Cinnamon is one of the world's oldest spices, that imparts a
magnificent aroma to a wide variety of foods. But, besides its great taste and
smell, cinnamon is also considered to have quite a variety of healing
properties too. Many of its benefits derive from the spice's antifungal,
antibacterial and antioxidant prowess. You can smell it, ingest it, or apply
it, either way, the health benefits of cinnamon are more than skin deep. These
top 14 tips will get you going, and in the process, you may also be surprised
to discover that this great spice has all kinds of ingenious uses too!
In the Know: Learn to Identify Real Cinnamon
Before getting to its uses, here's a fact you may want to
consider. Much of the cinnamon available
is not real cinnamon (Cinnamon Verum or Cinnamomum Zeylancium), it is
Cassia. Cassia contains substances that have strong anticoagulant properties,
which may be harmful to the liver when consumed in large quantities. It is
easier to spot the difference between the two when buying cinnamon sticks.
Though, it is a lot harder to identify real cinnamon in its powder form.
Here's how to spot the difference:
Cinnamon is a paler tan brown, as opposed to the reddish
rust brown of cassia.
Cinnamon has a thin, paper-textured bark that forms multiple
thin layers when rolled up. Cassia bark is thicker, forming just a few layers.
Cinnamon is more fragile, and can crumble a lot easier than
cassia which is tough and a lot harder to grind.
Cinnamon has a delicate, sweeter aroma, whereas cassia is
more pungent and full-bodied.
Cinnamon is very expensive in comparison to cassia, and it
is a lot harder to obtain.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that there are no
dramatic nutritional differences between the two and to actually notice the
difference, you would need to consume it in large amounts.
1. Use it Boost your Brain Power
Studies show that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive
function and memory. It is the perfect spice to use when you are feeling out of
focus. Carry a stick around with you and take a whiff every now and then.
Alternatively, every morning, add a couple of dashes to your coffee or cereal -
this will start your day off on a good note and will help you stay more focused
and alert.
Sprinkle a couple of drops of cinnamon essential oil atop
dry potpourri and place it in a small bowl, preferably somewhere that gets good
ventilation - allowing the aroma to spread in the kitchen, near doorways , or
atop the radiator. The room will carry with it a subtle hint of cinnamon, providing
you with some year-round comfort.
3. Use it to Reduce Cholesterol
In a study conducted by the Beltsville Human Nutrition
Research Center, over a period of 40 days on a group of diabetic patients, each
was given one-quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon daily, researchers observed
that their triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels dropped.
4. Use it to Repel Moths
Cinnamon is great at warding off pesky moths. Just break 3
to 4 cinnamon sticks and combine them with 1/2 cup of whole cloves and 1/2 cup
whole black peppercorns. Fill sachets with 1 tablespoon of the mixture and toss
the sachets in your underwear drawer or hang them in your closets.
5. Use it to Treat Diabetes
The Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center also
conducted a study on diabetic patients. In this study, the diabetic patients
were given one-quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon over 40 days, after which,
researchers observed that patients' blood sugar levels fell by as much as 30
percent. In another study, published by Fertility and Sterility in 2007,
researchers gave half of their participants cinnamon extract, and the other
half, a placebo. In 8 weeks, the women who took the cinnamon extract showed
greatly reduced insulin, in comparison to the placebo group.
6. Use it to Promote Weight Loss
Due to cinnamon's effectiveness in reducing insulin
resistance, research by the Human Nutrition Center at Tufts reports that
cinnamon triples insulin's capacity to metabolize blood sugar. Therefore, the spice
can reduce hunger and sugar cravings - leading to weight loss. Cinnamon is a
particularly useful ingredient to have for anyone living with diabetes and
finding it difficult to lose weight.
7. Use it to Boost your Circulation
One of the health benefits of cinnamon is that it can be
used to thin the blood, which in turn increases circulation throughout the
body. This helps to reduce pain in troubled areas as well as supply oxygen to
the blood cells. It is also a great dietary complement for heart attack
survivors.
8. Use it to Reduce Arthritis Pain
A 2008 study, published in the journal Bioorganic and
Medicinal Chemistry, researchers discovered that cinnamon slowed the breaking
down of bones, ultimately reducing bone damage.
9. Use it as a Light Bulb Diffuser
As odd as it may seem, cinnamon can be used as a light bulb
diffuser to bring its scent to a room. All you need to do is add one drop of
cinnamon essential oil on a cool light bulb. When you turn the lights on, the
heat from the bulb will emanate the aroma throughout the room.
10. Use it to Treat Bladder Infections
Consuming cinnamon will reduce (or help you avoid) urinary
tract infections and bladder infections. Cinnamon packs an anti-bacterial and
antifungal punch, and it is also a diuretic, contributing to urinary
discharge.
11. Use it to Treat Insect Bites
To help alleviate the pain and itching of an insect bite,
apply a mixture of cinnamon and honey. The duo will disinfect the infected
area, moisturize the skin and heal it.
12. Use it to Relieve Cold and Flu
This use of cinnamon is pretty well known, especially across
East Asia and Europe. To treat a cold or flu, it is usually combined with
ginger.
13. Use it to Sooth Stomach Pain
To relieve a stomachache, combine honey and cinnamon. These
two ingredients are packed with antifungal and antibacterial properties,
helping to treat ulcers, as well as reducing gas in the stomach.
14. Use it to Prevent Food from Spoiling
Adding cinnamon helps to prevent the spoiling of food. It
does so by delaying bacterial growth.
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