Cinnamon Isn't Just Delicious, It's Also Incredibly Useful!
Cinnamon is one of the world's oldest
spices, that imparts a magnificent aroma to a wide variety of foods.
But, besides its great taste and smell, cinnamon is considered to have
quite a variety of healing properties too. Many of its benefits derive
from the spice's anti-fungal, antibacterial and antioxidant prowess. You
can smell it, ingest it, or apply it. Either way, the health benefits
of cinnamon are more than skin-deep. These top 14 tips will get you
going, and in the process, you may also be surprised to discover that
this great spice has all kinds of ingenious uses too!
In the Know: Learn to Identify Real
Cinnamon
Before getting to its uses, here's a fact you may want to consider. Much
of the cinnamon available is not real cinnamon (Cinnamon Verum or
Cinnamomum Zeylancium), it is Cassia. Cassia contains substances that
have strong anticoagulant properties, which may be harmful to the liver
when consumed in large quantities. It is easier to spot the difference
between the two when buying cinnamon sticks. Though, it is a lot harder
to identify real cinnamon in its powder form.
Here's how to spot the difference:
Cinnamon is a paler tan brown, as opposed to the reddish rust brown
of cassia.
Cinnamon has a thin, paper-textured bark that forms multiple thin
layers when rolled up. Cassia bark is thicker, forming just a few
layers.
Cinnamon is more fragile and can crumble a lot easier than cassia,
which is tough and a lot harder to grind.
Cinnamon has a delicate, sweeter aroma, whereas cassia is more
pungent and full-bodied.
Cinnamon is very expensive in comparison to cassia and is a lot
harder to obtain.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that there are no dramatic
nutritional differences between the two and to actually notice the
difference, you would need to consume it in large amounts.
1. Use it Boost your Brain Power
Studies show that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and
memory. It is the perfect spice to use when you're feeling out of focus.
Carry a stick around with you and take a whiff every now and then.
Alternatively, every morning, add a couple of dashes to your coffee or
cereal - this will start your day off on a good note and it will help
you stay more focused and alert.
2. Enhance the Aroma in your Home - Use it in Potpourri
Sprinkle a couple of drops of cinnamon essential oil atop dry potpourri
and place it in a small bowl, preferably somewhere that gets good
ventilation, allowing the aroma to spread in the kitchen, near doorways,
or atop the radiator. The room will carry with it a subtle hint of
cinnamon, providing you with some year-round comfort.
3. Use it to Reduce Cholesterol
In a study conducted by the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center,
over a period of 40 days on a group of diabetic patients, each was given
one-quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon daily, researchers observed that
their triglycerides, cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
dropped.
4. Use it to Repel Moths
Cinnamon is great at warding off pesky moths. Just break three to four
cinnamon sticks and combine them with half a cup of whole cloves and
half a cup whole black peppercorns. Fill sachets with one tablespoon of
the mixture and toss the sachets in your underwear drawer or hang them
in your closets.
5. Use it to Treat Diabetes
The Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center also conducted a study on
diabetic patients. In this study, the diabetic patients were given
one-quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon over 40 days, after which
researchers observed that patients' blood sugar levels fell by as much
as 30 percent. In another study, published by Fertility and Sterility in
2007, researchers gave half of their participants cinnamon extract, and
the other half, a placebo. In eight weeks, the women who took the
cinnamon extract showed greatly-reduced insulin levels in comparison to
the placebo group.
6. Use it to Promote Weight Loss
Due to cinnamon's effectiveness in reducing insulin resistance, research
by the Human Nutrition Center at Tufts reports that cinnamon triples
insulin's capacity to metabolize blood sugar. Therefore, the spice can
reduce hunger and sugar cravings leading to weight loss. Cinnamon is a
particularly useful ingredient to have for anyone living with diabetes
and finding it difficult to lose weight.
7. Use it to Boost your Circulation
One of the health benefits of cinnamon is that it can be used to thin
the blood, which in turn increases circulation throughout the body. This
helps to reduce pain in troubled areas, as well as supply oxygen to the
blood cells. It is also a great dietary complement for heart attack
survivors.
8. Use it to Reduce Arthritis Pain
In a 2008 study, published in the journal Bio-organic and Medicinal
Chemistry, researchers discovered that cinnamon slowed the breaking down
of bones, ultimately reducing bone damage.
9. Use it as a Light Bulb Diffuser
As odd as it may seem, cinnamon can be used as a light bulb diffuser to
bring its scent to a room. All you need to do is add one drop of
cinnamon essential oil on a cool light bulb. When you turn the lights
on, the heat from the bulb will emanate the aroma throughout the room.
10. Use it to Treat Bladder Infections
Consuming cinnamon will reduce (or help you avoid) urinary tract
infections and bladder infections. Cinnamon packs an anti-bacterial and
anti-fungal punch, and it is also a diuretic, contributing to urinary
discharge.
11. Use it to Treat Insect Bites
To help alleviate the pain and itching of an insect bite, apply a
mixture of cinnamon and honey. The duo will disinfect the infected area,
moisturize the skin and heal it.
12. Use it to Relieve Cold and Flu
This use of cinnamon is pretty well-known, especially across East Asia
and Europe. To treat a cold or flu, it is usually combined with ginger.
13. Use it to Sooth Stomach Pain
To relieve a stomachache, combine honey and cinnamon. These two
ingredients are packed with anti-fungal and antibacterial properties,
helping to treat ulcers, as well as reducing gas in the stomach.
14. Use it to Prevent Food from Spoiling
Adding cinnamon helps to prevent the spoiling of food. It does so by
delaying bacterial growth.