You may have heard of the health benefits of cinnamon. Some clients at Primer Performance in Totowa, New Jersey have and asked me about it. Adding herbs and spices to your cooking can definitely boost the benefits of the food without adding extra calories. Cinnamon is one of those, but not just any type of cinnamon. There are two types. One is Ceylon cinnamon and the other is Cassia cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is true cinnamon, but most people have never tasted it. They’ve only had Cassia cinnamon, which is normally used in cooking and the most common type on the grocery shelves.
The cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon is what provides the benefits.
Cinnamon is harvested by cutting stems from the cinnamon tree and use the inner bark after the woody part is removed. It’s dried in strips, the ground. Cinnamaldehyde is in both Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon, but Cassia cinnamon, the one most people use, also has a large amount of coumarin that has a negative effect on health when consumed in large doses. Unfortunately, Cassia cinnamon is far cheaper than its counterpart, which is why it’s used more often.
Cinnamon can provide protection from diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance has become a huge problem in the United States. One spice for reducing blood sugar levels is through the use of cinnamon. It improves insulin sensitivity and aids the cells to uptake insulin. That lets more glucose into the cells. It decreases blood glucose levels by mimicking insulin, which allows more glucose into the cells and lowering blood sugar levels. It also slows the breakdown of carbs after a meal, slowing the amount of glucose in the bloodstream.
Protect cell health with cinnamon.
There are many antioxidants in cinnamon. Antioxidants can prevent oxidative damage that cause cell injury or death. That’s responsible for serious conditions and premature aging. Cinnamon has a high amount of polyphenols and in that respect, even better than garlic or oregano for your health. It’s also an anti-inflammatory. Chronic inflammation is responsible for serious conditions, which includes heart disease.
- The coumarin in cassia cinnamon is also found in other foods, which are also considered healthy. They include cherries, green tea, celery and licorice root, to name a few. While it does have negative side effects when too much is consumed, it also has benefits. It’s used to make coumadin, the blood thinner.
- Cinnamon is good for lowering triglycerides and LDL, the bad cholesterol, as it also increases the HDL, the good cholesterol. It also helps lower blood pressure.
- There are new studies that indicate that the chemicals found in cinnamon may help neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. One study found that consuming as little as a teaspoon a day of Ceylon cinnamon could help prevent the disease.
- Improve your dental health with cinnamon. It has anti fungal and anti bacterial properties. Not only could consuming it help fight cavities and gingivitis, it can help improve your breath, too.
For more information, contact us today at Prime Fitness Studio