Health Benefits of Cinnamon Essential Oils : What you need to Know
CINNAMON:
Cinnamon is a kind of spice that is drawn from the inner bark of various tree species from the genus Cinnamomum. Aside from having several health benefits, cinnamon is also used as a dressing and flavoring additive in a variety of cuisines, breakfast cereals, snacks, dishes, and traditional foods.
The cinnamon tree is grown in soil that is slightly dry for it to flourish for years without much special care and it is rarely grown in normal home settings. Cinnamon trees thrive well in countries like Brazil, Burma, China, Vietnam, India, the Caribbean, and Sri Lanka. Cinnamon mostly comes from the Cinnamomum Verum trees grown in Sri Lanka. A cinnamon tree will sprout in about 20 days, but it will take a much longer period for it to attain maturity.
Key benefits of cinnamon
Not only is cinnamon delicious, but incorporating it in your diet might be beneficial to your health. Cinnamon could be of great worth than gold when it comes to its health benefits. From nausea to heartburn and indigestion, cinnamon has been proven to ease such discomforts. It also fights common problems like pain and diabetes.
1. Antioxidants
Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant and it beats a dozen other foods in terms of antioxidant capacity as it could improve the antioxidant status of obese and overweight beings. Its high level of antioxidants also aid in protecting the body from damage and reduce inflammation hence cutting down the risks of diseases like cancer.
11. Fights Infections
Cinnamaldehyde which is a component responsible for cinnamon’s smell and flavor contains antifungal and antimicrobial properties to help fight infections such as candidiasis.
111. Brain benefits
Adding cinnamon to a routine helps in delaying the progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases which are two incurable neurological conditions, and can only be contained by managing their symptoms. Cinnamon boosts neurotropic factors, which aid in keeping existing neurons in the brain alive and encourage the growth of new ones. Consuming cinnamon also helps in reducing stress levels hence ensuring one remains focused and alert.
IV. Anti-inflammatory
Inflammation is linked to quite several health issues from skin conditions to cancer and autoimmune diseases. Cinnamon helps in treating certain pain and headaches as well as boost circulation.
V. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Cinnamon helps in managing polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is a condition with several symptoms like insulin resistance in women suffering from PCOS, which can trigger weight gain. Cinnamon can also help alleviate heavy menstrual bleeding associated with common conditions experienced by women such as endometriosis, menorrhagia, and uterine fibroids.
Cinnamon Essential Oil:
Cinnamon oil is extracted from the leaves or bark of the cinnamon tree and it is widely used in aromatherapy. Cinnamon essential oil is known for its sweet fragrance because of the warm and sweet aroma it produces.it is generally used topically or cosmetically to soothe dry skin, relieve pain, aches, and stiffness encountered in joints and muscles as well as in the digestive system.
Cinnamon essential oil blends well with wild orange, frankincense, black pepper, Clove, cardamom, ginger, geranium, bergamot, lavender, grapefruit, lemon, tea tree, and ylang-ylang essential oils for diffusion. It is important to note that there could be possible skin sensitivity and the oils should always be kept away from children.
Facts on Cinnamon and Honey:
Cinnamon and honey are natural ingredients with numerous health benefits. A mixture of cinnamon and honey aids in lowering the risk of heart disease since it helps reverse multiple health signs that remarkably raise the risk.
They are also rich in antioxidants, which boost blood flow to the heart and prevent blood clots hence lowering the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Cinnamon and honey combination have healing properties that are useful in treating skin conditions such as burns and diabetic foot ulcers. The mixture can fight bacteria and decrease inflammation, which is an important factor when it comes to skin healing.
8 Conditions treatable with Cinnamon and Honey
Cinnamon and honey have significant proven benefits. The combination of the two can treat almost any ailment and has no side effects. Some of the conditions that can be treated by making a combination of cinnamon and honey include:
- Arthritis pain
- Acne
- Boosts the immune system and protecting you from foreign bacteria and viruses
- Lowers the risk of heart disease by regulating cholesterol level
- Bladder infection by destroying bladder germs
- Weight loss
- Bad breath by keeping gums and teeth infection at bay
- Coughs and colds
Types of Cinnamon:
There are two major types of cinnamon
Cassia cinnamon:
This kind, also referred to as Chinese cinnamon, is the most popular type in supermarkets and grocery stores. It is much cheaper, and of lower quality than Ceylon cinnamon.
Ceylon cinnamon:
It is primarily grown in Sri Lanka. This variety is also known as "true cinnamon." It is scarce and more difficult to find as compared to Cassia cinnamon and it has a slightly sweeter flavor.
Ceylon and Cassia are both cinnamon, but that they are found from different parts of the world and are obtained from slightly different types of trees.
How cinnamon can help you lose weight:
Cinnamon reduces some of the bad effects of eating high-fat foods by increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing blood sugar which is an important element when it comes to losing weight and controlling type two. Cinnamon boosts metabolism since the body uses more energy to break down the spice than it does for other foods.
The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties found in cinnamon provide additional help to those who want to lose weight by aiding in an overall healthy body that will process food better.
You can achieve your weight loss goal by adding a cup of cinnamon tea to your daily diet. Simply make the tea by adding a stick of cinnamon to a cup of water, and mix it with a teaspoon of honey and a dash of lemon to taste. You can as well sprinkle cinnamon powder on your coffee, cereals, protein shakes and even add it to your cooking!
Nonetheless, it is important to note that cinnamon will only assist in complementing your regular exercise and a balanced diet. In the long run, it is essential to work out and eat clean if you are on a quest to lose weight.
