10 Benefits of Cinnamon for Health, Properties and how to use it

Cinnamon is an aromatic seasoning used in various culinary preparations, because it provides a sweet taste to meals, in addition to being able to eat in the form of tea or tincture.

This spice is rich in mucilages, gums, resins, coumarins and tannins that confer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antispasmodic, anesthetic and probiotic properties, stimulating the body's defenses and providing various health benefits such as:

1. Help control diabetes because it improves sugar utilization;
2. Improve digestive disorders as gas, spasmodic problems and to treat diarrhea, due to its antibacterial, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect;
3. Fight respiratory tract infections as it has a drying effect on the mucous membranes and is a natural expectorant;
4. Reduce fatigue and improve mood  because it increases resistance to stress;
5. It helps fight cholesterol by the presence of antioxidants;
6. It helps in digestion , especially when mixed with honey because honey has enzymes that facilitate digestion and cinnamon has an antibacterial, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect;
7. Fight respiratory tract infections, as it has a drying effect on the mucous membranes and is a natural expectorant;
8. It decreases appetite  because it is rich in fibers;
9. It reduces the accumulation of fat  because it improves the sensitivity of the tissues to the action of insulin; 
10. It improves intimate contact because it is an aphrodisiac and improves blood circulation, increasing sensitivity and pleasure, which also favors sexual contact.

To get all the benefits of cinnamon for health, just consume 1 tbsp of cinnamon powder per day, and it can be used in various ways, sprinkling it on desserts, creams, mousses and cereals such as oatmeal or rice pudding. Another way to consume it is in the form of tea

Cinnamon Nutritional Information

How to use Cinnamon

The parts used in cinnamon are its peel, found in supermarkets in the form of cinnamon stick, and in essential oil that can be bought in stores of natural products.

A popular way to reap the benefits of cinnamon is to use it as a condiment for meat, fish, chicken and even tofu. For this, just grind 2 pieces of star anise, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 1 teaspoon of coarse salt and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Store the seasoning in the fridge and you are ready to use it on any occasion.

Another popular way is cinnamon tea. To prepare it, place 1 cinnamon stick in a cup of boiling water, letting it stand for 10 minutes. Then you should consume up to 3 cups per day, before meals.

Sprinkling 1 tbsp of cinnamon powder in fruit salad or oatmeal cereals are optimal strategies to naturally lower blood glucose, being useful for diabetes control and weight loss.

Healthy Recipes with Cinnamon

Some recipes where cinnamon can be used are:

1. Banana and Cinnamon Cake

Ingredients

• 5 eggs;
• 2 and ¼ cups of wheat flour;
• 1 cup brown or muscovado sugar;
• 1 tbsp baking powder;
• ¾ cups of milk;
• 2 bananas stepped on;
• 1 cup of oil;
• ½ cup crushed nuts

Preparation Mode

Blend the eggs, sugar, milk and oil for 5 minutes. Then add the wheat flour and baking powder, blending a little more to mix everything. Finally, pass the dough into a bowl, gather the bananas and crushed nuts and move well until the dough is uniform. Preheat oven to 180º

Place in the oven until golden brown, remove and sprinkle cinnamon over the cake.

2. Roasted apple with cinnamon

Ingredients:

• 2 units of apple;
• 2 units of cinnamon stick;
• 2 tbsp brown or muscovado sugar

Preparation Mode:

Wash the apples and remove the central part where the stem and seeds are, but without breaking the apples. Place the apples on a baking sheet, placing a cinnamon stick in the center and sprinkling with the sugar. Bake at 200 ° C for 15 minutes or until apples are very soft.

Side Effects and Contraindications

The side effects of cinnamon are allergies and skin irritation, and should not be consumed in case of gastric or intestinal ulcers. Cinnamon should also not be consumed during pregnancy because it favors uterine contraction that can cause abortion or premature delivery.