15 Cinnamon Health Benefits You May Never Heard

Once upon a time people travelled across the world in search of it, but these days we all have cinnamon within easy reach in our spice cabinets. But did you know that cinnamon offers us more than just a tasty meal? Cinnamon health benefits are numerous, and it is a powerful super food that is an easy addition to sweet or savory dishes.

Boosting your cinnamon intake is extremely easy. It can be taken as a supplement or simply sprinkled into your oatmeal or smoothie. It can be added into baked goods, and indian inspired dishes, not to mention drinking cinnamon tea.

So, what health benefits does cinnamon have to offer?

1. Antioxidant

When researchers ranked spices in terms of their antioxidant levels, cinnamon was ranked number one. It is also listed 7th on the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) ranking of all foods, which is the list ranking foods in terms of their antioxidant capacity.

Cinnamon is chock full of over 41 protective compounds, such as polyphenols, phenolic acid, and flavonoids. Antioxidants within cinnamon work to break down oxidative stress within the body, which tends to build up as people age and can increase risk of cancer and heart disease.

2. Anti-Inflammatory

Cinnamon also reduces risk for heart disease and cancer through its anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown to effectively target pain related inflammation throughout the body, in particular, targeting menstruation pain, muscle soreness, allergic reactions, and joint swelling.

3. Reduces Risk of Heart Disease

As mentioned above, many aspects of cinnamon help reduce the risk of heart disease and heart related health issues. Besides its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it also reduces blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, and regulates high triglyceride levels. It is also a powerful method of increasing blood circulation within the body, and it helps the body repair damaged tissue, especially within the heart.

4. Lowers Blood Sugar

There is significant research showing the ability of cinnamon to lower blood sugar levels and its ability to have an anti-diabetic effect. With a dose of 1-6 grams a day, people suffering from Type-2 Diabetes can lower their fasting blood sugar levels of upwards of 29%. It also affects the ability of the digestive tract to absorb glucose into the bloodstream after eating. Finally, it mimics insulin, but is absorbed much slower and therefore can help regulate insulin absorption and reduce the amount of glucose absorbed overall.

5. Antifungal, Antibacterial and Antiviral

Cinnamon supplements and essential oils are a good way to combat infections within your body, whether they be bacterial, viral or fungal. Cinnamon essential oil can also be used as a natural cleaning product for your home. People have been using cinnamon for this purpose for thousands of years, it even used to be a key ingredient for food preservation.

6. Treats Symptoms of Cognitive Decline

For those people suffering from the slow decline of cognitive diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, cinnamon can offer a bit of relief for the symptoms. Compounds within cinnamon have been found to help increase neuron function, and help facilitate better motor function.

7. Freshens Breath and Supports Dental Hygiene

Just like other familiar flavors to mouth washes and toothpastes, cinnamon has been found to naturally sweeten the breath. In fact, it has been shown to be one of the most effective natural essences to combat bad breath, tooth decay, cavities, and oral infections. Cinnamon essence is also an effective way to fight mouth sores and ulcers, without resorting to any pharmaceuticals.

8. Prevents and Treats Candida Infections

Cinnamon has strong antifungal properties, and research has found that it can help reduce the symptoms and length of candida infections. It specifically helps target the Candida Albican, which can lead to dangerous infections in the digestive tract.

9. Helps Prevent Colds and Flus

If you are feeling the onset of a flu, a dose of cinnamon can help reduce the symptoms or prevent it altogether. It gives your body a shot of antioxidants, and is a strong antibacterial agent.

10. Balances Cholesterol

Not only does cinnamon specifically lower bad LDL cholesterol within the system, it also helps to raise the levels of good HDL cholesterol. It can mitigate the intake of blood sugars after eating, which is important if your diet includes high fat choices.

11. Reduces Effects of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Although it cannot treat the syndrome itself, cinnamon has been proven in clinical trials to treat a variety of symptoms associated with PCOS. This includes improving fertility, ovarian regulation and metabolic hormone profiles.

12. Improves Skin Health

Cinnamon is a natural warming agent, and when used within a cosmetic capacity gives a healthy glow to the skin without any harsh or unnatural chemicals. It also promotes collagen production, reducing wrinkles and can help with spot treatments of acne.

13. Reduces Risk of Cancer

Adding more cinnamon into your diet can help relieve the often extremely painful symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. As the spice specifically targets bacterial infections within the digestive tract, it can help clear out any harmful infections and microbes causing all the painful and embarrassing symptoms such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

14. Calming Effect for ADHD

Besides the effect that cinnamon has on blood sugar levels, it is a valuable aromatherapy tool which creates a calming effect for those with ADHD. Parents can safely use it as an aromatherapy treatment for their little ones to increase attention span and soothe high energies.

15. Weight Loss Maintenance

Its ability to reduce blood sugar intake, improve insulin absorption and reduce appetite are a few of the reasons why cinnamon is a valuable resource for people already committed to a healthy diet and exercise regime, and those specifically working towards weight loss. The reason why it is included in many cleanses is because of its ability to
suppress hunger cravings.

References

http://www.organicauthority.com/health/11-health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html

https://draxe.com/health-benefits-cinnamon/

https://authoritynutrition.com/10-proven-benefits-of-cinnamon/

http://www.well-beingsecrets.com/health-benefits-of-cinnamon/#Cinnamon_andBone_Health