually, about cinnamon benefits for our health.
Why is cinnamon good for your health?
Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants. They protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Studies show that cinnamon and its antioxidants have powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
Cinnamon has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
In people with type 2 diabetes, 1 gram of cinnamon per day has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood markers.
Cinnamon reduces levels of total cholesterol, “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while the “good” HDL cholesterol remains stable.
There’s a study which showed that only 120 mg of cinnamon per day can have these effects.
There are more health benefits of cinnamon. Cinnamon can improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin. By increasing insulin sensitivity, cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels.
Cinnamon has been widely studied for its potential use in cancer prevention and treatment. It 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.
There are two main types of cinnamon – Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is also known as true cinnamon and it’s better than Cassia. Cassia is the more common variety today and this variety is what people generally refer to as cinnamon. All cinnamon should have health benefits, but Cassia may cause problems in large doses due to the coumarin content. If you like cinnamon and want to use it, just make sure to get Ceylon cinnamon or stick to small doses if you’re using the Cassia variety.
Cinnamon is an aromatic spice made from the inner bark of trees called Cinnamomum. It’s made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts are removed.
When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls which are 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. This oily part is very high in the compound called cinnamaldehyde, which is believed to be responsible for most of cinnamon’s powerful effects on our health and metabolism.
A little more about this great spice
Cinnamon has been used as a food ingredient throughout history, dating back as far as Ancient Egypt. It used to be rare and valuable and was even regarded as a gift fit for kings!
Unlike before, nowadays you can find cinnamon for a very small price and it is available in every supermarket. Unfortunately, most cinnamon found in supermarkets is the cheaper Cassia variety, but Ceylon cinnamon can be found in health food stores.
If you love cinnamon as much as we do, and now you know it has some amazing benefits for your health, do join us for breakfast or brunch and try our Cinnamon roll waffle! We know you’ll love it!
