Cinnamon: The Exotic Spice and Health Benefits
Loved all over the world, sweet and spicy cinnamon blends well with many spices and ingredients. This inner bark of an evergreen tree has around 250 different species, and is largely found in Sri Lanka (Cinnamon Zeylancium, also known as Ceylon Cinnamon or True Cinnamon) and China (Cinnamomum Cassia). The Ceylon variety is lighter in colour, sweeter and delicate in flavor than the cassia one.
Considered more precious than even gold in ancient times, cinnamon was used by Egyptians as medicine, to flavour beverages and also to embalm the bodies of dead pharaohs (the empty body cavities were ceremoniously filled with the spice). Medieval Europeans used cinnamon to flavour all their food, which was cooked in one cauldron and contained a mixture of meats and fruits; cinnamon helped bridge the gaps in these flavours.
Rolled into ‘quills’ (pieces of bark are rolled one into another), cinnamon is also available in ground form. The best variety is pale and has a parchment-like appearance. Cinnamon complements the tastes of fruits, so add it with abandon to your juices and shakes – and your tea, coffee and soups. Like other spices cinnamon loses flavour quickly, so purchase it in small quantities, store it in airtight containers or refrigerate.
Health Booster:
- Cinnamon has the ability to lower the arachidonic acid from cell membranes, making it an anti-inflammatory, and a very effective remedy to reduce inflammation.
- Its antimicrobial properties make it an effective alternative food preservative agent.
- Cinnamon helps Type-2 diabetics improve their response to insulin by normalizing their blood sugar levels.
- Smelling cinnamon boosts brain activity.
- Cinnamon is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese, dietary fibre, iron, and calcium, which lower high cholesterol levels, and help prevent arteriosclerosis and heart disease.
- Cinnamon is said to provide relief to those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.
- Cinnamon is said to provide relief at the onset of cold, when taken with ginger tea.
- In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
Health Benefits of Cinnamon are numerous. As it turns out, cinnamon has long been used to cure everything from indigestion to athlete’s foot.
Liked it
K.Reshma | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Very nice article
Teves | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Very nice article…
OnlineAnalyst | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Very tru indeed, Cinnamom is a common spice available in every indian kitchen and you have brought out its health benefits very significatly.Thankyou for sharing this very informative article.
Agnes Chin | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Cinnamon powder also a very popular ingredient in cake making.
ashan1614 | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
I just knew I liked cinnamon – glad to know it has some health benefits as well.
Christine Ramsay | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Cinnamon certainly seems to have some very useful properties.
A good article.
Christine
mo hoyal | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Sourav, this was a very interesting and informative article. I love cinnamon and use it frequently but never knew all it could provide us with! Thank you for sharing this with us!
alc | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
A great article thanks for the share!
lillyrose | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
great write and the picture is quite artistic!
Frances Lawrence | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting and informative, thanks.
martie | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
one of my favorite spices.
LOVELY HONEY | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
U R TOO GOOD
AS A COMPUTER SOFTWARE GUY UR KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH MAKES ME MAD
WHY DID I WASTE MY LIFE SO FAR
ken bultman | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Second cinnamon post this week. mst be a hot spice.
Diverseblogger | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Very informative. Thank you for sharing this
Themax | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Nice article SV thanks
cebuanaeyez | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
I should eat more cinnamon
Mystify | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Great write with some wonderful medical information!!
novelist | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Good article. Informative and well-researched.
B Nelson | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
I work in a store where we sell cinnamon scented brooms, as a result I am pretty much immune to the smell of cinnamon, wonder if its still making my brain sharp?
CA Johnson | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Thank you for sharing this with us. I didn’t realize that cinnamon has so many health benefits.
giftarist | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
Great share, informative piece!
Atanacio | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
thumbs up my friend
diamondpoet | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
Your article are always filled with so much great health information. Thank for keeping us informed.
Moses Ingram | Nov 6, 2009 | Reply
For years I had only thought of Cinnamon as an ingredient in baking. Good to know it has so many benefits.
deep blue | Nov 7, 2009 | Reply
Very well written. Thanks for sharing.