The Benefits and properties of cinnamon Are numerous: it is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and disinfectant, fight against acne, slows down the aging, improves digestion and stimulates the appetite, helps to lose weight, reduces pain, stimulates brain functions...
The cinnamon Is the lower part of the bark containing the cinnamon branches. The green plant measures about 10 meters in height, although in the cultivation it adopts a size in the form of a bush. It is known by all as a famous spice that endows our meals with its delicious characteristic flavor. It is always an important axis through which different types of dishes are created.
What is cinnamon?
Also, the most important of this, is its crust of brownish gray color with a stem of a woody consistency. With respect to their leaves it would be necessary to say that they are of oval and pointed forms, green and bright, which present measures that usually vary from 7 to 25 cm x 3, 8cm.
Its fruit is an ellipsoidal berry of about 30 cm of dark color with a seed in its interior.
It is very important to make it clear that there are two types of cinnamon. According to nutrition expert Y vonne Bishop?? Weston we can find Cinnamon Cassia and Cinnamon Ceylon.
- Cinnamon Cassia : This helps balance blood sugar levels with type 2 diabetes patients. It also contains high levels of coumarin, something that can be harmful to our body if we ingest it in large quantities.
- Cinnamon Ceylon : The most recommended and we will discuss below. It has the same benefits as the previous one and besides being a much more powerful antioxidant (high levels of vitamin C) does not show the same percentage of coumarin in its composition, being much less elevated and therefore becoming the most beneficial of the pair.
To differentiate them, it should be noted that when it comes to a market for spices, the first is clearly distinguished because it is much more potent olfactory talking while Ceylon will be sharper and thinner.
The extraction of the cinnamon is made by the extraction of one of its internal crusts, peeling it and rubbing its branches. This, as popularly known, is usually used for all types of meals, but especially for the making of desserts and different types of sweets, something of which we will speak in more detail below.
Benefits of Cinnamon for Health
1- Antiseptic properties and disinfectants
It helps to improve our skin, disinfecting it and getting to eliminate in a natural way the different fungi and bacteria that are established in the skin.
Especially the cinnamon focuses on those that are located in the areas of the feet and nails, in addition to acting against the appearance of mouth ulcers and vaginal infections in women.
2- Anti inflammatory function
Experts agree that a regular intake of cinnamon can sometimes relieve the pain of various discomforts, which makes it also perfect for tired muscles to relax after a hard day of exercise.
As a curiosity we recommend a perfect combination of a hot water bath, cinnamon and a couple of drops of honey to reach maximum relaxation.
One tip that is usually made is its consumption during the menstrual period, because it is something that causes the pain to go down in a considerable way.
3- Fight acne
Cleanses and prepares our skin for impurities for the arrival of the grains. This is due to its anti bacterial and anti microbial properties.
You can prepare a face mask with cinnamon and honey for about 15 minutes to get some amazing results. Lastly do not forget to remove it with a little warm water.
So if you are, or know someone who is entering the teen stage do not forget to preset?? A little cinnamon
4- Slows the aging process
As mentioned in previous sections, thanks to the high levels of vitamin C (one of the best antioxidants that exist), there is a process of slowing down, causing us to age in a much more leisurely way. Of course this is only possible if it is performed with a regular and almost daily intake.
5- Powerful remedy against colds
Just half a tablespoon of cinnamon and another one of honey two to three times at the end of the day. In addition to the cold it also helps prevent congestion.
6- Best digestion and stimulates appetite
On the one hand, cinnamon makes our digestion improve, besides eliminating flatulence and gas. On the other hand, it has been proven to stimulate our appetite, which makes our appetite for food enhanced.
7- Help to lose weight
If it is mixed with a tea and we add a laurel we will create an infallible weight loss trick that has spread for many years. This should unite with the rest of the balanced diet and physical exercise to obtain optimal results.
8- Anticoagulant
This function is due to prevent the platelets found in the blood from accumulating. It helps a better circulation of the blood, which causes a better oxygenation in the cells and therefore a much more precise and productive operation of our organism, lightening and transforming the blood into something much more liquid and not as thick as It can be on many occasions.
9- It stimulates the cerebral functions
According to a study by Dr. P. Zoladz of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences of Florida in the United States, I came to the conclusion that cinnamon helped to generate more connections in the brain. This occurs in such a way that it is in the elderly people where it is created in a more effective way.
The areas of the brain That power are those related to attention, memorial and visual speed and recognition.
10- Reduces pain and disagreements of the joints
Again we turn to vitamin C, which works as an antioxidant leading to a better life of our bones and joints, especially for patients with osteoarthritis, arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc.??
11- Diabetes type 2
Through a series of experiments related to the benefits that can produce in the patients with this type of diabetes was concluded that helps to decrease the levels of glucose presented in the blood.
This is thanks to a component called cinnamtannin. How much is recommended? With a half teaspoon a total of twice a day the desired effect could be achieved.
Different scientific studies have already confirmed that cinnamon increases glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis.
12- Avoid and soften varicose veins
Something very useful when we talk about its characteristics. Cinnamon is a potent antiaggregant, antisclerotic and antithrombotic.
Aphrodisiac Functions
The specialists unanimously agree that this is one of the best and most powerful aphrodisiacs there are. Together with chocolate, it fits into the list of foods that most help stimulate the area of the brain responsible for this stimulation.
History of cinnamon
Already almost 5000 years ago, more specifically in the 2800 a. C., began to mention in the writings the words Cinnanmomun Zeylanicum what in Greek meant sweet wood.
Later in Italy it would be called as canella, what later would derive in its present name. Canella could be translated as"small tube", which referred to the shape that the stem took when the area of the branch belonging to it dried.
They are created on the shores of the Indian Ocean, exactly of an island located in the south of India called Sri Lnaka, in Celian.
For its proper growth, a hot and humid tropical climate is needed in areas of South America, Africa and Asia. The ideal grades are usually between 24 and 30 monthly with rainfall from 2000 to 4000 mm per year. As for the altitude, the perfect parameters should be around 0 to 600 masl.
Composition
In its composition we find different types of substances. Mainly a component that is major called cinnamic aldehyde, in addition to eugenol and cyanic alcohol. Now, among the minerals that stand out most are magnesium, iron, calcium, and sources rich fiber and especially vitamin C.
It is precisely in this latest vitamin, C, which translates as one of the largest and most potent antioxidants that can be found in food and different foods. It fights with free radicals and slows down the natural aging process that cells have.
Its powerful aroma contains essential oil ranging from 0.5 to 2.5%, which also includes thermogenic properties, which helps us to accelerate the burning of fat, making it thinner in a more optimal way.
What is cinnamon used for?
Its use and consumption is widely spread all over the world, but it is in the zone belonging to South America where it really triumphs. One of its most common uses is to combine it with a tea, resulting in cinnamon tea, typical of Mexico, Ecuador, Chile or Colombia until reaching the southern United States.
If we talk about Spain in particular, it is used to make traditional dishes such as Aranda pudding, as well as being one of the key ingredients for rice pudding.
In the Dominican Republic, its use is widespread when it comes to making a Mmajuana, a national liquor of high consumption while the Venezuelans use it as a dressing for chicha and majarete, a traditional dessert typical of the country.
In Ecuador and Colombia an infusion of liqueur is prepared that is known as canelazo, which is served in hot and serves as a recipe to combat the times of cold.
If we cross the Pacific Ocean and we are in Asia, we see how its use is also widespread. This is because the famous spice is usually integrated into a multitude of dishes. We can find various forms such as cinnamon in the form of powder and leaf that serve as an ingredient to create the different varieties that exist curry, in addition to other types of varieties own China and Ceylon.
And what other benefits of cinnamon do you know?