Cinnamon is a popular spice that you will come across in all kitchens worldwide. It is also a staple in your favorite food items like French toast, breakfast pastries, and even coffee. The delicious taste, spicy flavor, and aroma make it a go-to ingredient for many chefs when they experiment with unique and innovative dishes in their kitchens.
This spice comes from the inner barks of the tree. It is made by taking stems of the cinnamon tree and drying them into cinnamon sticks. Apart from adding flavor to various cuisines, cinnamon also has a history of being used for medicinal properties. Native to Sri Lanka, cinnamon was used to treat hoarse voices, sore throats, and coughs by the doctors.
The medicinal use of this spice is also found in alternative medicines like Ayurveda and Chinese medicine for centuries.
What are the Health Benefits of Cinnamon?
Cinnamon is much more than its taste; the spice possesses many health benefits. The regular consumption of this ingredient will help you maintain your health in the following ways.
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Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Various studies and research carried out on this ingredient have proved that cinnamon may help treat Type 2 diabetes. It is the most promising health benefit of cinnamon. It works by managing the symptoms of the condition to a great extent.
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Management of Metabolic Disease
If cinnamon has positive effects in treating type 2 diabetes, it surely can help you manage metabolic diseases. According to a literature review in 2016, this ingredient can be effective in reducing morbidity, complications, as well as mortality associated with metabolic syndrome, including reducing plasma glucose, blood pressure, and obesity.
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A Remedy for Acne
The use of cinnamon is prevalent in treating acne. The content of this spice help to stop acne-causing bacteria in its tracks. You can make a cinnamon mask at home by combining one part of cinnamon powder with three parts of honey. Use it twice or thrice a week, and you will notice a remarkable change in how your skin appears. This home remedy suits all-skin types.
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Reduction of Inflammation
One of the best health benefits of cinnamon is the reduction of inflammation in your body. The presence of cinnamaldehyde, an incredible compound in this ingredient helps to prevent blood platelets from clumping together. This compound also wards off swelling. The anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamon also block various substances associated with abnormal cell growth in your body.
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No More Bad Breath
Bad breath is one of the biggest turn-offs and if you suffer from this condition, start consuming cinnamon regularly. The presence of cinnamaldehyde in this ingredient kills the pesky oral bacteria that lead to bad breath. You can buy cinnamon gum and chew it frequently. Alternatively, you can also make a cinnamon mouthwash by boiling some cinnamon sticks in water.
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A Powerful Antioxidant
Antioxidants are essential for your body as they reduce oxidative stress that has proven to damage your cells and contribute to chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. The antioxidant capabilities of this ingredient are remarkable and superior to many other food items. Consumption of cinnamon regularly will boost your immunity manifold.
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Reduced Symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease
Cinnamon is considered a neuroprotective ingredient that helps neurons and improves the motor function of your brain. The compounds present in this spice inhibit the growth of a protein called tau in the brain. Tau is one of the culprits of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Plumped Lips
If you do not like the appearance of your lips and want to plump them a little bit, the application of cinnamons may help fulfill your purpose. You do not need injections anymore. Mix half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder with petroleum jelly or any oil of your choice. Make this paste and apply it to your lips. Keep it for some time, rinse it off and you will notice the difference.
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Fewer Signs of Aging
Nobody likes to deal with the signs of aging, especially when it comes to their appearance. Cinnamon helps increase the production of elastin and collagen in your skin, thus keeping it soft and reducing the signs of aging. The cinnamon extracts used in various creams and body lotions keep the emergence of wrinkles at bay.
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No More Dirty Hands
Do you know you can use cinnamon as a sanitizer and disinfect your hands? Cinnamon oil has been shown to kill many common and hospital-acquired infections like E.coli, MRSA, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus. If you do not like a chemically-laden hand sanitizer, you can buy an organic one containing cinnamon oil as the main ingredient.
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Management of HIV
One of the most underrated health benefits of cinnamon is that it may help in the management of HIV. Research shows that the extracts of this ingredient may help fight the virus by preventing it from entering the cells of your body. According to it, a cinnamon-derived substance could block the viral entry, one of the most promising approaches to preventing the development of HIV into AIDS.
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Prevention of Cancer
Several studies have laid down the anti-cancer properties of cinnamon, thus making it a popular ingredient. Many pieces of evidence suggest that as a therapeutic agent, cinnamon shows anti-cancer effects by affecting many apoptosis-related pathways in cancer cells. The consumption of cinnamon may stop the progression of cancer.
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Management of PCOS
Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS has become a common problem in females which also requires the management of many symptoms. It has been stated that cinnamon may be a key element in managing the symptoms of this condition. Cinnamon regulates the resistance of insulin in the body, thus controlling weight gain happening because of PCOS. Another study has laid down that cinnamon may mitigate heavy menstrual bleeding associated with various conditions of female health like uterine fibroids, menorrhagia, and endometriosis.
The above-listed health benefits of cinnamon highlight its importance in maintaining a healthy life. Now is the time to incorporate the use of this ingredient in your daily food items.
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