Everything You Need To Know About Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a popular spice worldwide, especially during autumn and winter as it has a warming effect and pairs perfectly with our favourite seasonal bakes. But in addition to adding delicious flavour to our apple pies and pumpkin spice lattes, it also provides a range of health benefits. Let's have a deeper look into cinnamon and how it can be beneficial for health!

What Is Cinnamon?

Cinnamon is a spice that is obtained from the inner bark from the Cinnamomum verum tree. It contains an essential oil called cinnamaldehyde, which is the active ingredient in cinnamon responsible for most of its health benefits.

There are a few different types of cinnamon, the two most popular being Cassia and Ceylon. Cassia is considered lower quality, and is the type of cinnamon that is most commonly consumed around the world. Ceylon cinnamon is also used as a cooking spice but it is sweeter than cassia, and lower in cinnamaldehyde. Both types can be used for their health benefits, however Cassia contains a compound called coumarine which can be toxic if ingested in high amounts, so when supplementing with cinnamon or eating it in high doses, Ceylon is the best option.

Benefits Of Cinnamon Supplementation 

In addition to being a popular cooking ingredient, cinnamon is commonly used as a supplement as well. Studies have found that it may have a positive effect on weight loss. Cinnemaldehyde in cinnamon has been thought to have a direct effect on metabolism by reducing the secretion of Ghrelin - the hormone that signals hunger! Although most studies are conducted on mice, there is still promise for the application of cinnamon for weight loss in humans.

Cinnamon is also high in antioxidants such as polyphenols, which can protect the body against free radical damage and help reduce inflammation. This has even been demonstrated in studies where cinnamon supplementation significantly reduced inflammation markers and increases blood antioxidant levels in humans!

Cinnamon supplementation has also been found to be beneficial for heart health, as it has the potential to lower total cholesterol levels, whilst increasing HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Often marketed as a blood sugar balancing supplement, research suggests that Cinnamon can help regulate blood glucose levels by improving insulin resistance - insulin resistance is when the body doesn’t respond to insulin the way it’s supposed to, which can lead to an increase in blood sugar levels. 

On top of all this, cinnamon has antifungal and antimicrobial properties that may help prevent tooth decay which can reduce bad breath, what a lifesaver!

How To Incorporate Cinnamon Into Your Diet

Cinnamon is often associated with breakfast cereals and sweet treats such as cinnamon rolls or apple pies, but it can easily be sprinkled onto your oatmeal, latte, pancakes… it is even used in savoury dishes from time to time! If you’re not a fan of cinnamon’s distinct flavour but still want to reap all its health benefits, you can skip the cinnamon challenge (which we wouldn’t recommend anyway) and try our MOBU Cinnamon tablets instead!

What’s your favourite way to eat cinnamon? Let us know in the comments below!