Health Benefits of Cinnamon | Warm & Sweet

Cinnamon as an Ayurvedic Element

Cinnamon, (Cinnamomum Verum), also called Ceylon cinnamon, is a bushy evergreen tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae). The spice is derived from its bark.

Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), the neighbouring Malabar Coast of India, and Myanmar (Burma) and is also cultivated in South America and the West Indies.

But, most cinnamon in international commerce is derived from the related species Cinnamomum Cassia also referred to as “cassia“.

Sitopaladi churna is a popular Ayurvedic formulation with cinnamon to treat respiratory problems, cough, cold and anorexia.

Cinnamon in Culinary Sphere | Uses of cinnamon as food

Apart from the prized health benefits of cinnamon, it is used in both sweet and savoury dishes. Cinnamon has been revered throughout the ages for its sweetly spicy flavour and heady fragrance.

It’s also packed with nutrients and antioxidants, and has many medicinal applications as well – and it is easy to incorporate into your daily diet!

Cinnamon Verum (Cinnamon Ceylon) has a sweet fragrance with a delicate flavour that makes it most suited for baking and desserts. Because of its with a stronger flavour and spicy fragrance, Cinnamon Cassi matches better with savoury dishes.

Cinnamon is one of the most widely used and highly beneficial spices out there. It can be sprinkled, simmered, baked with or taken as a supplement. It’s full of nutrients and has long been known as a blood sugar regulator. Not to forget there are countless other health benefits of cinnamon.

What are the health benefits of Cinnamon?

Prized for their healing qualities health benefits of cinnamon or dal chini bring it to almost a daily use in our lives. Cinnamon and it’s essential aromatic oil have immense health benefits and therapeutic values.

Cinnamon has quite a long history. The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used the Sri Lankan spice for cooking, as a meat preservative, and in perfumes. Read on to find dalchini ke fayade.

Read on to find out what health benefits of cinnamon or dalchini are:

1. As an anti-oxidant – Antioxidants protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Cinnamon is loaded with powerful antioxidants, such as polyphenols.
2. Cinnamon Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties – It helps your body fight infections and repair tissue damage. Studies show that cinnamon and its antioxidants have potent anti-inflammatory properties
3. Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease – According to researchers, an extract present in cinnamon bark, called CEppt, contains properties that may prevent symptoms from developing. This means aiding the nervous system making it one of the significant health benefits of cinnamon
4. Cinnamon may help treat Type 2 diabetes – Perhaps the most promising research pointing to the health benefits of cinnamon is linked to type 2 diabetes. While there is certainly no cure for this metabolic disease, cinnamon can be an important tool in managing its symptoms.
5. Helps in  reducing cholesterol – Some studies show that cinnamon may help lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and raise HDL (good cholesterol) levels. One compound, in particular, cinnamate, may be able to decrease the activity of an enzyme that makes cholesterol, thus reducing the amount of fatty acids in the blood.
6. It freshens breath – To achieve fresher breath, chew your cinnamon gum or make your own mouthwash by boiling 5 cinnamon sticks in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes, then use it as you would a regular mouthwash.
7. Helps maintain blood pressure – There is some evidence to suggest that the consumption of cinnamon is associated with a short-term reduction in blood pressure.
8. Instrumental in the Heart’s health – Cinnamon increases circulation and improves tissue repair, which may be especially helpful for regenerating heart tissue in order to help fight heart attacks, heart disease and stroke.
9. Helpful blood coagulant – Research also shows that cinnamon is a helpful blood coagulant and can stop excess bleeding by helping the body to form blood clots.
10. May Help Lower Cancer Risk – Because of its antioxidant abilities, cinnamon may protect against DNA damage, cell mutation and cancerous tumour growth. Studies have revealed that the health benefits of cinnamon come from a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which can inhibit tumour growth and protect DNA against damage while also killing off cancer cells. This very important health benefits of cinnamon.
11. Antibacterial & antifungal benefits – Cinnamaldehyde is one of the primary active components in cinnamon and it has been shown to help fight numerous types of infection. In addition to treating respiratory tract infections caused by fungi, compounds in cinnamon inhibit the growth of certain bacteria.
12. Improved Immunity Against HIV – cinnamon has been shown to be helpful in fighting the HIV virus. HIV-1 is the most common strain of the HIV virus in humans and several studies show that cassia cinnamon extract helps fight the virus. In one study involving HIV-infected cells, cinnamon was found to be the most effective of 69 medicinal plants studied.

Where does Cinnamon come from?

Cinnamomum Verum is mostly cultivated in Sri Lanka, the Malagasy Republic and Seychelles. It has originated in the central hills of Sri Lanka. In India, it is grown in one or two locations in Kerala.

Cinnamon is a hardy plant and is cultivated in Sri Lanka under varying conditions ranging from semi-dried to wet zone conditions

Ceylon cinnamon is a spice like no other. It is easy to mistake the highly valued Ceylon cinnamon to other cheap varieties. Apart from its culinary uses, health benefits of cinnamon are substantial too.

Creating homemade cinnamon powder promises a pure and authentic taste to it. From whipping up a delicious smoothie, to bake scrumptious goods to kicking it up a notch with top-class cocktails, cinnamon is what you need.