Cinnamon: Surprising Health Benefits

January 26, 2017

Cinnamon. That sweet and fragrant spice you dust over porridge and use in desserts not only adds a delicious zing to our foods but also a zing to our health. Recently, George Lockhart, a performance nutrition specialist and dietitian to UFC fighter Conor McGregor, says the best way to curb those sugar cravings is with cinnamon and this got me wondering. Could cinnamon be beneficial to our health? 

Homemade cinnamon oat muffins.

Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamyl acetate. Cinnamaldehyde has an anticoagulant property which can prevent strokes and an anti-inflammatory property which has been shown to relieve the symptoms of asthma, arthritis, muscle soreness and the severity of some allergic reactions. 

It has been shown to relieve bloating and flatulence.

Cinnamon produces an antibacterial action that can prevent yeast and candida from growing.

It is loaded with polyphenols, a type of powerful antioxidant, meaning the body can be protected from oxidative damage caused by free radicals which is a cause of cancer and heart disease.

It can reduce the level of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure which are all contributing factors to heart disease.

It can improve the sensitivity to insulin which regulates blood sugar levels and also lowers blood sugar levels if they are high.

So the answer is yes. Cinnamon can be of benefit to our health so grab yourself some cinnamon from your local supermarket and add it to your morning breakfast and reap in the benefits. Do you eat cinnamon on a regular basis? If so, how do you incorporate it into your diet? Let me know in the comments below.


Best of wishes.

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