Cinnamon : Health benefits, side effects and how to use

 What are the benefits of cinnamon?

The benefits of cinnamon

Cinnamon, also called Cinnamon, or scholars, is one of the powerful spices. Cinnamon is extracted from the bark of the cinnamon tree, and is characterized by its strong aroma and rich flavor, in addition to its color similar to the color of the bark of the tree.

Cinnamon, a warm cinnamon drink, has been used for thousands of years in many parts of the world for treatment and alternative medicine due to its high nutritional value, antibacterial and antifungal properties, and rich content of antioxidants.

There are two main types of cinnamon that are used: Ceylon cinnamon, which is described as true cinnamon, and Cassia cinnamon, which has a less intense flavor than Ceylon cinnamon.

To obtain the benefits of cinnamon, cinnamon can be used in the form of bark, or ground spices, and essential oils may be extracted from them, or cinnamon extracts, which are the active compounds that are isolated from cinnamon.

 

Nutritional value of cinnamon

Cinnamon contains antioxidants that are necessary in protecting the body from many chronic diseases, and eating cinnamon regularly, at a rate of half a teaspoon per day, helps to obtain many of the benefits of cinnamon, including regulating the digestion process, sugar level, and supporting the immune system.

Cinnamon also contains dietary fiber, and many vitamins in small amounts, such as vitamin E, niacin, and vitamin B6, and minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, zinc, and copper.

The following table shows the calories in cinnamon and the nutritional value in a tablespoon of ground cinnamon:

• Calories 19 calories
• Protein 0.3 mg
• Carbohydrates 6.2 mg
• Fat 0.1 mg
• Dietary fiber 4.1 mg
• Manganese 1.4 mg
• Calcium 77.7 mg
• Iron 0.6 mg
• Vitamin K 2.4 mcg

 

Health and medicinal benefits of cinnamon

Cinnamon contains a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which gives cinnamon its distinctive aroma and flavor, and it is the compound responsible for the medicinal and nutritional effects of cinnamon.

Cinnamon also contains powerful antioxidants that help make cinnamon a natural food preservative, and antioxidants protect the body from harmful molecules that cause chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

So far, the benefits of drinking cinnamon before bed have not been specifically proven, but cinnamon offers many medical benefits, including the following:

Cinnamon benefits for the heart

Regular consumption of cinnamon is associated with maintaining heart health, as it helps reduce the risk of heart disease, reduces total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, and triglycerides, maintains the level of good cholesterol in the body, and contributes to regulating sugar and blood pressure levels.

There is a lot of question about whether cinnamon raises blood pressure, as many believe that there is a conflict between cinnamon and pressure, but on the contrary, it was found that eating cinnamon in small quantities may help reduce and regulate blood pressure.

Cinnamon benefits for diabetes

There are many benefits of cinnamon for diabetics, including:

    Contribute to increased sensitivity to insulin: Insulin is the hormone responsible for regulating metabolism and energy in the body, and contributes to the process of transferring sugar from the blood to cells, and many people with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome suffer from the problem of insulin resistance, and fortunately One of the benefits of cinnamon is that it contributes significantly to the problem of insulin resistance.
    Reducing blood sugar: Cinnamon is an important factor in lowering the level of sugar in the blood, regulating its levels, and facilitating its absorption into the cells of the body.

Cinnamon benefits for nerves

One of the benefits of cinnamon is that it contributes to reducing the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, as cinnamon contains compounds that inhibit the protein that causes Alzheimer’s disease, protect nerve cells and neurotransmitters in people with Parkinson’s disease, and help improve their motor function.

Cinnamon benefits for cancer

Cinnamon extracts help prevent cancer by reducing the growth of cancer cells, and contributing to their elimination.

Cinnamon benefits for inflammation

Cinnamon can contribute to the treatment of infections, and these benefits of cinnamon come because it contains an aldehyde compound that has anti-bacterial and fungal properties, such as respiratory infections, tooth decay, and bad breath.

Cinnamon benefits for slimming

Cinnamon helps in slimming by reducing the bad effect of eating foods rich in fat, it also has an effect on the level of glucose in the blood, and increases insulin sensitivity, which helps a person lose his excess weight.

Cinnamon helps improve the general health of the body and fight infections that sometimes prevent weight loss.

 

Cinnamon benefits for women

Cinnamon has pain-relieving and wound-healing properties, so it may help relieve pain, such as pain in the perineum after childbirth.

Also, cinnamon can be used for the menstrual cycle and to relieve the pain associated with it.

Benefits of cinnamon for AIDS

It was found that the flavonoid extracts found in cinnamon and green tea prevent the entry of the AIDS virus into cells, which means that potential treatments can be developed for individuals infected with HIV, or so-called AIDS, and research on humans is still being studied.

Cinnamon benefits for breastfeeding

Cinnamon is generally considered a safe herb during lactation, and it is common to use cinnamon during lactation, and it has been found to help generate milk in lactating women.

But it should be noted that some children may develop an allergy to foods and spices eaten by the nursing mother, which may be transmitted to the child through breast milk, and some children who are allergic to cinnamon show symptoms shortly after consuming breast milk, such as bloating and gas.

The change in the taste and smell of breast milk as a result of eating cinnamon may cause the infant to not accept breastfeeding and speed up the weaning process. 

How to use cinnamon

You can enjoy eating cinnamon, and benefit from the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of cinnamon in several ways, including the following:

•     Dried Cinnamon Rolls: They are pieces of the bark of the cinnamon tree, which can be soaked in a cup of hot water and taken as a warm drink, or added to a cup of tea, coffee or hot apple juice, and these pieces can also be used when cooking meat to give a distinctive flavor and benefit.
•     Cinnamon powder: It is the bark of cinnamon after grinding, and it is the most consumed form of cinnamon, as it can be easily added to dishes.
•     Cinnamon oil: Cinnamon oil contains concentrated proportions of the active substances in cinnamon, and is often extracted either from the bark of the cinnamon tree, or the oil of the leaves of the cinnamon tree that is used as an antiseptic, or from the root of the cinnamon tree, which contains a high concentration of camphor. Cinnamon oil as a room freshener, eliminating bad breath, relieving toothache and gingivitis.
•     Cinnamon Extract: Cinnamon extract is prepared by soaking cinnamon sticks in alcoholic ethanol, and filtering the resulting liquid.
•     Cinnamon supplements: Cinnamon supplements are available in the form of tablets or capsules sold for medical reasons, and they are safe for short-term use for most people, and you should consult your doctor before taking these supplements.

Cinnamon side effects

Although there are many benefits of cinnamon, it may cause harm to some people. Possible side effects of cinnamon include:

•     Allergies and itching: Excessive consumption of cinnamon can lead to sensitivity in the mouth and lips area and may develop into sores, redness and itching.
•     Poisoning: Excessive intake of cinnamon can lead to liver problems, especially for people with liver problems.
•     Lowering blood sugar: In fact, low blood sugar can be considered a problem in people with diabetes, if cinnamon is taken in conjunction with diabetes medications, as it causes blood sugar levels to drop dramatically, so it is necessary in this case to take regular blood sugar readings.

Contraindications to the use of cinnamon

Cinnamon is contraindicated in some medical conditions, including the following:

•     Taking medicinal treatments: Taking cinnamon may interfere with some medications such as antibiotics, diabetes and heart medications, so it is necessary to consult a doctor before using cinnamon with these medications.
•     Pregnancy: Cinnamon should be avoided during pregnancy, due to insufficient evidence for its safe use.
•     Children: It is best not to take cinnamon by children or infants as it has also not been proven to be safe for them to use.