Cinnamon: Eight Noteworthy Health Benefits
Balances blood sugar, promotes satiety, treats migraines, and more. Discover eight particularly beneficial health advantages of this beloved spice.
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Almost every household has this common spice, using it for various purposes—from baking and cooking to a refreshing addition to tea. Cinnamon is favored for the distinct and unique flavor it adds to our meals. But beyond that, it's a spice with numerous health benefits that we should all be familiar with:
The First Benefit: Blood Sugar Balance
When discussing the concept of balancing our body's blood sugar levels, it's important to know that cinnamon serves a role similar to insulin and is proven effective in processing blood glucose. When blood sugar levels skyrocket, our bodies start storing fat in large amounts, but cinnamon can help balance both blood sugar levels and excess weight (for those who suffer from it).
The Second Benefit: Treating Chronic Headaches (Migraines)
Since cinnamon is characterized by its 'warming' properties, people suffering from migraines may benefit from frequently massaging their temples with a cinnamon and water mixture. This action helps dilate blood vessels and provides immediate relief.
The Third Benefit: Encourages a Feeling of Fullness
Consuming cinnamon close to meal times boosts metabolism rates and delays the movement of food from the stomach to the intestines. This is why its consumption close to eating creates a feeling of fullness.
The Fourth Benefit: Rich in Essential Nutrients
Half to one teaspoon of cinnamon per day (the recommended dose for an adult) provides your body with a variety of essential nutrients like dietary fibers, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, and even the vitamins K, B, and C.
The Fifth Benefit: Reducing Bad Cholesterol (LDL)
Numerous studies have demonstrated that consuming one teaspoon of cinnamon daily helps reduce the level of bad cholesterol, known as LDL, in the blood. This essentially means that the risk of developing heart and vascular diseases is reduced.
The Sixth Benefit: AntioxidantsThe active component in cinnamon, cinnamaldehyde, is characterized by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which greatly contribute to strengthening the immune system and protecting against the Candida fungus.
The Seventh Benefit: Improving Memory and Cognitive AbilitiesResearchers from the University of Virginia found that daily cinnamon consumption significantly contributes to memory improvement, proper development, and enhancement of cognitive functions.
The Eighth Benefit: Preventing Alzheimer's
Professor Michael Ovadia from Tel Aviv University led a study examining the link between cinnamon consumption and Alzheimer's disease and managed to prove a close link between the two—although his conclusions are not definitive. Professor Ovadia recommends daily consumption of the spice, particularly at more advanced ages, to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.
The First Benefit: Blood Sugar Balance
When discussing the concept of balancing our body's blood sugar levels, it's important to know that cinnamon serves a role similar to insulin and is proven effective in processing blood glucose. When blood sugar levels skyrocket, our bodies start storing fat in large amounts, but cinnamon can help balance both blood sugar levels and excess weight (for those who suffer from it).
The Second Benefit: Treating Chronic Headaches (Migraines)
Since cinnamon is characterized by its 'warming' properties, people suffering from migraines may benefit from frequently massaging their temples with a cinnamon and water mixture. This action helps dilate blood vessels and provides immediate relief.
The Third Benefit: Encourages a Feeling of Fullness
Consuming cinnamon close to meal times boosts metabolism rates and delays the movement of food from the stomach to the intestines. This is why its consumption close to eating creates a feeling of fullness.
The Fourth Benefit: Rich in Essential Nutrients
Half to one teaspoon of cinnamon per day (the recommended dose for an adult) provides your body with a variety of essential nutrients like dietary fibers, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, and even the vitamins K, B, and C.
The Fifth Benefit: Reducing Bad Cholesterol (LDL)
Numerous studies have demonstrated that consuming one teaspoon of cinnamon daily helps reduce the level of bad cholesterol, known as LDL, in the blood. This essentially means that the risk of developing heart and vascular diseases is reduced.
The Sixth Benefit: AntioxidantsThe active component in cinnamon, cinnamaldehyde, is characterized by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which greatly contribute to strengthening the immune system and protecting against the Candida fungus.
The Seventh Benefit: Improving Memory and Cognitive AbilitiesResearchers from the University of Virginia found that daily cinnamon consumption significantly contributes to memory improvement, proper development, and enhancement of cognitive functions.
The Eighth Benefit: Preventing Alzheimer's
Professor Michael Ovadia from Tel Aviv University led a study examining the link between cinnamon consumption and Alzheimer's disease and managed to prove a close link between the two—although his conclusions are not definitive. Professor Ovadia recommends daily consumption of the spice, particularly at more advanced ages, to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.
