YOU'RE definitely familiar with a spice that gives pastries a kick, is used in Christmas treats, and warms curries.

For many generations, people have revered the spice for its curative qualities; nevertheless, only recently has contemporary science begun investigating the possibility that it really does have some useful applications.

In order to treat any kind of health problem, medical professionals do not advocate it.

But studies have found that this potent "super spice" is packed with antioxidants, which may assist your body in fending against infections, viruses, heart disease, and even cancer.

According to healthline, there are two types of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon, sometimes known as "true" cinnamon, and cassia cinnamon, which is the most popular kind. Cinnamon can be found in most grocery stores.

Did you know that the small rolls of the spice that you can purchase at the store are really fragments of bark from cinnamon trees, which, once cut, coil up into a spiral shape after they are dried out?

Cinnamon has been the subject of much study in recent years, and that research has shown a number of potential health advantages associated with cinnamon.

1. Contributes to a reduction in blood sugar

According to study that was released in the year 2020, cinnamon has the ability to reduce the amount of sugar that enters your circulation after a meal by delaying the breakdown of carbs in your digestive system. This property is what gives cinnamon its well-deserved reputation as a blood-sugar-lowering spice.

Cinnamon may have favourable benefits for persons with type 2 diabetes, according to a research that was published in 2022. Cinnamon may imitate the actions of insulin to increase the absorption of sugar into the cells, and this study found that cinnamon had these effects.

Hyperglycemia, often known as high blood sugar, is a condition that may affect persons with diabetes of any kind, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as pregnant women who have gestational diabetes.

When diabetes is treated, the goal is to maintain blood sugar levels that are as close to normal as is reasonably practicable. If diabetes is not treated, excessive blood sugar levels may cause major health concerns.

2. Might reduce the risk of developing heart disease

Consumption of the spice has been associated to a lowered risk of heart disease. One piece of study showed that taking three-quarters of a teaspoon of the spice every day was able to lower people's levels of harmful cholesterol in their blood.

Consuming cinnamon on a regular basis for a period of at least eight weeks has been found to result in a reduction in blood pressure.

An excessive amount of non-high-density lipoproteins, sometimes known as "bad" cholesterol, may lead to the accumulation of fatty deposits inside the walls of blood vessels. This causes the blood arteries to become more constricted over time, which raises the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.

In the meanwhile, high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, may damage the arteries that line your heart and brain, putting you at risk for the same illnesses that can be fatal.

3. May reduce the progression of Alzheimer's illness

The structure or function of nerve cells may gradually deteriorate in patients who have neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

One of the characteristics of Alzheimer's disease is a buildup in the brain of a protein called tau, and some molecules identified in cinnamon showed promising evidence of reducing this accumulation. Cinnamon was shown to include.

It is important to note, however, that these tests were performed on animals; hence, more research is required to investigate how the spice interacts with people who have the illness.

4. May inhibit the progression of cancer

The usage of the spice as a possible application in cancer prevention and therapy has primarily been explored via test-tube and animal experiments. The results of these studies have revealed that extracts may limit the proliferation of cancer cells and the production of blood vessels in tumours.

Research conducted on animals revealed that this impact seems to be toxic to cancer cells, leading to the death of those cells.

However, further study is required to determine whether or not cinnamon has the capacity to inhibit the growth of cancer in people.

5. May protect against illnesses caused by germs and fungi

Recent research done in test tubes suggests that cinnamon oil may be able to assist in the killing of some fungi that cause infections of the respiratory system.

Additionally, the development of certain bacteria such as Listeria and Salmonella might be avoided, and an additional test tube investigation revealed that the spice could also help prevent tooth decay.

Dentists agree that gum disease may be a precursor to a host of other potentially fatal conditions, including those affecting the brain, the heart, and the lungs.

In the meantime, Salmonella and Listeria are both forms of bacteria that have the potential to cause food poisoning. In very unusual circumstances, these bacteria may be fatal if they infect newborns, older individuals, or people whose immune systems are already impaired.

6. Has the potential to ward against some infections

Cinnamon has shown promise as a potential antiviral agent in a number of studies, including those examining the influenza virus and the virus that causes dengue fever (which is spread by mosquitoes).

However, more tests on humans are required to validate these findings.

It is recommended that you should not consume an excessive amount of cinnamon in a single sitting since it may bring on issues with breathing or produce mouth sores.