Are you fond of cinnamon flavour? If so there is a good news about health benefits of cinnamon . Cinnamon may boost your health due to its anti cancer & anti microbial properties
Cinnamon is an ancient spice ingredient which ruled Indian kitchens and cuisines since time immemorial. Apart from adding flavour to the delicious dishes it is endowed with various health benefits. It is really fantastic to know that beyond its culinary usage as flavouring ingredient to add taste and aroma to Indian foods cinnamon enhances our health at multiple levels.
The queen of Indian & south Asian cuisines – cinnamon verum
Cinnamon is known as Cinnamomum verum in the world of botanical science and medicine. It is an evergreen tree that belongs to family Lauraceae .
Cinnamon used as a spice in Indian kitchens, is derived from its bark. The tree is native to South Asian countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Burma). It is also cultivated in South America and the West Indies. Cinnamon has been known since ancient times. Cinnamomum verum, is native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Herodotus, Aristotle and other authors named Arabia as the source of cinnamon.
The dried inner bark is brown in colour and has a delicately fragrant aroma and a warm sweet flavour. Essential oil of cinnamon is distilled from the bark fragments. Cinnamon oil is used for use in various foods, perfume, and in drugs.
The main varieties of cinnamon available in Asia include Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), which is chiefly grown in Sri Lanka. It is known as “true” cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum),is grown all over southeastern Asia.
Cinnamon in the pages of history
Cinnamon is a prominent spice used in many rituals & ceremonies since ancient times. When you turn the pages of ancient world history you may come across several curious facts pertaining to usage of cinnamon. Egyptians used it for embalming and religious practices.
In medieval Europe many religious rites and rituals were performed using cinnamon as a flavouring agent. During that era cinnamon was a very expensive ingredient in Europe and other parts of the world.
Cinnamon has an incredible story of inspiring western voyagers like Christopher Columbus and Vasco Da Gama to embark on an expedition to South Asia in quest of this precious spice in 15th century. It is a fascinating narrative by various travellers of the period that this quest lead to the discovery of new countries and continents.
Overtime cinnamon conquered the western markets as the most sought after and profitable spice in the Dutch East India Company’s global trade.
Harvesting & processing of cinnamon
Cinnamon is an evergreen tree with oval-shaped leaves, thick bark and a berry fruit. While harvesting the spice, the bark and leaves are the main parts of the plant used. The harvesting includes cutting the shoots of the plant close to the ground. In processing, the shoots are first scraped with a semicircular blade and then rubbed with a brass rod to loosen the bark, which is split with a knife and peeled. The peels are telescoped one into another, forming a quill about 107 cm (42 inches) long and filled with trimmings of the same quality bark to maintain a cylindrical shape.
After this process follows four or five days of drying and the quills are rolled on a board to tighten the filling . Again they are placed in subdued sunlight for further drying for a few days. Finally, they are bleached with sulfur dioxide and sorted into grades.
Cinnamon is used as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines. The aroma and flavour of cinnamon is due to the presence of essential oil and principal component, cinnamaldehyde.
Ground cinnamon is 11% water, 81% carbohydrates (including 53% dietary fiber), 4% protein and 1% fat.Since ancient times cinnamon has been in use as part of traditional medicine primarily in Asian countries.
Of late many research studies have explored the beneficial effects of cinnamon in Parkinsons, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Cinnamon seems to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antilipemic, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties.
Health benefits of cinnamon
- Potential to reduce blood glucose levels
A few small studies suggests that cinnamon helps to lower blood glucose levels. Cinnamon seems to possess an insulin sensitizing action which may help to reduce blood sugar. However, more extensive studies are needed to corroborate these preliminary research findings.
• Improves brain health
The phytochemicals of cinnamon facilitate brain’s ability to utilize glucose.
Cinnamon helps to limit the Alzheimer induced changes in the brain and modulates the brain insulin signaling also.
• Antimicrobial activity
Cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon possess anti-microbial activity. It can inhibit the growth of Listeria , Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, fungus like Aspergillus flavus, Mucor plumbeus and yeast species such as Candida lipolytica.
• Antioxidant property.
The antioxidant property is owing to the eugenol component in cinnamon.
• Reduces blood pressure
Cinnamon can reduce high blood pressure.
• Anti-cancer effects
One of the main causations of gastric carcinoma is the gram-negative bacilli Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
Cinnamon extract can decrease the colonization of this bacteria in the gut to some extent. However further extensive research is needed in this regard.
The potential of cinnamon extract to induce apoptosis in tumor cells and also inhibiting the activity of NFκB accentuate the anti-cancer properties.
• Protects from heart diseases
The cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid protect the heart due to their ability to produce nitric oxide . Also these have anti-inflammatory effect which helps in reducing atherosclerosis or clot and plaque formation within bloodvessels.
It also helps to prevent high cholesterol.
Safety & caution
Cinnamon supplements consumption is safe. Also when cinnamon consumed in small amount generally used in foods as a spice or flavouring agent.
Excessive consumption or intake for prolonged period of time is associated with side effects such as gastrointestinal problems or allergic reactions.
Cassia cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin, which can be harmful to the liver. Huge and prolonged use of cassia cinnamon may cause liver problems.
written by dr sanjana p
References
1. https://www.britannica.com/plant/cinnamon
2. Howard ME, White ND. Potential benefits of cinnamon in type 2 diabetes. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2012;7:23–6. [Google Scholar] [Ref list]
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24001892/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4466762/