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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner bark of trees scientifically known as Cinnamomum<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has been used as an ingredient throughout history, dating back as far as Ancient Egypt. It used to be rare and valuable and was regarded as a gift fit for kings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These days, cinnamon is cheap, available in every supermarket and found as an ingredient in various foods and recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are\u00a0two main types\u00a0of cinnamon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. These sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The distinct smell and flavor of cinnamon are due to the oily part, which is very high in the compound cinnamaldehyde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scientists believe that this compound is responsible for most of cinnamon\u2019s powerful effects on health and\u00a0metabolism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> Cinnamon is a popular spice. It\u2019s high in cinnamaldehyde, which is thought to be responsible for most of cinnamon\u2019s health benefits.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Antioxidants protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cinnamon is loaded with powerful antioxidants, such as polyphenols .<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a study that compared the antioxidant activity of 26 spices, cinnamon wound up as the clear winner, even outranking \u201csuperfoods\u201d like\u00a0garlic\u00a0and oregano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, it is so powerful that cinnamon can be used as a natural food preservative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> Cinnamon contains large amounts of highly potent polyphenol antioxidants.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Inflammation is incredibly important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It helps your body fight infections and repair tissue damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, inflammation can become a problem when it\u2019s chronic and directed against your body\u2019s own tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cinnamon may be useful in this regard. Studies show that this spice and its antioxidants have potent\u00a0anti-inflammatory\u00a0properties .<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> The antioxidants in cinnamon have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower your risk of disease.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Cinnamon has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, the world\u2019s most common cause of premature death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In people with type 2 diabetes, 1 gram or about half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood markers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It reduces levels of total cholesterol, \u201cbad\u201d LDL cholesterol and\u00a0triglycerides, while \u201cgood\u201d HDL cholesterol remains stable .<\/p>\n\n\n\n More recently, a big review study concluded that a cinnamon dose of just 120 mg per day can have these effects. In this study, cinnamon also increased \u201cgood\u201d HDL cholesterol levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In animal studies, cinnamon has been shown to reduce blood pressure .<\/p>\n\n\n\n When combined, all these factors may drastically cut your risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> Cinnamon may improve some key risk factors for heart disease, including cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Insulin is one of the key hormones that regulate metabolism and energy use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also essential for transporting blood sugar from your bloodstream to your cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem is that many people are resistant to the effects of insulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is known as\u00a0insulin resistance, a hallmark of serious conditions like metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that cinnamon can dramatically reduce insulin resistance, helping this important hormone do its job .<\/p>\n\n\n\n By increasing insulin sensitivity, cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels, as discussed in the next chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> Cinnamon has been shown to significantly increase sensitivity to the hormone insulin.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Cinnamon is well known for its\u00a0blood-sugar-lowering properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from the beneficial effects on insulin resistance, cinnamon can lower blood sugar by several other mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, cinnamon has been shown to decrease the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It does this by interfering with numerous digestive enzymes, which slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, a compound in cinnamon can act on cells by mimicking insulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This greatly improves glucose uptake by your cells, though it acts much slower than insulin itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numerous human studies have confirmed the anti-diabetic effects of cinnamon, showing that it can lower fasting blood sugar levels by 10\u201329%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The effective dose is typically 1\u20136 grams or around 0.5\u20132 teaspoons of cinnamon per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> Cinnamon has been shown to reduce fasting blood sugar levels, having a potent anti-diabetic effect at 1\u20136 grams or 0.5\u20132 teaspoons per day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive loss of the structure or function of brain cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s disease are two of the most common types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two compounds found in cinnamon appear to inhibit the buildup of a protein called tau in the brain, which is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer\u2019s disease .<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a study in mice with Parkinson\u2019s disease, cinnamon helped protect neurons, normalized neurotransmitter levels and improved motor function .<\/p>\n\n\n\n These effects need to be studied further in humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> Cinnamon has been shown to lead to various improvements for Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s disease in animal studies. However, human research is lacking.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Cancer is a serious disease, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cinnamon has been widely studied for its potential use in cancer prevention and treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the evidence is limited to test-tube and animal studies, which suggest that cinnamon extracts may protect against cancer .<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A study in mice with colon cancer revealed that cinnamon is a potent activator of detoxifying enzymes in the colon, protecting against further cancer growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These findings were supported by test-tube experiments, which showed that cinnamon activates protective antioxidant responses in human colon cells .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether cinnamon has any effect in living, breathing humans needs to be confirmed in controlled studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> Animal and test-tube studies indicate that cinnamon may have protective effects against cancer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Cinnamaldehyde, one of the main active components of cinnamon, may help fight various kinds of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cinnamon oil has been shown to effectively treat respiratory tract infections caused by fungi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can also inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, including\u00a0Listeria<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Salmonella<\/em>\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the evidence is limited and so far cinnamon has not been shown to reduce infections elsewhere in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The antimicrobial effects of cinnamon may also help prevent tooth decay and reduce bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> Cinnamaldehyde has antifungal and antibacterial properties, which may reduce infections and help fight tooth decay and bad breath.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n HIV is a virus that slowly breaks down your immune system, which can eventually lead to AIDS, if untreated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cinnamon extracted from Cassia varieties is thought to help fight against HIV-1, the most common strain of the HIV virus in humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A laboratory study looking at HIV-infected cells found that cinnamon was the most effective treatment of all 69 medicinal plants studied .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Human trials are needed to confirm these effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p> Test-tube studies have shown that cinnamon can help fight HIV-1, the main type of HIV virus in humans.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Not all cinnamon is created equal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Cassia variety contains significant amounts of a compound called coumarin, which is believed to be\u00a0harmful\u00a0in large doses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All cinnamon should have health benefits, but Cassia may cause problems in large doses due to the coumarin content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ceylon (\u201ctrue\u201d cinnamon) is much better in this regard, and studies show that it\u2019s much lower in coumarin than the Cassia variety .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, most cinnamon found in supermarkets is the cheaper Cassia variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Cinnamon Is Loaded With Antioxidants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Cinnamon Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Cinnamon May Cut the Risk of Heart Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Cinnamon Can Improve Sensitivity to the Hormone Insulin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar Levels and Has a Powerful Anti-Diabetic Effect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Cinnamon May Have Beneficial Effects on Neurodegenerative Diseases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8. Cinnamon May Protect Against Cancer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
9. Cinnamon Helps Fight Bacterial and Fungal Infections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
10. Cinnamon May Help Fight the HIV Virus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It Is Better to Use Ceylon (\u201cTrue\u201d Cinnamon)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n