What is cinnamon?
A favourite household spice, cinnamon was once traded as currency. The spice has a pleasant flavour and warm smell, making it popular for cooking, especially in sweet bakes and curries.
Derived from the inner bark of a small evergreen tree, the bark is peeled and laid in the sun to dry, where it curls into rolls known as cinnamon sticks. Cinnamon is also available in powdered form.
Cinnamon benefits may include…
1. It contains plant compounds with protective antioxidant properties.
2. It has anti-inflammatory effects.
3. It appears to be useful in defending against infection.
4. Research suggests cinnamon may be protective against colds and flu.
5. It may help regulate blood sugar.
6. It appears that cinnamon could help reduce the risk of insulin resistance.
7. Cinnamon contains compounds that appear to slow conditions like Alzheimer’s.
8. Consistent consumption of cinnamon may reduce blood pressure.
9. It helps lower cholesterol levels.