Thursday, 11 February 2016

Cinnamon - A Spice - Boon to the humankind

Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner bark of trees called Cinnamomum.These days, cinnamon is cheap, available in every supermarket and found in all sorts of foods and recipes.

There are two main types of cinnamon:
Ceylon cinnamon: Also known as “true” cinnamon.
Cassia cinnamon: This is the more common variety today, what people generally refer to as “cinnamon.”

Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of the cinnamomum tree. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed from it. When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. The sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder. The distinct smell and flavor of cinnamon is due to a compound called cinnamaldehyde. It is this compound that is responsible for most of cinnamon’s powerful effects on health and metabolism.

Cinnamon is a popular spice. It is high in a substance called cinnamaldehyde, which is responsible for most of the health benefits.

Cinnamon is Loaded With Antioxidants :  Antioxidants protect the body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Cinnamon is loaded with powerful antioxidants. Cinnamon is so powerful that cinnamon can be used as a natural food preservative. Cinnamon contains large amounts of highly potent polyphenol antioxidants.

Cinnamon Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties : Tea With Cinnamon and Lemon - Inflammation in the body is incredibly important. It helps the body fight infections and repair tissue damage. However, inflammation can become a problem when it is chronic (long-term) and directed against the body’s own tissues. Cinnamon may be useful in this regard, because studies show that the antioxidants in it have potent anti-inflammatory activity. The antioxidants in cinnamon have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower the risk of disease.

Cinnamon May Cut the Risk of Heart Disease : Cinnamon has been linked with reduced risk of heart disease, the world’s most common cause of premature death. It reduces levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while HDL cholesterol remains stable. Cinnamon dose of just 120 milligrams per day can have these effects. It also helps in reducing blood pressure. By taking care of total cholesterol and blood pressure in the human body, cinnamon helps to risk down the chances of heart attack.

Cinnamon Can Improve Sensitivity to The Hormone Insulin : Insulin is one of the key hormones that regulate metabolism and energy use. It is also essential for the transport of blood sugar from the bloodstream and into cells. Cinnamon can dramatically reduce insulin resistance, helping this incredibly important hormone to do its job. By helping insulin do its job, cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels.

Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar Levels and Has a Powerful Anti-Diabetic Effect: Cinnamon Powder - Cinnamon is well known for its blood sugar lowering effects. Apart from the beneficial effects on insulin resistance, cinnamon can lower blood sugar by several other mechanisms.
First, cinnamon has been shown to decrease the amount of glucose that enters the bloodstream after a meal. It does this by interfering with numerous digestive enzymes, which slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive tract.
Second, a compound in cinnamon can act on cells by mimicking insulin. This greatly improves glucose uptake by cells, although it acts much slower than insulin itself.

The effective dose is typically 1-6 grams of cinnamon per day (around 0.5-2 teaspoons).

Cinnamon May Have Beneficial Effects on Neurodegenerative Diseases : Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive loss of the structure or function of brain cells. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are two of the most common types.

Cinnamon May Be Protective Against Cancer : Cancer is a serious disease, characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells. Cinnamon acts by reducing the growth of cancer cells and the formation of blood vessels in tumors, and appears to be toxic to cancer cells, causing cell death.

Cinnamon Helps Fight Bacterial and Fungal Infections : Cinnamaldehyde, the main active component of cinnamon, may help fight various kinds of infection. Cinnamon oil has been shown to effectively treat respiratory tract infections caused by fungi. The antimicrobial effects of cinnamon may also help prevent tooth decay and reduce bad breath.

Cinnamon May Help Fight The HIV Virus : HIV is a virus that slowly breaks down the immune system, which can eventually lead to AIDS if untreated. Cinnamon extracted from Cassia varieties is thought to help fight against HIV-1. This is the most common strain of the HIV virus in humans.

At the end of the day, cinnamon is one of the most delicious and healthiest spices on the planet. It can lower blood sugar levels, reduce heart disease risk factors, and has a plethora of other impressive health benefits.

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