Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner bark of trees scientifically known as Cinnamomum.
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.
These days, cinnamon is affordable and widely available in most supermarkets. It’s also found as an ingredient in various foods and recipes.
Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed.
When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. These sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder.
The distinct smell and flavor of cinnamon are due to the oily part, which is very high in the compound cinnamaldehyde
1. Antioxidants protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. In fact, the antioxidant effects of cinnamon are so powerful that it can even be used as a natural food preservative.
2. Inflammation is incredibly important, as it helps your body respond to infections and repair tissue damage.
3. Cinnamon has also been shown to reduce blood pressure when consumed consistently for at least 8 weeks. When combined, all of these factors could help reduce your risk of heart disease.
4. Apart from the beneficial effects on insulin resistance, cinnamon can lower blood sugar through several other mechanisms. Cinnamon has been shown to decrease the amount of sugar that enters your bloodstream after a meal.
5. Cinammon helps to prevent Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive loss of the structure or function of nerve cells.
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are two of the most common types.
Certain 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’s disease.
6. It Prevents Fungal and Bacteria Infections.
Cinnamaldehyde, one of the main active components of cinnamon, may be beneficial against various kinds of infection.
Studies suggest that cinnamon oil could help kill certain fungi that cause respiratory tract infections.
Cinnamon’s flavour tastes best in confectionaries, if your worried about spike in blood sugar when consuming confectionaries, eat smarter by adding generous amount of cinammon when consuming baked products.
