Why cinnamon

Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food.

Jo Lewin is a registered nutritionist RNutr with the Association for Nutrition with a specialism in public health. All health content on bbcgoodfood. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information. Subscriber club Reader offers More Good Food.

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Back to Recipes Quick and healthy Quick vegetarian See more. Back to Recipes Vegetable soups Healthy soups See more. Studies have shown that a variety of other medical conditions can be improved or in some way positively affected through the use of cinnamon. Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon both contain coumarin. When coumarin is consumed in extremely high doses, it may cause some dangerous side effects. Ceylon cinnamon contains far less coumarin than Cassia cinnamon.

However, as a spice, it would be unusual for someone to consume large enough amounts of either type of cinnamon to cause concern. As mentioned previously, cinnamon powder is commonly added to toast and baked into pastries, but there are numerous other delicious ways to incorporate cinnamon into your diet.

Many ethnic cuisines including Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and North African use cinnamon as a primary spice in savory dishes. Try the following recipes for ideas. You can make a large batch of these and have them handy for healthy snacks.

They are easy to take on the go and to satisfy your sweet tooth. Get the recipe. These cinnamon twists make for a fun dessert or breakfast treat. They take very little time to prepare and they can cook while you eat your meal.

With just a few hours lead time, the result is sure to get everyone to the table quickly on a busy morning. This delicious version of bread pudding is simple to make in your slow cooker!

Ceylon cinnamon also tends to be lighter in colour than Cassia. Cinnamon contains many compounds that potentially have a positive effect on health, including polyphenols, antioxidants, and some unique chemicals such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamate.

Studies have found that cinnamon might help balance blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes by increasing glucose uptake, improving insulin sensitivity in fat and muscle tissues, improving glycogen synthesis in the liver, slowing the rate of gastric emptying, and other potential changes. While the research shows some benefit for glucose control, it is still important for those who have diabetes to follow the treatment plan outlined by their physician, as the effects of cinnamon in studies so far do not show adequate changes to be a replacement for medication.

Cinnamon contains antioxidants, which are a healthy component of the diet that help neutralize free radicals, preventing them from damaging cells in the body. Overall, the vast majority of research on cinnamon shows a plethora of benefits, and studies are continuing to be published that provide further evidence.

While this spice has many favourable aspects, there is a downside to most types of cinnamon: coumarin. Coumarin is a chemical compound found in several plants, including cinnamon, that can cause liver damage in large doses. However, coumarin is not present in Ceylon cinnamon, which means it has the wonderful benefits of cinnamon without this drawback. Some countries in Europe set a tolerable daily intake for coumarin.

According to researchers , an extract present in cinnamon bark, called CEppt, contains properties that may prevent symptoms from developing. In , a study of extracts of Indian medicinal plants found that cinnamon may help protect against HIV.

Scientists tested 69 extracts in a laboratory. Cinnamomum cassia , or cinnamon bark, and Cardiospermum helicacabum , which is the cinnamon shoot and fruit, were most effective in reducing HIV activity. In a laboratory study , scientists found that an extract from cinnamon showed anti-HIV activity.

This does not mean that foods containing cinnamon can treat or prevent HIV, but cinnamon extracts could one day become a part of HIV therapy. Experts have tested cinnamon for activity against multiple sclerosis MS. In one study , researchers gave mice a mixture of cinnamon powder and water and ran some tests. It appeared that cinnamon could have an anti-inflammatory effect on the central nervous system , including parts of the brain.

People with MS appear to have lower levels of Tregs than people without the condition. In mouse studies , cinnamon treatment has prevented the loss of certain proteins specific to Tregs. Scientists have also found that cinnamon treatment restored myelin levels in mice with MS. MS occurs when the myelin coating on nerve cells becomes damaged.

In this article , get some diet tips for people with MS. Six people consumed dishes containing 14 g of a spice blend. Research from says that scientists have found a way to package antimicrobial compounds from peppermint and cinnamon into tiny capsules that can both kill bacterial biofilms and actively promote healing. In this way, peppermint and cinnamon could become part of a medicine for treating infected wounds.

Various compounds in cinnamon may benefit the cardiovascular system. Cinnemaldehyde, for example, lowered blood pressure in an animal study.

In a study , rats that received long-term treatment involving cinnamon and aerobic training had better heart function than those that did not. Can some foods lower blood pressure? The authors of one article note that cinnamaldehydes may have antitumor and anticancer properties.

In the study, scientists treated mice with cancer using an extract of cinnamon and cardamom.