"Cinnamon, Not Just For Rolls!"
What is cinnamon?
Cinnamon comes from the bark of a small evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka, called Cinnamomum verum. Most of the cinnamon comes from Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and Burma. The farmers shave the outer and inner bark off of the trees and then dry it. When the inner bark is thoroughly dried is when the recognizable cinnamon curled sticks are formed.
Here is a video on how we get cinnamon sticks!
What is cinnamaldehyde?
Cinnamaldehyde is an aldehyde that gives cinnamon its flavor and odor. The essential oil of cinnamon bark is about 90% cinnamaldehyde which is found naturally in the barks of certain trees.
How was it first discovered?
Cinnamon has been used for centuries in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to ease flu and indigestion. It has calcium, fiber, iron, manganese, and essential oils that helps give it its healing properties.
What was the story of the “secret of thieves?”
Four thieves would rob houses of individuals that were infected with the bubonic plague. The robbers had created a similar concoction of that used in the attire (bird masks) of the physicians visiting their patients. Some accounts say that the thieves used garlic, cloves, and CINNAMON in their masks to help keep them from getting infected with the plague.
What are some benefits of cinnamon?
Cinnamon is high in antioxidants which protect the body from oxidative damage and is also used to help with digestive inflammation.
This spice has also been known to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol levels (bad cholesterol) and stabilizing blood markers in people with type 2 diabetes. With this form of diabetes, individuals could experience insulin resistance and with the help of cinnamon, insulin resistance can be reduced which allows the hormone to continue its work of transporting sugar in the blood to cells in the body.
It also interacts with a variety of digestive enzymes to reduce the amount of sugar that goes into the bloodstream, since the carbohydrates are not being broken down as fast.
Cinnamon mixed with honey has been known to help with acne. With 3 tablespoons of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon, one can apply to the face, which will stop the acne-causing bacteria and restore moisture to the face. The “mask” is left in for about 10 minutes. Remove if a burning sensation begins and also use caution when applying cinnamon to the face.
What else is cinnamon good for?
Cinnamon has also been found useful for other tasks besides in an individual’s health:
Bug repellent: For many, cinnamon is used an air freshener for its delicious smell, but for animals, such as ants and moth, it will draw them in the opposite direction. Cinnamaldehyde is also used as a fungicide and has been proven effective on over 40 different crops just by applying it to the roots of the plant.
Lip plumper: Individuals have been known to use this spice to enhance the size of their lips. One simply places Vaseline directly onto the lips and pats on the cinnamon making the lips tingly which causes the enhancement.
Breath freshener: Chew on a few cinnamon sticks or gargle warm cinnamon water to help with bad breath.
Use caution when using cinnamon on the body!
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