Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a sweet spice that is typically used in baking or sprinkled on lattes. It has a distinct smell and the flavor of cinnamon is because of the compound cinnamaldehyde. Scientists believe that this compound is responsible for most of cinnamon's powerful effects on health and metabolism.

 The health benefit of cinnamon best known, is likely for it its blood sugar lowering properties. Various studies have shown that cinnamon helps improve fasting blood glucose levels. Regular consumption of cinnamon has also been shown to improve the effectiveness of insulin to enter cells and help metabolize glucose, potentially assisting on reducing insulin resistance.

 Apart from the beneficial effects on insulin resistance, cinnamon can lower blood sugar through other mechanisms. Cinnamon has been shown to decrease the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal, preventing a ‘sugar spike’ in individuals with insulin sensitivity. Consuming cinnamon has been shown to interfere with numerous digestive enzymes slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract. In addition to slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates, cinnamon contains a compound which activates cellular metabolization of glucose by mimicking insulin. The affect this compound has on the body greatly improves glucose uptake by your cells, though the process of metabolization, initiated by cinnamon, acts much slower than insulin itself. Numerous human studies have confirmed the anti-diabetic effects of cinnamon, showing that it can lower fasting blood sugar levels by 10–29%.

 Cinnamon is an easy and delicious way to add spice to your meals. Whether you add a dash to your morning bowl of oatmeal or a sprinkle to your smoothie, the options are limitless. For more of cinnamon’s health benefits, check out this link https://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/health/health-benefits-of-cinnamon/

Denise Boyd, BSc, Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RNH) with a specialization in Cognitive and Immune Support.