Cinnamon is a spice many cultures have used to flavor savory foods. Cinnamon comes in different varieties. One such variety is Ceylon Cinnamon. It has properties that contribute to many health benefits.
Introduction to Ceylon Cinnamon
Ceylon cinnamon, also known as Cinnamon zeylanicum, differs from other varieties of cinnamon. It is a powdered bark from a tropical evergreen plant in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. It has a unique shape, light color, and mild flavor. People use this bark to make medicines. In addition, we used it for flavoring in foods and coffee.
There are multiple uses and benefits of Ceylon Cinnamon. First, we can say that it can change your life. We used cinnamon oil for manufacturing toothpaste, mouthwashes, lotions, cosmetics, detergents, and pharmaceutical items in small doses. The oils in Ceylon cinnamon also help reduce spasms, flatulence issues, and bacterial or fungal infections. In addition, cinnamon contains compounds that act similarly to insulin and help manage high sugar levels. Ceylon cinnamon also offers many other impressive health benefits.
Nutritional Value of Ceylon Cinnamon
Ceylon cinnamon contains a lot of beneficial vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Manganese is present in higher amounts of cinnamon. Manganese helps to manage hormonal production, and it also helps in bone health. It also works as an antioxidant. Cinnamon is also an excellent source of Vitamins K, A, zinc, Potassium, Magnesium, and Cinnamaldehyde.
Nutrition per Serving (One Teaspoon) of Ceylon Cinnamon
| Calories | Fat | Protein | Carbohydrates | Fiber | Sugar |
| Six calories | <1 gram | <1 gram | 2 grams | 1 gram | <1 gram |
Health Benefits of Ceylon Cinnamon
Ceylon cinnamon has many health benefits because of its vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The brown color of cinnamon is because of the beta-carotene present in it. Beta carotene is the provitamin because it is further transformed into Vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for maintaining the health of your eyes.
Other health benefits of Ceylon cinnamon include:
Potential to treat diabetes
We consider cinnamon as a diabetic therapy alternative. In one study, Ceylon cinnamon helps to reduce insulin levels in diabetic rats to near-normal levels. Many other types of research also support the hypothesis that cinnamon can be helpful in diabetic therapy. Ceylon cinnamon stimulates insulin-like action. It reduces insulin resistance—this aids in glucose metabolism in the liver.
Cinnamon is the best option for people who want to avoid synthetic insulin therapy. According to a reliable source, experts recommend at least 120 mg of cinnamon per day as an insulin stabilizer.
Blood Pressure Management
Cinnamic acid is present in Ceylon cinnamon. It works as an anti-inflammatory agent. This anti-inflammatory agent helps flow blood throughout the body. It deals with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels.
We linked inflammatory actions to chronic conditions like heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. In addition, the heart’s weakening causes heart disease because of abnormalities in the circulatory system. Thus, cinnamon promotes cardiovascular health and helps maintain a healthy heart.
Reduce Cholesterol Levels
Scientists have shown Ceylon cinnamon in preliminary tests to help lower cholesterol levels. Doctors linked heart disease with high levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Cinnamon helps to reduce the high levels of total and LDL cholesterol while slightly increasing the HDL cholesterol, which is good cholesterol.
Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
It is worth mentioning here that Ceylon cinnamon has properties we can use to fight against Alzheimer’s disease. First, cinnamon is helpful in neurological conditions because it improves the brain’s response to insulin. Recent studies showed the link between diabetes and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, which supports the idea that cinnamon may help halt the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. However, cinnamon also improves the high glucose levels in the brain, contributing to cognitive conditions.
How to Use Ceylon Cinnamon
There is a diverse variety of cinnamon products. More precisely, we can say that Ceylon cinnamon is available in many products. It is a dried spice we can find in any local grocery store and whole food market. There are also many brands offering organic Ceylon cinnamon. Besides powder, cinnamon is also available as a pill to take by mouth. It is equally potent in any form.
Ground cinnamon is much easier to add to dishes. You can make Ceylon cinnamon tea if you want an intense Cinnamon taste. You can make cinnamon rolls or add them to your curry or pie.
Side Effects
As we are well aware of the fact that there are pros and cons to everything. Ceylon cinnamon is safe when used in foods as spices or flavoring. It can be safe when we take it as a medicine or supplement. People have used cinnamon safely for up to 6 months in doses of 0.5-3 grams daily. Also, many reviews of cinnamon showed that it could cause health problems when taken for an extended period in more significant amounts, causing skin problems and digestive issues. In addition, the intake of cinnamon oil is possibly unsafe. Thus, it can cause skin allergies, digestion problems, dizziness, and others.
The Last Word on Ceylon Cinnamon
Ceylon cinnamon has many potential health benefits. For example, it is very helpful in managing diabetes, high blood pressure issues, and cholesterol levels, thus reducing heart disease risks. Cinnamon also improves cognitive abilities and reduces the risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Many brands offering organic cinnamon are available in the market. We can add it to any dish as a spice. Also, we can make cinnamon tea to get its intense flavor. Thus, we can use it safely in minute quantities, while its higher doses can cause skin allergies, stomach distress, and other digestive issues. Thus, if you want to add cinnamon to your daily diet, you can use it as a spice or flavoring agent in an insufficient quantity.
If you or someone you know is looking to improve your health, share this article on Facebook or Twitter so that others can learn more about self-care.
Related Articles
