10 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

This entry was posted on December 15, 2016 by MidMeds.

10 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Aside from being a delicious spice, Cinnamon has also been highly regarded for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. Modern science has now confirmed what people have instinctively known for centuries. Here are 10 health benefits of cinnamon which are supported by professional scientific research.

1) Powerful medicinal properties

Cinnamon contains an oily compound called cinnamaldehyde. It is this special compound that is responsible for many of cinnamon's powerful health effects and metabolism.

2) Antioxidants

Antioxidants protect the body from oxidative damaged caused by free radicals. So good news! Cinnamon is packed full of them! It has been found that cinnamon has even more antioxidants than some 'superfoods' such as garlic and oregano.

3) Anti-Inflammatory

The anti-inflammatory properties in Cinnamon are highly important as it helps fight infections and repair tissue damage.

4) Lower risk of heart disease

Cinnamon has been linked with a reduced risk of heart disease. It reduces the level of cholesterol and animal studies have shown that cinnamon can reduce blood pressure.

5) Insulin

Cinnamon can dramatically reduce insulin resistance, helping the important hormone do its job. By helping insulin do its job, cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels.

6) Helps diabetes

As stated above, Cinnamon is well known for its blood sugar lowering effects. This also results in reduced fasting blood sugar levels meaning Cinnamon has a potent anti-diabetic effect at 1 to 6 grams per day.

7) Helps fight Alzheimers

Studies have shown that cinnamon may have beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases. This means the spice can help fight against Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's.

8) May protect against cancer

In recent years, Cinnamon has been studied for its potential use in cancer prevention and treatment. A study in mice with colon cancer revealed cinnamon to be a potent activator of detoxifying enzymes in the colon, protecting against further cancer growth.

9) Fights against bacterial infections

Cinnamaldehyde, the main component of cinnamon may help fight against fungal and bacterial infections. The antimicrobial effects of cinnamon may also help prevent tooth decay and reduce bad breath.

10) May help battle the HIV virus

HIV slowly breaks down the immune system which can lead to AIDS if untreated. A lab study found that cinnamon was the most effective treatment of all 69 plants studied in the research. Scientists are now calling for human trials to confirm these effects.