Cinnamon is considered one of the most popular spices all over the world. It is an oriental tree bark that gives the bakery and desserts a unique sweet woody aroma. However, there are many reasons to use it not only in the bakery. A teaspoon of ground cinnamon contains as many antioxidants as 5 oz of blueberries. Moreover, ground cinnamon is superior to all other spices in terms of polyphenol saturation. In this article, we gathered five health benefits which you should know.
1. Can help deal with metabolic disorders
Cinnamon can help treat metabolic diseases. Some studies show that it can decrease complications and mortality in metabolic syndrome because of its ability to lower blood pressure, plasma glucose, and decrease excess weight. However, despite the fact that these possible cinnamon-consuming results are promising, more thought-out substantive tests are needed to form definite conclusions. It has a sweet taste and it can also be beneficial to people with sugar addiction.
2. Lowers bad cholesterol
If you don’t suffer from diabetes or metabolic disorder, it is better to include it in your diet because of its ability to lower bad cholesterol (LDL). This seasoning positively affects people with type 2 diabetes because it increases serum glucose, decreases fasting glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol. It could be beneficial not only for people with diabetes but also for people who have problems with cholesterol levels. HDL is the good cholesterol that helps reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol in the body.
Moreover, it can also help decrease the consequences of high-fat foods by slowing down the increase in blood sugar after eating. That’s why regular intake of cinnamon reduces the negative effect of high-fat foods and they may not be as harmful to your health as they could be.
3. Improves reproductive health
Cinnamon has a positive effect on your reproductive health. It improves the functioning of the ovaries, increases fertility, and helps in polycystic ovary syndrome (one of the main causes of infertility in women) treatment. It eases endometriosis symptoms and can be used in uterine fibroids treatment. It can also eliminate yeast infections and regulate the menstrual cycle. Take a cup of hot water, add a teaspoon of cinnamon, and drink it once a day. You can also add cinnamon to different foods and drinks.
4. Can reduce inflammation
Daily intake of cinnamon can ease both systemic and specific inflammation. However, additional human trials are required to make these potential benefits convincing. Systemic inflammation is a serious issue that increases the likelihood of chronic diseases. Nevertheless, you can reduce systemic inflammation by adding cinnamon to your diet.
A regular intake of cinnamon can help manage certain types of pain like headaches and arthritis pain. It plays a dual role in this particular type of pain since it can also improve blood circulation. If you have circulatory problems, such as Raynaud’s syndrome or arthritis, cinnamon intake helps stimulate blood circulation in the joints.
5. Cinnamon has antioxidant properties
Some studies have shown that it has strong antioxidant abilities. It can improve the antioxidant status of overweight or obese people. Moreover, cinnamon essential oils also have significant antioxidant qualities
A high concentration of antioxidants in cinnamon can help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and reduce inflammation. It can also reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases. However, additional human trials are required to conclusively prove these advantages.