Cinnamon is a common spice in Asian cooking. Most of us have it stashed away readily in our cabinets whether in sticks or powder form and the Sri Lankan cinnamon is the best and highly recommended. But other than tasting great when sprinkled over a morning coffee, cinnamon has great health benefits.
Anti-cancer: cinnamon has been widely studied for its potential use in cancer prevention and treatment. Overall, the evidence is limited to test-tube and animal studies, which suggest that cinnamon extracts may protect against cancer. It acts by reducing the growth of cancer cells and the formation of blood vessels in tumors and appears to be toxic to cancer cells, causing cell death.
Anti-fungal infections: cinnamaldehyde, one of the main active components of cinnamon, may help fight various kinds of infection. Cinnamon oil has been shown to effectively treat respiratory tract infections caused by fungi.It can also inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, including Listeria and Salmonella. fight HIV virus: Cinnamon extracted from Cassia varieties is thought to help fight against HIV-1, the most common strain of the HIV virus in humans.
Reduces heart disease: cinnamon has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, the world's most common cause of premature death. In people with type 2 diabetes, 1 gram or about half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood markers. It reduces levels of total cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while good HDL cholesterol remains stable.
Anti-inflammation: inflammation is incredibly important. It helps your body fight infections and repair tissue damage. However, inflammation can become a problem when it’s chronic and directed against your body's own tissues. Cinnamon may be useful in this regard. Studies show that this spice and its antioxidants have potent anti-inflammatory properties.
Improve insulin sensitivity: cinnamon can dramatically reduce insulin resistance, helping this important hormone do its job.
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