What is cinnamon?

Cinnamon types

•   Ceylon Cinnamon: produced in India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, the Caribbean, Brazil, and have a light color more compared to the other type as ranging in color from wheaten to brown, and also owns the fragrant smell, and is a tasteless sweet, and the stalk Less thick, which makes it of high quality, and in return, it is considered to be of high cost, which reduces its spread.
• Chinese Cinnamon: Cassia Cinnamon, which grows in China, Indonesia, and Vietnam, is considered the least expensive due to its low quality, and its color ranges from black to reddish-brown, and its sticks and texture are thicker and coarse compared to Ceylon cinnamon, and it is worth noting that most cinnamon available in The markets are cassia, and it is widely spread in North America.
•   Saigon cinnamon: which is extracted from a tree called Cinnamomum Loureiro, and are used in many dishes and is a lower quality of cinnamon gonorrhea, so the cost is low, and features easily available and its proximity to the highest amount of a compound cinnamaldehyde compared to other types; This compound is responsible for the smell and taste of cinnamon, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

For more information about Where is collagen found in herbs? you can read the article Where is collagen found in herbs?

Cinnamon benefits

Researchers believe that cinnamon contains compounds that have a good effect on health and metabolism, including cinnamon aldehyde. Among the benefits of cinnamon are the following:

• Contribute to weight loss: Cinnamon helps reduce and maintain sugar levels , and contributes to improving the sensitivity of cells to the hormone insulin; Which transports glucose from the blood into cells for use as an energy source, and may also help inactivate many digestive enzymes , which reduces the absorption of sugar from the blood after eating a meal high in carbohydrates, and can help with weight loss, in addition to that cinnamon contains a high amount of Fiber contributes to reducing food cravings by increasing the feeling of satiety and fullness, but it is worth noting that obtaining this amount of fiber requires consuming a large amount of cinnamon, which is not possible, and this amount is considered toxic, and therefore it is recommended to consume cinnamon according to quantities Recommended and not exceeded, cinnamon can also raise the metabolism process , which leads to the use of more energy when consumed compared to other foods, and the effect on the fat accumulated in the abdomen, but the information about this is little.

According to a 2017 research conducted by the University Grants Authority on Indians in North India, it was found that the consumption of 3 grams of cinnamon in the form of supplements for 16 weeks improved the condition of those suffering from metabolic syndromes, such as insulin sensitivity, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of blood clots. And hypercholesterolemia. Another study issued by the American Heart Association in 2017 and conducted on mice that were fed foods high in fat and given cinnamon supplements for 12 weeks showed a decrease in weight and abdominal obesity, in addition to maintaining the level of insulin and sugar at a normal level compared to mice that did not take Cinnamon, and this effect is due to the fact that it contains cinnamon aldehyde, which contributes to the prevention of weight gain, but it is worth noting that the extent of its effect in humans is not known.

• Improving the body’s sensitivity to the hormone insulin: Insulin is the hormone that regulates metabolism and energy use in the body. Insulin resistance, and this condition is one of the most prominent signs that are associated with serious cases, such as: metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes, and cinnamon can reduce insulin resistance, and reduce the level of sugar in the blood by reducing the amount of glucose in the blood after eating The meal because it interferes with many digestive enzymes, which slows down the breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive system, and the content of cinnamon on cinnamon aldehyde, which is similar to the effect of insulin improves the absorption of glucose, but it affects more slowly than insulin alone, Several studies issued in Hanover University in 2006, University of California in 2007, and University of West London in 2009 confirmed that cinnamon has a lowering effect on blood sugar level, which can reduce the level of fasting glucose test by 10-29%, It is worth noting that the effective dose of cinnamon to achieve this effect ranges between 1-6 grams, or the equivalent of 0.5 to 2 teaspoons per day.
• As for those who suffer from diabetes, the beneficial effect of cinnamon is inconclusive, and studies are still overlapping, and the American Diabetes Association refuses to use it in the treatment of diabetes,  It is worth noting that many studies have shown the effect of cinnamon in reducing the level of diabetes. Sugar did not determine the type of cinnamon, according to what was reported by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2016, [18] and although it is difficult to determine this, the first studies used Chinese cinnamon, and then subsequent studies were conducted on Ceylon cinnamon from the University of Cambridge, and the preliminary results showed no According to what was published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2012, Then a 2014 study published in Food & Function on mice and 15 volunteers with elevated fasting blood sugar levels for 30 days showed that Ceylon cinnamon may have a beneficial effect in controlling blood sugar levels as well.
• Reducing menstrual pain: Cinnamon contributes to the maintenance of hormone balance, and cinnamon aldehyde increases the level of progesterone and reduces the production of testosterone in women,  and it was found that 45 women suffering from PCOS consumed 1.5 grams of supplements, Cinnamon, daily for 6 months helped regulate the menstrual cycle, as it was observed that they had twice as much frequency compared to women who did not consume cinnamon, according to a study conducted at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2014. As for the effect of cinnamon in improving The fertility of women who suffer from this syndrome has been shown to have no effect, and more studies are needed on this.
• Reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: It was found that the consumption of cinnamon daily reduces inflammation and the level of blood pressure, according to a study from the Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences conducted on 36 women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis , a group of them consumed 4 capsules containing 500 mg of powder Cinnamon daily for 8 weeks, while the other group did not consume these capsules, and there was a decrease in the level of C-reactive protein in the blood, as well as in TNF-alpha and diastolic blood pressure compared to the second group, but there was no effect in the fasting glucose test and lipid analysis, and liver enzymes, As for the reason why cinnamon helps reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as: joint swelling and pain, it has been found that this is due to its anti-inflammatory properties, and cinnamon helps relieve pain, especially when exacerbated with a cold, but it is worth noting that the recommended dose Cinnamon to relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is considered high, but this dose does not reach the limit that negatively affects health, and attention should be paid not to increase it to this limit, and it is worth noting that this dose is not able to treat this condition as well.
• Source of Antioxidants such as polyphenols, which helps protect the body from oxidative stress caused by free radicals as a result of exposure to pollution, poor nutrition, cigarette smoking, tension, and found that cinnamon outweighs the influence antioxidant both garlic and marjoram, according to a study from the University of Hong Kong Published in 2005 compared the antioxidant activity of 26 spices. [28] Cinnamon can be used as a natural preservative as it is a good source of antioxidants, and it should be noted that taking cinnamon supplements for overweight people reduces the level of free radicals they have, which can contribute to the prevention of heart disease and some types of cancer.
• Possessing anti-inflammatory properties: Inflammation is associated with many health diseases such as skin diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer, and cinnamon’s possession of these properties is linked to the fact that it contains many flavonoids, and the essential oil of cinnamon bark contains both cinnamon aldehyde and cinnamyl acetate. Cinnamyl acetate), and cinnamon alcohol, provide it with many benefits, for example, cinnamon aldehyde helps combat the harmful clotting of platelets that causes insufficient blood flow, by inhibiting the secretion of arachidonic acid, which is responsible for the inflammatory response by the cell membrane.
• Beneficial for brain health: ground cinnamon contributes to improving learning impairment by enhancing the main protein of learning and memory, and it has been observed that giving mice with poor learning abilities a dose of cinnamon for a month accelerated their ability to remember and pass a maze twice as fast compared to the first time measured During the period of time to find the exit when placed in the maze without consuming cinnamon, according to a study from the Health Center affiliated to Rush University in Chicago in 2016. This effect is due to the fact that the body converts cinnamon when digested into a compound of sodium benzoate, which enhances the health of neurons necessary for learning, according to what was mentioned by Kalibada Bahan Professor of Neuroscience.
• Slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease: It was found that when cinnamon is digested, it produces a compound called sodium benzoate, which protects neurons and maintains brain cells, in addition to improving their connectivity, according to a 2014 study from Rush University Health Center conducted on mice. Experts suggest that this method may be the safest way to stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease among people with it and may be used in the future to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
• Fighting the development of Alzheimer’s disease and types of dementia: Ceylon cinnamon extract inhibits the aggregation, clump, and tangle of tau protein, which causes the development of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study from the University of California, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2009.
• Possibility of reducing cholesterol levels: which may reduce the risk of heart disease, although there are few studies on the effect of cinnamon consumption on lipid analysis, most of them have tested the effectiveness of cinnamon in lowering cholesterol. And triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes, and this effect was observed when Chinese cinnamon was used more than the rest of the species at a dose ranging from one gram to 6 grams in food or in the form of food supplements for a period of up to two months, according to a study issued by University of Agriculture in Peshawar in 2003, and a study issued by Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2012 stated that cinnamon may reduce the level of harmful cholesterol by up to 27% while reducing the level of total cholesterol by 25%, and triglycerides by 30%, as another study reported. The effect on lowering the level of fat depends on the dose, the larger the dose, the greater the decrease in harmful cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, while no effect was shown on the level of good cholesterol in any of these studies.

It was found that consuming a daily dose of cinnamon reduces cholesterol by an average of 16 milligrams per deciliter, and lowers harmful cholesterol by an amount equivalent to 9 milligrams per deciliter, and triglycerides by 30 milligrams per deciliter, and it was found that there is a slight increase in the level of cholesterol, according to a study From the Western University of Health Sciences in the Pacific College of Osteopathic Medicine, but it should be noted that these studies have been conducted on animals, and there is not enough evidence to show this effect in humans,  It is also not recommended to use cinnamon For those who suffer from high cholesterol, and to reduce its level, it is recommended to reduce the consumption of saturated fats. Such as butter, red meat, and reduce intake of trans fats and hydrogenated oils, in addition to eating foods that are beneficial for heart health, such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.

• Potential to help fight infection: It is believed that cinnamon aldehyde, which is one of the components of cinnamon oil, may interfere with biofilm formation; It is a sticky layer formed by the accumulation of bacteriaWhich is responsible for persistent infections that resist the effect of antibiotics, such as: dental plaque, and it was shown in 3 cases in which researchers examined the effect of different concentrations of cinnamon aldehyde in different stages of biofilm growth, such as: Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria responsible for infection in people with low Immunity such as patients with AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis, that these bacteria have decomposed, stopped their growth, and reduced the risk of their spread, and this may be due to the low level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate of the type Bis(3′,5′)-Dimeric; Which is important for biofilm formation, and according to these results, a treatment consisting of cinnamon aldehyde oil can be manufactured in the future to be applied as the first option to alleviate the suffering of skin infections , according to a study from Swinburne University published in the Journal of Microbiology in 2018.
• Possibility of contributing to reducing the risk of HIV infection: It was found that Chinese cinnamon or cinnamon bark, nuffa, the cinnamon tree, and its fruit are the most effective in reducing HIV activity, according to a laboratory study from Kagoshima University conducted on 69 extracts of Indian medicinal plants. 2000, [45] However, it should be noted that the dose found in foods containing cinnamon is not sufficient to treat or prevent this virus, but its extract may be useful when used in the future as a treatment,  It is also worth noting that it is believed according to a study Early on, taking a throat lozenge containing cinnamon bark for a week reduced fungal infections in the mouth. or so-called candidiasis in some people with HIV, but more evidence is still needed about how effective this is.

For more information about What is oregano, you can read the article What is oregano?

• The possibility of its effectiveness in improving the condition of patients with multiple sclerosis: it was observed that the consumption of water and cinnamon by mice caused an anti-inflammatory effect in the central nervous system, including improving the function of the hippocampus; According to researchers from the National Institutes of Health, based on a study from the Rush University Health Center in 2015, it was also shown that cinnamon may protect regulatory T cells, or what is known for short (Tregs), as they decrease The number of these cells in people with multiple sclerosisCompared to others, it was found that treatment with cinnamon protects against the loss of some proteins necessary for the formation of these cells, and it is worth noting that multiple sclerosis causes the removal of a substance called myelin surrounding the nerve fibers to protect them, which leads to the emergence of symptoms of this disease, and it was found that Cinnamon can contribute to restoring myelin levels in mice suffering from multiple sclerosis, although the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has indicated that more studies are needed to clarify how the potential effectiveness of cinnamon in treating Multiple Sclerosis.
• Possibility of reducing the risk of cancer: Cinnamon reduces the growth of blood vessels for tumors, and it has been shown that it may have a toxic effect on cancer cells. infected colon cancer from _etaranjan Hospital cancer in India in 2007, [49] also supported the results of a laboratory study conducted at the University of Arizona in 2010, which found that cinnamon active interactions of anti-oxidants in human colon cancer cells.

As for Ceylon cinnamon, it has been found to enhance the health of the immune system, because it has anti-inflammatory, oxidative, and antimicrobial properties, [51] and it has also been shown that this type of cinnamon enhances the activity of the antioxidant enzyme, which can reduce the risk of cancer or treat some types, This is especially good for those looking to use nutritional supplements that contribute to reducing the risk of cancer growth, according to what I mentioned, but it is worth noting the need to avoid the use of cinnamon in treatment without consulting an oncologist. [51] It is also worth noting that studies on the effect of cinnamon in preventing cancer have been conducted in vitro or on animals only, and more human studies are still needed to confirm their results.

But it is worth noting that Chinese cinnamon, in particular, contains high amounts of a harmful compound called coumarin, and although consuming it in moderation is considered safe, it has been shown that consuming large amounts of this compound in mice increases the risk of cancer. , and may cause the development of cancerous tumors in both the throat, liver, and kidneys, according to what appeared in a study issued by the National Toxicology Program, known for its acronym NTP in 1993. It is believed that coumarin may cause damage to a number of organs, and may develop over time to replace healthy cells with cancerous ones, according to scientists from the European Food Safety Authority in 2004, [53]But it should be noted that most of these effects were the result of studies conducted on animals, and there is still a need for more human studies to know its effect.

The recommended amount of cinnamon

The appropriate dose of cinnamon depends on many factors, such as age, health, and suffering from various health conditions. It is worth noting that the fact that some products are of natural origin does not necessarily mean the safety of their use, and adherence to the dose taken from them is important, but there is no So far, there is sufficient scientific evidence to determine the recommended dose of cinnamon, and some recommend half a teaspoon to a teaspoon; That is, between two to 4 grams of ground cinnamon per day, and some studies have used a dose ranging from one to six grams of cinnamon, according to studies conducted on diabetics. It has been shown that the amount ranging from one gram to one and a half grams of ground cinnamon did not cause any side effects, although it is worth noting that a very high dose may be toxic, and in general, it is recommended to follow the instructions shown on the product in addition to consulting the doctor, and the pharmacist and health care provider before taking any natural product.

For more information about What is paprika, you can read the article What is paprika

Contraindications to the use of cinnamon

The consumption of cinnamon in the amount found in food is safe, and it may be safe for most people when consumed orally in medicinal quantities that are slightly greater than the quantities available in foods, but the high consumption of these quantities significantly, or the consumption of cinnamon oil through the mouth is considered unsafe and causes Irritation in the mouth, lips, and skin as an allergic reaction, in addition to irritation of the cellular membrane, including in the stomach, intestines, and urinary system, leading to the appearance of side effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, ulcers, redness of the skin, and others. The following are the caveats associated with taking cinnamon medicinally by some groups, in addition to the side effects of that:

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: The consumption of cinnamon in the quantities found in food is safe during pregnancy and lactation, but it is recommended to avoid consuming medicinal quantities of cinnamon during these periods, due to the lack of sufficient information about the safety of its consumption.
• Diabetics: Cinnamon can reduce the sugar level in people with type 2 diabetes, so it is recommended for diabetics to watch for signs of hypoglycemia when eating it.
• Surgery: Cinnamon may interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery, so it is recommended to stop consuming cinnamon two weeks before surgery.
• Drug interactions: It is recommended to consult a doctor before consuming cinnamon in the form of nutritional supplements by those who take antibiotics, heart medications, anticoagulants, and hypoglycemic drugs, such as glimepiride, glibenclamide, metformin, insulin, and others, in addition to some medications that may affect the liver, such as Paracetamol and statins, as consuming large amounts of cinnamon may increase the risk of liver damage.
• Breathing problems: These problems may occur when consuming a large amount of ground cinnamon at once because it has a delicate texture, which may facilitate accidental inhalation, and cinnamon aldehyde may cause throat irritation, and other breathing problems, and it is recommended to beware of Inadvertently inhaled, especially by those suffering from asthma and other health conditions that affect breathing, due to the increased risk of shortness of breath.
• Children: Although cinnamon is not one of the foods that cause allergy, there is a possibility because of a reaction to cause allergic, is the inflammation of the skin dermatitis of the most prominent, which may occur within minutes of skin exposure to cinnamon, and lead to irritation of the area, swollen, and redness, It should be noted that the allergic reaction is not harmful, and it can be treated by washing the child’s skin with soap and water, but if the rash is painful, it is recommended to apply a small amount of hydrocortisone to reduce swelling and itching, and children usually do not eat large quantities of cinnamon to cause allergies, But if allergic symptoms appear when giving the child foods containing cinnamon, then it is recommended to contact the doctor.
• Possibility of liver damage: Chinese cinnamon is a rich source of coumarin; A teaspoon of cinnamon weighing two grams contains about 5 milligrams of coumarin, while Ceylon cinnamon contains a small amount of it, and with reference to the daily recommended amount of coumarin, it is equivalent to approximately 0.1 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, or 5 milligrams per day for every 60 kg of body weight, and the amount usually consumed by this compound is low by most people, and it has been shown that consuming large amounts of coumarin may cause liver poisoning and damage, according to several studies issued by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the National Center for Technology Information Vitality and Health, and the National Institute of Higher Education in Dublin.
• It is worth noting that one case report of a 37-year-old woman who consumed cinnamon supplements for a week, and was taking statins to lower cholesterol, and as a result was diagnosed with hepatitis, and this report concluded that taking cinnamon supplements with statins may lead to It can lead to hepatitis, [61] and for those with liver disease, excessive amounts of Chinese cinnamon can be toxic to them.