12 ways to benefit your body with cinnamon
When we were kids, part of our breakfast most mornings was a piece of buttered toast, on which we would pour honey and sprinkle ground-up sunflower seeds. To this day, I consider it one of the best-tasting things that I eat.
But once in a while we would switch it up and sprinkle some cinnamon on our toast instead. It provided a very different and enjoyable taste (not to mention a great smell), especially for kids who were not allowed to consume much in the way of sugar.
Cinnamon still tastes great on toast – as well as a number of other items – but it’s not just for eating and it’s not just for the holidays. This ancient yet relevant spice has a multitude of uses, especially when it comes to its healing capabilities.
Whether eaten, applied or smelled, it can exercise its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antioxidant properties. For those of you keeping score at home, one tablespoon of ground-up cinnamon contains 19 calories, four grams of fiber and – best of all – no fat or sugar.
Here’s a look at 12 of the benefits your body might receive from cinnamon:
Better Circulation. Due to its ability to thin blood, cinnamon can increase circulation in the body, which sends needed oxygen to blood cells.
Improved Digestion. During the digestion process, cinnamon can help to break down fats. So, add it to foods or drink it mixed with tea prior to eating.
Lower Cholesterol. Triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL) dropped for diabetic patients in a study in which individuals consumed just one-quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon daily.
Brain Booster. Just the smell of cinnamon can improve memory and cognitive function, according to researchers. Add it to your coffee or cereal in the morning, and carry a stick to smell periodically.
Lose Weight. By reducing hunger and sugar cravings, cinnamon can help people lose unwanted weight. This is especially effective for diabetics trying to shed pounds.
Pain Reducer. Because it contributes to the contraction and relaxation of muscles, especially as it reacts with the hormone-like substance prostaglandin, cinnamon is used to treat pain.
Yeast Infection Enemy. The combination of cinnamon’s ability to lower blood sugar levels and battle fungal infections makes it a candidate for fighting medication-resistant yeast infections.
Dental Health. Cinnamon extracts have been shown to fight bacteria living in the mouth that can cause cavities, bad breath and tooth decay.
Skin Treatment. Skin irritations, including those caused by insect bites, can be treated with a mixture of cinnamon and honey… disinfecting, moisturizing and healing along the way.
Stomach Settler. Once again, combine cinnamon and honey to accomplish this task. Their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties can reduce stomach gas and treat ulcers.
Bladder Issues. Infections in the bladder and urinary tract might be avoided with a regular dose of cinnamon in your diet. This diuretic keeps the flow going while providing anti-bacterial help.
Complexion Helper. Cinnamon has proven effective in treating skin blemishes including acne. Mix three tablespoons of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon and apply to your skin. Let it sit for a few hours before washing off with warm water.
Now let’s take a look at five additional uses for cinnamon:
Insect Repellent. Here’s a concoction you can make and then place in small perfume bags to keep by your clothes in drawers and a closet. Take one-half of a cup of whole black peppercorns and one-half of a cup of whole cloves and combine them with several broken cinnamon sticks. Each sachet should include one tablespoon of this mixture. This should keep moths away.
Food Preserver. Merely adding a pinch of cinnamon to any of your recipes will help prevent food spoilage because it will delay bacterial growth.
Aroma Enhancer. Take any dry potpourri, put it in a bowl and add several drops of oil of cinnamon. Then place the bowl where it will receive good ventilation.
All-Purpose Cleaner. Take an empty spray bottle and pour in 1.5 cups of water, 1.5 cups of vinegar and 30 drops of cinnamon essential oil. Use if for a variety of surfaces at home.
Earning the Bronze. Mix cinnamon, cornstarch and cocoa powder together until you have the color you desire. Mix in unscented lotion and use to bronze home items.
You should ONLY use Ceylon Cinnamon medicinally as the other types can cause kidney problems among other problems.
NEVER should anything other than Ceylon cinnamon be used medicinally!
Cinnamon is a great modulator of blood sugar via insulin response; acting to prevent insulin resistance that commonly leads to Type II Diabetes, metabolic disorders, obesity, and the host of sugar addiction symptoms listed above including yeast overgrowth/thrush and mental fog. When 900-1000 mg (2 capsules) are taken with any meal containing more than trace amounts of carbohydrates, blood sugar levels Post parandil do not spike and crash.
I know and I use cinnamon every day especially in my smoothies because it is a perfect detox. that helps your body get rid of toxins that we take in every day. We can not get away from the toxins but we can help the body eliminate them. you have only hit a few of this fantastic bark that is at our disposal. There are two types but no matter what one you choose they both are beneficial. Cassia cinnamon: the most common variety that we find in our super markets.Ceylon cinnamon: known as the true cinnamon, Ceylon you can find in a health food store and I highly recommend this one. I could fill up my page with just cinnamon as my main topic. And is ranked number one, overall the super foods, highly potent polyphenol antioxidants. No matter which one you choose you still reap the benefits. Rated as # 1 super food, that is economical and easy access.
I use cinnamon a lot, but the one thing I would like most is having it dissolve in my coffee… It doesn’t.
Any suggestions?
My husband and I love baked sweet potatoes with butter/canola mixed and then sprinkled with cinnamon um um um very tasty!!!
I’ve got to try that! Thanks for the tip, Anne.
No button popped up or stationary on Food for Patriots explanations.
I sprinkle some on my coffee before I brew it up in the morning.
I use it for blood pressure control. I put it in my morning oatmeal along with applesauce, ground up almonds and some raisons.
It really helps because if I quit eating it my BP goes up.
But don’t use more than 1 tsp per day as in high doses it can cause problems because I believe of tannin it contains.
Also there are 2 types of cinnamon and the best is not like McCormicks…it’s available at Whole Foods and comes in sticks. I don’t remember the type but search for it or ask a knowledgeable sales person at Whole Foods or the like.
I don’t know where I got this “recipe” but 3 tablespoons of honey with one teaspoon of ground cinnamon is effective for reducing the inflammation of acne. The mixture needs to be applied to skin for about one hour which my teen felt was excessively long. He also said that it felt odd as it warmed and slid down his cheeks. Placing clear plastic wrap over it kept mess to a minimum and helped slow the slide. It did visibly reduce redness after one treatment. Daily application would be what’s needed but my son wouldn’t repeat the treatment. The mix would probably work for other bacterial and fungal infections.
If you are a cinnamon user, putting it in coffee in place of sugar, helps not only eliminate the need for sugar, it also makes the coffee tastes better
I eat it by the spoonful. You should try it.
I use cinnamon sticks in my coffee pot for a few days and everytime I make a new pot the flavor comes out. I don’t know if it the same and eating it, but it does give the coffee a nice flavor.