Spice up your life with cinnamon’s flavor, aroma, and health benefits!
Did you know that cinnamon comes from the inner bark of various trees? It’s among the best spices for sweet and savory dishes and drinks. You will surely love how sweet and warm it tastes.
Cinnamon comes in different forms: powder, sticks, and even oil. Using cinnamon always gives your meals a deep flavor. It tastes good in baked goods, breakfast foods, drinks, desserts, and sauces.
You already know that cinnamon makes your recipes taste better, but how much can it improve your health? With its health benefits, you’ll realize how seasoning changes your lifestyle.
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Once you learn all about cinnamon’s healthy goodness, you will be excited to add it to your favorite dishes. Let this be an eye-opener that cinnamon always matters!
Nutrition Facts
The nutrients are an essential part of how healthy cinnamon is. You surely need different nutrients for your diet, and it’s a good thing that cinnamon can help with that.
According to the Food Data Central, here are the nutrients you can get from a tablespoon of ground cinnamon:
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Energy | 19.3 kilocalories |
| Protein | 0.311 grams |
| Carbohydrates | 6.29 grams |
| Fiber | 4.14 grams |
| Calcium | 78 milligrams |
| Magnesium | 4.68 milligrams |
| Phosphorus | 4.99 milligrams |
| Potassium | 33.6 milligrams |
| Manganese | 13.6 milligrams |
| Vitamin A | 1.17 micrograms |
| Niacin | 0.104 milligrams |
| Iron | 0.649 micrograms |
Calories
Cinnamon is really low in calories. With just six calories per teaspoon, you don’t have to worry about adding it to your dishes. Since you only need a small amount for cooking, it won’t affect your diet too much.
Carbohydrates
As seen above, cinnamon only has 6.29 grams per tablespoon. Most of the carbohydrates in your meals come from the main ingredients.
Fiber
Every teaspoon of cinnamon gives you about 1.4 grams of fiber. Since you only need a bit of cinnamon, add fibrous foods to your recipes.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic to have these nutrients in your body?
Vitamins and Minerals
Like other herbs and spices, you can get plenty of vitamins and minerals from cinnamon. They certainly add to how healthy your recipes are.
- Sodium
- Calcium
- Vitamin C
- Carotene
- Fiber
- Magnesium
- Vitamin A
- Iron
- Zinc
- Lycopene
- Lutein
- Phosphorus
- Selenium
- Copper
- Potassium
- Folate
- Manganese
These vitamins and minerals will surely improve your health in many ways. As long as you cook healthy recipes, you can count on cinnamon to improve them.
Plant Compounds
Aside from the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, there are also plant compounds in cinnamon. Here are the compounds you can get from cinnamon and how each of them can help you:
- Cinnamaldehyde: The primary compound in cinnamon is also responsible for its flavor and fragrance. In fact, it’s also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
- Cinnamic acid: Like cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid helps with inflammation and oxidative stress. It also has anti-cancer and antimicrobial potential.
- Eugenol: Even if there are only small traces of eugenol in cinnamon, it still impacts the aroma. It’s also a potent analgesic for the common cold and flu.
- Coumarin: Cinnamon has higher concentrations of coumarin. It’s also known to prevent blood clots, reduce the risk of diseases, and inhibit the growth of bacteria.
- Polyphenols: There are lots of polyphenols in cinnamon, especially flavonoids. Polyphenols can protect you from oxidative stress and the effects of inflammation.
The health benefits of cinnamon are surely going to be more potent with these plant compounds!
Health Benefits of Cinnamon
Let’s see what the health benefits of cinnamon are:
Relieves inflammation
You will surely spare yourself the effects of inflammation with cinnamon in your diet.
Cinnamon contains many antioxidants, including cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and polyphenols, which protect the body from free radicals. Cinnamon also improves the immune response to inflammation.
Healthline found that cinnamon can also repair tissue damage. Using cinnamon can provide additional protection against infections, viruses, and other health problems.
Protects the heart
How can cinnamon improve your heart health?
First, it lowers your LDL or the bad cholesterol in your blood. The lower your LDL is, the lower your risk of getting heart problems. As an effect, you will also lower your blood pressure and your chances of getting hypertension.
As suggested by Johns Hopkins Medicine, cinnamon is best used as a supplement rather than as a medication. It is especially great for people with diabetes who need to take better care of their hearts.
Improves insulin sensitivity
Despite cinnamon’s sweet flavor, it can be good for your blood sugar.
Using cinnamon for your recipes can help your cells use glucose for energy. Since it breaks down the glucose, you will experience fewer spikes in your blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
Even cinnamon’s anti-inflammatory potential can help with insulin. WebMD shared that it’s safe to season food with cinnamon if you don’t have liver damage.
Prevents cancer and infections
You will surely live a longer and better life with cinnamon.
The antioxidants in cinnamon are effective in keeping your body safe from free radicals and oxidative stress. Cinnamon also protects your cells from damage that can potentially lead to cancer.
With cinnamon’s anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, you are free from many health concerns. The National Institutes of Health mentioned that cinnamon extract also has a much more potent effect against tumor cells and oxidative stress.
Promotes weight loss
Can cinnamon help with weight loss? Yes, it can!
Since it stabilizes your blood sugar levels, you will crave sugary foods less and prevent weight gain. Cinnamon may also help increase your metabolism to burn calories for more energy. It can also suppress your appetite to reduce calorie intake.
According to Medical News Today, cinnamon can protect your body from the effects of fatty foods. This spice can help you lose weight, especially when you pair it with other foods promoting weight loss.
Boosts immunity
Feel stronger and healthier with cinnamon for your immunity.
One of the ways that cinnamon helps with immunity is by eliminating free radicals for better immune function. Its anti-inflammatory properties also protect you from pain, discomfort, and other health conditions.
The antimicrobial effects of cinnamon inhibit the growth and spread of bacteria and fungi. In effect, it keeps you safe from sore throat, the flu, and other infections. Leaf Logic Wellness Tea even shared that cinnamon will help your body fight off even the most inevitable germs.
Strengthens bones
Keep yourself active with stronger bones from cinnamon.
Even with slight traces of calcium and manganese, this spice can still positively affect your bones. You will also have higher bone density for your physical activities every day.
The Women’s Health Network found that cinnamon can reduce bone breakdown even in the long term. It also protects you from osteoporosis and even bone loss. It’s undoubtedly going to keep you fit and fab!
Enhances cognitive health
Your brain will surely function better with cinnamon in your meals.
With the help of antioxidants from cinnamon, you can protect your brain from age-related decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The Pacific Neuroscience Institute revealed that cinnamon can actually help with quality learning and better memory. It can also protect your brain from degeneration and damage.
Which of the health benefits of cinnamon do you need the most in your life?
Storing Cinnamon
Cinnamon is easy to store because it can maintain its flavor and potency for a long time.
Keep it in a cool and dark place. It’s also important to keep it away from areas with heat, moisture, and sunlight exposure. Too much heat and light can cause the oils in the cinnamon to break down, leading it to lose its flavor and fragrance.
It’s best to use airtight containers to seal in the flavor and air. Don’t place it in a moist area to prevent the cinnamon from clumping. Also, always label your containers to keep the cinnamon fresh and ready for use. Store the cinnamon away from foods with strong odors like onions and garlic, too.
When choosing between cinnamon sticks and ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks tend to have a longer shelf life. You can buy cinnamon sticks and just grind them whenever you need them.
Side Effects of Cinnamon
No matter how good your foods and drinks taste with cinnamon, you still need to use it in moderation. Using too much cinnamon can cause these side effects:
- Gastrointestinal problems: digestive disorders
- Breathing problems: shortness of breath
- Liver damage: impaired function of the liver
- Blood thinking: blood’s reduced ability to clot
- Increased heart rate: heart beating faster than normal
- Hypoglycemia: too low blood sugar levels
- Mouth irritation: pain and discomfort in the mouth
- Toxicity: too many toxins in your blood
- Allergic reactions: intolerance towards cinnamon
- Skin irritation: change in texture and feeling of skin
The amount of cinnamon you need depends on the recipe. Most of the time, you will only need a teaspoon. Remember that one cinnamon stick is about half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Conclusion
I’m sure you’re excited to learn how cinnamon’s health benefits can change your diet and lifestyle!
Every dish can be tasty and fragrant with a hint of cinnamon. It will also make you feel relaxed, comfortable, and warm at every bite or sip. You will undoubtedly love the quality and the health benefits it gives.
Once again, these are the positive effects of cinnamon on your health:
- Strengthens bones
- Promotes weight loss
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- Relieves inflammation
- Enhances cognitive health
- Prevents cancer and infections
- Boosts immunity
- Protects the heart
Always use cinnamon in moderation, especially since using too much can lead to painful side effects. Most importantly, remember to enjoy the flavor, aroma, and healthy goodness of cinnamon!
Suggested Recipes
The next time you make these dishes and drinks, be sure to add cinnamon:
- Nigerian Puff Puff
- Peanut Butter Granola
- Banana Porridge
- Chocolate Chin Chin
- Oats Breakfast Smoothie
- Banana Oatmeal Baby Food
- Plantain Bread
- Overnight Oats
- French Toast
- Hibiscus Lemon Tea
Indeed, your favorite recipes can be a thousand times better when you use cinnamon!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the health benefits of cinnamon?
As this article notes, cinnamon can benefit your health in many ways. It will work wonders for your heart, brain, bones, immunity, and weight. Here’s a recap of the health benefits of cinnamon:
- Strengthens bones
- Promotes weight loss
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- Relieves inflammation
- Enhances cognitive health
- Prevents cancer and infections
- Boosts immunity
- Protects the heart
What happens if I drink cinnamon every day?
When you drink cinnamon daily, you will feel positive changes in your blood sugar, heart health, and brain function. Its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory potential will also immensely boost your immunity.
What are the health benefits of cinnamon plants?
Cinnamon plants can be good for you in lots of ways. They have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects to protect you from health problems, bacteria, fungi, infections, and viruses. The antioxidants will also prevent damage to your cells and lower your risk of getting chronic diseases.
Is a spoonful of cinnamon a day good for you?
A spoonful of cinnamon in a day can be bad for your health, especially if you use it daily. Too much cinnamon can also lead to liver damage, mouth irritation, gastrointestinal issues, and other side effects.
