Cinnamon is a spice that we typically associate with dessert because it’s so delicious! It can be used as a topping for hot drinks like lattes and cappuccino, desserts, or as a baking ingredient. It’s typically used during the fall and winter seasons to create holiday-themed treats, but we’re beginning to learn it’s something we should probably consume more often due to all it’s incredible health benefits. Make from the inner bark of cinnamomum trees which are typically found in India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Egypt. It can be enjoyed in stick form, as a powder, pre-ground, or even in essential oils.
You wouldn’t think that something so tasty could also be really healthy, but it actually is. We’re taking a look at some of the incredible health benefits of cinnamon, check it out…
1. Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Heart disease is one of the biggest causes of premature death. The Heart and Stroke Foundation defines it as a group of conditions that affect the function of the heart. These conditions can usually be avoided through healthy lifestyle habits like eating healthy foods, including cinnamon. According to Healthline, cinnamon has been shown to reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol levels and triglycerides while maintaining levels of “good” HDL cholesterol levels. The source cites a study that which found that all it takes to reap these benefits is a 120-mg dose of cinnamon each day. Other studies have found that cinnamon can also lower blood pressure.
Health.com also suggests that cinnamon is good for our heart because of a study conducted at Penn State which found that spices like cinnamon and turmeric can help curb “negative effects of downing a fatty meal.” When we eat foods that are high in fat, it causes our triglycerides to rise which raises the risk of heart disease. The study was small, but the results showed that people who consumed about tablespoons of cinnamon along with their fatty meal had a 13-percent increase in blood antioxidant levels and a 30-percent reduction in triglycerides.
