Cinnamon – health effects

Cinnamon is much more than a spice, it is also valued for its diverse healing properties. Because although cinnamon can also be harmful to health, it is primarily considered healthy. Here you can find out what healthy ingredients are in the spice, whether it is also used in medicine and what effect cinnamon has on the body.

Cinnamon: versatile use

Cinnamon bark is primarily used as a spice, but also as a flavoring and medicinal. It comes in the form of rolls (cinnamon sticks), as broken or cinnamon powder, as essential oil, capsules or in the form of other extracts (“oleoresin”) on the market. Cinnamon is not only added to pepper nuts, but also to liqueurs and bitters, toothpaste,  chewing gum , cosmetics and perfumes. But   cinnamon is also very popular in tea or ice cream and for cooking.

In addition, cinnamon is also a well-known home remedy that can be beneficial to health in a variety of ways.

ingredients of cinnamon

In addition to the essential oil (0.5-2.5%) that gives the flavor and aroma, the cinnamon bark mainly contains cinnamaldehyde (65-75%) and eugenol (approx. 5%). In addition, numerous other substances are included in small amounts, such as:

• Alcohol
• mucilage
• Strength
• tannins
• Methylhydroxy-Chalcone-Polymer (MHCP)
• Phenylpropanoide (Safrol, Cumarin)

By the way: 100 grams of cinnamon contain 247 kilocalories (kcal), or 1,034 kilojoules. That sounds like a lot, but when you consider the small amounts of cinnamon you usually consume, it becomes clear that the calories in cinnamon are hardly significant.

The health effects of cinnamon

Cinnamon has a firm place in folk medicine. It is said to have a variety of health effects. So cinnamon counts as:

• disinfectant
• antispasmodic
• circulation-enhancing
• calming
• mood-enhancing

 Cinnamon as a home remedy is therefore traditionally used primarily for loss of appetite and  gastrointestinal complaints  such as a feeling of fullness,  heartburn ,  flatulence  and  diarrhea . But cinnamon is also said to have a healing effect on inflammation, rheumatism and back pain, colds,  hoarseness  and pain. Due to its mood-enhancing effect, cinnamon is also said to help with mild mental disorders.

Can cinnamon protect the heart?

In addition, studies suggest other effects on health. For example, cinnamon may help protect the heart by lowering triglycides (a type of fat in our blood) and cholesterol levels. ^1,2  In addition, the spice is said to be able to lower blood pressure, which is also good for heart health. In this context, studies are also addressing the question of whether  cinnamon could help you lose weight. Due to its antioxidant content, cinnamon may also help protect the body from cell damage caused by free radicals. ³

What else is cinnamon good for?

Studies that showed that cinnamon has an insulin-like effect due to its ingredient methylhydroxy-chalcone polymer (MHCP) caused some excitement and can thus  lower blood sugar levels  . Another theory is that cinnamon increases the transfer of phosphate to certain insulin receptors, which in turn positively affects insulin sensitivity. In addition, there were positive effects on blood lipid levels, especially total and LDL cholesterol levels. The extent to which these effects play a role in the therapeutic use of cinnamon has not yet been sufficiently clarified.

However, cinnamon could help restore the natural  menstrual cycle  in women. In a study of women suffering from  polycystic ovary syndrome  (PCO), a hormonal disorder, cinnamon extract helped improve progesterone levels. ⁴

Other health effects

The use of cinnamon as a remedy has a long tradition and can be found in different cultures:

• Cinnamon has been said to have love-promoting properties since ancient times. Solomon sprinkled his bed with myrrh, aloe, and cinnamon to spice up the night of love. In the Persian region, ointments with cinnamon and  honey were  used as an aphrodisiac to strengthen lust and virility.
• Cinnamon is very important in Ayurveda – it is recommended both in nutrition and for certain disorders (e.g. menopausal symptoms).
• Cinnamon is also used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a remedy, for example for internal cold, tension and  poor circulation  .

Cinnamon is also used in aromatherapy. The oil is said to have a strengthening, warming effect and increase inspiration and creativity.

Cinnamon has disinfecting properties

Due to its disinfecting properties, cinnamon is recommended as an additive to mopping water and insoles. The antibacterial effect of cinnamon is also used to clean wounds and to preserve food.

Eugenol, which is more concentrated in the cinnamon leaves (and smells like  cloves  ), is used in dentistry as a pain reliever and antibacterial agent. For example, cinnamon oil is also found as an ingredient in many mouthwashes. In addition, eugenol – like cinnamaldehyde – is said to have the ability to control insects.