7 Top Digestive Health Benefits of Cinnamon & Uses

Cinnamon or Dalchini in Hindi is one of the most commonly used kitchen spices. The spice is centuries old and is used all around the world. Cinnamon is famous for its warm smell and pleasant flavour, making it perfect to use in baking and cooking. There are various health benefits of cinnamon which is why it is one of the most preferred and recommended ingredients for any dish or beverage.  

Apart from being a delicious spice, Cinnamon is also known for its numerous medicinal properties, especially its digestive health benefits. Even though people have known about these properties for ages, there was no evidence to validate them. However, modern scientists and experts have now confirmed that Cinnamon possesses some great medicinal properties. Here are some of the benefits of Cinnamon.

5 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

There are multiple health benefits of eating cinnamon that are known to cure almost any disease. The reason behind this is that cinnamon is high in cinnamaldehyde which is responsible for all the cinnamon’s health and digestive benefits. Listed below are some of the most important benefits of Cinnamon. 

1. Contains prebiotic properties which enhance gut health

Cinnamon possesses prebiotic properties which support the growth of good bacteria. Not only it promotes the growth of good bacteria but it also prevents pathogenic bacteria from growing in your body. Therefore, including cinnamon in your diet can help enhance gut health.

2. Helps with digestive problems

From ancient times, cinnamon has been used to treat digestive discomfort. It has proven beneficial in helping with gastrointestinal problems due to the digestive, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties it possesses. Health benefits of cinnamon can help treat digestive imbalance and flatulence. To relieve digestive discomfort, cinnamon is mostly consumed in the form of hot drinks like tea. For example, the mix of cinnamon and honey is quite popular for treating digestive problems.

3. Maintains blood sugar level and prevents the risk of type 2 diabetes

Taking a little amount of cinnamon everyday as a part of your balanced diet can help lower your body’s blood sugar. Research also suggests that cinnamon helps improve glycaemic control which  can prevent the risk of type 2 diabetes.

4. Cinnamon is packed with antioxidants

Cinnamon benefits include being packed with powerful antioxidants such as polyphenols which help protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Since cinnamon contains a large amount of antioxidants, it can be used as a natural food preservative as well.

5. Cinnamon possess antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties

Due to its soothing and medicinal properties, cinnamon is used in many herbal medicines. The antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties of cinnamon come from cinnamaldehyde. Thus,  it helps fight fungal and bacterial infections and may also prevent the decaying of teeth along with fighting bad breath.

6. Cinnamon may help reduce the risk of heart diseases

Reduction in the risk factors of heart disease like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides is one of the major health benefits of cinnamon. Many researches and studies have linked cinnamon to a reduced risk of heart disease.

7. Helps with neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are caused when the brain cells don’t function properly or by the progressive loss of the structure of brain cells. Some of the compounds found in cinnamon are known to help the build up of a protein called tau which helps with neurodegenerative diseases.

Now that we have gone through some of the most important benefits of cinnamon, let’s move on to the multiple ways in which cinnamon can be used. 

Uses of Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been used for ages in the kitchen of many households. However, there are many uses of cinnamon other than just using it as a spice. Here are some of the most common ways in which cinnamon is used.

1. Weight Loss

When it comes to weight loss, a daily dose of the mix of Cinnamon and honey is one of the most common remedies used by individuals. Not only people prefer cinnamon for weight loss but recent studies have also shown that cinnamon helps reduce the bad effects of high fat foods. It has a moderate effect on the blood glucose levels which can help lose weight efficiently. People have different ways of using cinnamon for weight loss, you can take it however you like. For example, you can mix a little amount of Cinnamon and honey in your green tea, or drizzle it over a fruit of your choice. 

2. Acne 

Apart from having many health benefits, cinnamon is also beneficial for the skin. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, one of the uses of cinnamon helps prevent and treat acne. Many people use cinnamon for acne treatment at home by making cinnamon and honey masks. You just have to mix one tablespoon of cinnamon with 2-3 tbsp of honey. Apply it on your face and wash it off after 10 to 15 minutes with lukewarm water. 

3. Irregular Periods

Cinnamon is known to regulate the body’s insulin level which has an effect on the rest of your body hormones and menstrual cycle. Women who suffer from PCOS often have higher insulin levels due to which their periods are irregular. Cinnamon can help balance the insulin level and cause more regular periods. 

4. Cold and Cough

Cinnamon tea benefits in treating colds and coughs. It has anti-bacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties that are effective in fighting against the viruses that cause cough and cold. Also, it can help with respiratory discomfort, nasal congestion, and muscle spasms. For better results, you can mix a pinch of cinnamon with honey and mix it with a hot tea to get fast relief from cough and cold. 

Conclusion 

Aside from being a tasty and delicious spice, cinnamon has multiple health benefits to offer such as preventing the risk of many diseases and can be used in many ways. Cinnamon powder benefits include helping in weight loss, acne, etc. Taking small amounts of cinnamon with a balanced diet can improve your overall health but make sure to not overuse it and get informed on cinnamon side effects to stay away from unnecessary health issues.