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Health Benefits Of Ceylon Cinnamon
Cinnamon or Cinnamomum Ceylon is a common spice that
is used for many medicinal purposes. Many people use this product daily in
their homes but they are not aware of the health benefits of Ceylon cinnamon.
Two types of cinnamon are commonly available in the market, they are Cassia and
Ceylon. The latter is native to Sri Lanka, which was formerly known as Ceylon.
This is the reason behind the botanical name of Ceylon cinnamon. It is more
delicate and sweeter than Cinnamon Cassia. Though less valuable, Cassia is more
common in the United States.
Cinnamon tree belongs to the genus species Cinnamomum. Though these trees are native to southwest India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia, these are now grown in many sunny, warm areas. Inner bark of Cinnamon tree is used for cooking and medicinal purposes.
Cinnamon tree belongs to the genus species Cinnamomum. Though these trees are native to southwest India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia, these are now grown in many sunny, warm areas. Inner bark of Cinnamon tree is used for cooking and medicinal purposes.
Cassia VS Ceylon Cinnamon
These two words are used in the US marketplace interchangeably and these terms create lots of confusion as well. Some people use both these terms as if they are exactly same thing. But, some others consider them completely different. However, all types of cinnamon belong to the same family, Lauraceae. Bay leaves and avocado are the other members in this plant family. Ceylon Cinnamon is considered as the 'true' cinnamon. It originates from cinnamomum zeylanicum. This is more expensive and very difficult to find, whereas cassia cinnamon varieties are very common. This is the reason Americans are using cassia cinnamon than Ceylon in their kitchens.
Cassia is a Chinese variety and it is not considered as the true cinnamon, though it is derived from the same species. Cassia is popularly cultivated in countries such as Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and China. However, Ceylon Cinnamon is grown in India, Brazil, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean.
Cinnamon is an oldest known species and it has been used in cooking for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used it for many purposes including as a medicinal herb, a spice for beverages and as an embalming agent. Ancient China mentioned Cinnamon as highly valued in 2700 BCE, an earliest botanical medicine book of China. Cinnamon gained its popularity during Middle Ages. Even during this period, people used this spice while cooking meats.
Health Benefits of Ceylon Cinnamon
Cinnamon has been used for medicinal purpose throughout the recorded history of both eastern and western cultures. This spice is coming with countless health benefits. This is highly useful for treating diseases such as:
* Cancer
* Asthma
* Arthritis
* Psoriasis
* Heart disease
* Peptic ulcers
* Menstrual problems
* Candida yeast infections
* Stomach flu
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Osteoporosis
* Anti microbial/Anti-bacterial
* Odor neutralizer
* Food preservative
* Memory, alertness and cognitive development
* Anti oxidant
* Massage therapy
* Weight loss
* Toenail fungus
* E coli fighter
* Tooth decay and gum disease
* Insect repellant
* Sore throat and cough
* Alzheimer's disease
* Parkinson's disease
Ceylon Cinnamon is used for treating problems such as headache, inflammation, sinus blockage, nausea and indigestion, loss of appetite, infections, wound and diarrhea. Though the mechanism action of Ceylon cinnamon is not known, this spice is useful for reducing cholesterol, blood sugar and triglyceride levels. It is believed that the components of this spice have the ability to increase insulin receptor sensitivity. It helps to increase your body's ability to remove glucose from your bloodstream and stored it in your body's tissues.
Ceylon cinnamon is widely used for treating various digestive disorders such as diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, loss of appetite and indigestion. The essential oil of this spice is helpful for disseminating food particles and stimulating gastric and saliva juices. This is highly helpful for digestion and nutrient absorption. If you sprinkle Ceylon cinnamon on acidic foods, you can avoid indigestion problems.
Cinnamaldehyde, an active compound of Ceylon cinnamon, can increase peripheral flood flow. Therefore, this spice is highly beneficial for treating poor circulation in your hands and feet. It is also effective for treating chilblains, the ulcers of fingers and toes. It is caused due to exposure to cold weather. The properties of Ceylon cinnamon are helpful for removing obstructions in blood vessels such as cholesterol. So, it is highly effective for improving general blood circulation.
Harmful Side Effects of Cassia Cinnamon
Cassia cinnamon may reduce blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It also contains cinnamaldehyde, which is effective to fight against fungi and bacteria. This cinnamon is safe only if you use very low amounts in food and medicinal doses. Taking large amounts of Cassia cinnamon can lead to some serious side effects. The coumarin chemical content is very high in Cassia cinnamon. If you are sensitive to coumarin, consuming Cassia may worsen your liver disease. You should not consume large amounts of Cassia for a long period of time. If you have liver disease, you should avoid cassia cinnamon products.
Skin Irritations
Cassia cinnamon can cause allergic skin reactions and skin irritations when it is applied on your skin. It may also decrease your blood sugar. People with diabetes should check their blood sugar level carefully when they use cassia cinnamon.
Cassia cinnamon should strictly avoided from your diet if you are pregnant or breast feeding, have liver disease, allergic to cassia cinnamon, or scheduled for a surgery in the next two weeks.
Harmful Interactions with Medications
Consumption of large amounts of Cassia cinnamon can harm your liver and it may lead to the build up of certain level of toxicity in your body. If you consume high amounts of this spice with some medications, it damages your liver. So, Cassia cinnamon should be avoided if you are taking some medications such as acetaminophen, fluconazole, methyldopa, methotrexate, carbamazepine, amiodarone, phenytoin, erythromycin, itraconazole, pravastatin, lovastatin, and many others.
Besides medications for liver, diabetes drugs can also interact with cassia cinnamon and can cause serious health problems. This type of cinnamon can decrease blood sugar level in your body. Medications for diabetes are also used for reducing your blood sugar. Therefore, consumption of cassia cinnamon along with diabetes drugs can cause drastic reduction of blood sugar level. Diabetes drugs that interact with cassia cinnamon are insulin, glyburide, glimepiride, metaformin, tolbutamide, glipizide, chlorpropamide, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, etc.
How to Differentiate Ceylon and Cassia Cinnamon?
Compared to cassia cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon is highly expensive. The bark of Ceylon Cinnamon is thinner than Cassia. You can also see multiple layers if you purchase true cinnamon. The surface of cassia cinnamon is uneven and rough, where as the bark of real Ceylon cinnamon is smooth. Besides, Ceylon cinnamon stick is soft too. You can see the bristles outside of the stick.
Cassia stick is very hard and darker reddish brown color. It is very hard to chew or grind this cinnamon. But, you can easily chew or grind Ceylon Cinnamon sticks.
Differentiating powder form of Cassia and Ceylon is very difficult. However, you can recognize them by tasting the powder. If it is real, it has a sweet and delicate taste. But, the Cassia flavor will be strong and peppery.
Small amounts of cassia cinnamon may be safe to use. However, it is always better to use the real organic Ceylon Cinnamon. Investment on true cinnamon is really worthy.
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