Cinnamon: The Incredible Nutritional Benefits in Its Cuisines

Cinnamon, one of the most-liked household spices, was once traded as currency. Obtained from a small evergreen tree's inner bark, which is peeled and laid in the dry atmosphere under the sun rays, has been availed in cooking sweet and savory bakes, and delicious curries for ages.

Being originated in Sri Lanka, cinnamon has been used for thousands of years and is prominent for its health benefits across the globe. The powder form of the spice is extremely beneficial dating back to ancient times when it was used to treat myriads of medical conditions inclusive of digestive problems, respiratory illnesses, and issues pertaining to gynecology.

Various scientific pieces of research have been scrutinized to determine the requirements for cinnamon in order to improve medical conditions. This article will indicate several health benefits of the cinnamon spice, its usage as well as the risks associated with ingesting cinnamon powder.

Nutritional Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Fights bacteria in the gut health

The essential oils carried in the bark, known as 'cinnamaldehyde', display various anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties which help restore the balance of the bacteria present in the gut and alleviate the issues related to digestion.

Helps in blood pressure

Innumerable evidence has suggested that Ceylon cinnamon consumption helps reduce the blood pressure by 5.39 mm, and in helping the problems associated with the cardiovascular system by preventing heart diseases.

Lowers risk of type-2 diabetes and blood sugar level

Cinnamon helps decrease the level of blood sugar by imitating the insulin effects and the increasing level of glucose moved into the cells as cinnamon increases the sensitivity of insulin making it more efficient at transporting glucose into the cells.

Cinnamon has been reducing the ill effects of eating high-fat foods on the overall weight of a person. Its effect on blood glucose levels and its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties provide additional help in losing excessive weight of a person. Since a teaspoon of cinnamon contains 16 grams of fiber, therefore it is highly recommended to add spice to a healthy diet.

Research has revealed that a variety of other health illnesses can be cured to a great extent through the consumption of cinnamon. The medical conditions that can be improved are Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, HIV, and chronic wounds.

Risks related to the consumption of cinnamon

Ceylon and Cassia are both cinnamon yet are slightly different from one another. Ceylon cinnamon includes less coumarin than Cassie cinnamon. Having said that, coumarin causes certain dangerous side effects when consumed in high doses. Therefore, it is always recommended to consult a doctor before making enormous changes in the diet.

How to Apply Cinnamon to diet

Cinnamon not just provides good taste in toast and baked pastries, but also gives ways to incorporate it into numerous delicious diets including various ethnic cuisines like Indian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and North African. The recipes that have been beneficial for a very long time are cinnamon-roasted almonds, cinnamon twists, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon raisin bread pudding, noodles soup with cinnamon, apple cinnamon streusel galette, and substantially more.