In autumn and winter, when temperatures drop, how can you not enjoy a delicious bowl of chocolate-cream with a little cinnamon? Without a doubt, a temptation to the senses. Coming from the cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum Verum), a plant native to Sri Lanka, this brown spice is part of its bark. The exquisite aroma and flavour of cinnamon are very versatile in the kitchen, it is ideal to give a unique touch to drinks and desserts. But its benefits are not there, many of its properties are beneficial to your health.
Here are some benefits of cinnamon:
- Relieves PMS Premenstrual Syndrome. Your generous amount of manganese can help reduce abdominal pain and other symptoms of PMS. The suggested amount to relieve or prevent these discomforts is 5.6 mg of this mineral, not exceeding 11 mg (about 12 rods). In addition, its cinnamaldehyde content has a hormonal regulatory effect on women.
- Lowers bad LDL cholesterol. This spice can work by lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in the blood, helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. In this sense, it can also act indirectly, during the metabolism of fats and sugars.
- Antimicrobial action. Cinnamon oil has a powerful anti-bacterial action, making it a natural option to disinfect your home. Mix cinnamon with hydrogen peroxide and apply in areas of the kitchen where food is prepared, so you will prevent E-coli and other pathogenic bacteria. For the rest of the house mix cinnamon powder with water and apply. It also eliminates fungi from the candid family. Drink Ceylon-cinnamon tea by adding cinnamon oil droplets to fight candidiasis.
- Regulates blood sugar. It has properties that help regulate blood glucose, being especially beneficial for those suffering from type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
- Fight cancer. Cinnamon oil has proven effective in literally starving cancer cells. This thanks to its balancing action of blood sugar, which limits the supply of sugar from which the cancer cells feed. Good results have been seen treating malignant cells of leukaemia, gastric cancer, colon cancer, lymphomas and melanomas.
- Lose weight. A good alternative for those with diabetes and overweight. By increasing the ability of insulin to metabolize sugar, cinnamon can help you reduce cravings for sweet things. This way you will consume less harmful sugars and fewer calories.
- Promising against Alzheimer’s. A recent study from the University of Santa Barbara shows that cinnamon compounds (epicatechin, cinnamaldehyde) can prevent the development of filamentous tangles in brain cells characteristic of Alzheimer’s. It also has properties to improve memory, alertness and cognitive development.
You can consume it in branches, ground, in essential oil or as a pure supplement (extract). Be sure to consume the original spice (Cinnamomum Verum), from Ceylan or Sri Lanka, since in the United States Cassia is usually sold as this spice, but it is not. Remember to check with your doctor to ensure adequate consumption for you. And enjoy the benefits of cinnamon now!