Health Benefits of Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice that has been used medicinally for thousands of years due to its variety of health benefits along with its sweet taste in food and recipes. Today we can use cinnamon to add flavor to our foods along with helping us to improve our overall health. Here are a few of the many benefits of adding Cinnamon to your diet.
1) Full of Antioxidants:
Cinnamon is full of antioxidants such as polyphenols, phenolic acid and flavonoids which are found in other so call “superfoods” such as berries and dark chocolate. These antioxidant compounds found in cinnamon help prevent cell damage by removing free radicals in our cells. These free radicals can attach to our cells and damage a normal/healthy cell. Antioxidants will bind to a free radical before the free radical can attach itself to our cells. Once this happens the free radical can no longer attach itself to our health cells.
2) Helps with Inflammation:
The antioxidants in cinnamon also have anti-inflammatory effect on our body. Inflammation in our bodies can lead to several health risks. Most people feel inflammation in the joints such as the knees, hands and back. However, inflammation in our bodies can also lead to major health issues such as heart disease, cancer and declining brain function (Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s). By lowering the inflammation in our bodies cinnamon may helps us live longer and healthier lives.
3) Improves Blood Sugar Levels:
Cinnamon can help improve our bodies insulin sensitivity which can lead to having lower blood sugar levels. Cinnamon can help block certain alanine enzymes which allows sugar to be absorbed into the bloodstream. By blocking these enzymes, cinnamon can help lower your blood sugar levels. As a result, cinnamon can be used to help people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugars.
4) Protects the Brain
Research has shown that the antioxidants in cinnamon can help protect against neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Cinnamon helps by activating protective proteins in the brain that protect brain cells from mutation and damage. This goes back to cinnamon’s ability to reduce the damage caused in the body by free radicals.
5) Natural Sweetener in our Food
More studies are coming out showing that there is a link between sugar consumption and cancer rates. Cinnamon is a natural sweetener that we can use in our food to help us reduce (or even eliminate) our sugar intake while also providing the health benefits listed above.
A Keto lifestyle combined with the powerful health benefits of herbs and spices such as Cinnamon can greatly improve your health and start the process of healing your body.