Is cinnamon a good food? We enlisted qualified dietitian to investigate the research behind this common spice because it has been suggested that it can help with blood sugar regulation and reduce gastric discomfort.
Describe cinnamon?
Cinnamon, a common cooking spice, was historically used as payment. The spice is well-liked in cooking because of its flavour and toasty aroma, especially in savoury curries and sweet baked goods.
Cinnamon sticks are made from the inner bark of a small evergreen tree, which is peeled and dried in the sun until it curls into rolls. Powdered cinnamon is additionally offered.
Nutritional benefits of cinnamon
One teaspoon (3g) of cinnamon (ground) provides:
- 7Kcal / 31KJ
- 0.1g Protein
- 0.9g Carbohydrate
- 1.6 Fibre
5 health benefits of cinnamon
1. Antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal: Cinnamon is frequently employed in Chinese herbal medicine and is known to offer a variety of therapeutic and calming effects. The cinnamaldehyde-containing essential oils in cinnamon bark are what give it its characteristic flavour and aroma. The antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects of cinnamon are well known.
2.Helps Digesation: Some spices, like cinnamon, have prebiotic qualities that may promote gut health. These microorganisms may enhance digestive health, restore the balance of bacteria in your gut, and treat any digestive problems.
3. Helps to Improve High Blood Pressure: Cinnamon consumption is linked to a temporary drop in blood pressure, according to some studies. This could assist regulate blood pressure. Even if the evidence is encouraging, further lengthy random controlled studies are required.
4. Reduces blood sugar and type 2 diabetes risk: Cinnamon is known to help control blood sugar. It seems to achieve this through a variety of ways, including controlling the amount of glucose that enters the bloodstream and simulating the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar. Human studies are encouraging and indicate that cinnamon may have a modest impact on reducing fasting blood sugar levels in diabetics.
5. Possibly helpful for the ageing brain: As we become older, conditions like Alzheimer’s become more prevalent and are characterised by a steady decline in brain function. The buildup of protein fragments in the brain causes Alzheimer’s, which slows down thinking and memory. Two substances found in cinnamon seem to prevent the accumulation of these proteins. We still have more to understand about the effects on humans as a lot of this material comes from studies on animals.