Spice for thought: Cinnamon

Cinnamon is another very popular spice in the Caribbean, and is also used in a wide variety of dishes. Cinnamon spice has a pleasant flavour and warm smell that has made it popular in cooking, particularly in baking and curries.

It is said that cinnamon is good at getting rid of visceral fat and supports weight loss. Its antimicrobial, antiparasitic properties also make it one of the healthiest spices of all time. It helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol, boosts insulin function and metabolism as well.

Find out more about the cinnamon below.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is not medically verified, and should not be interpreted as medical advice, or used as a substitute to medical advice.

Cinnamon

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Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of the tree species from the genus Cinnamomum. It is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of sweet and savoury dishes, breakfast cereals, snackfoods, teas and traditional foods. The aroma and flavour of cinnamon is due to the oily part, which is very high in the compound cinnamaldehyde.

Studies have shown that in addition to being a warm, sweet spice that adds lots of flavour to various dishes, cinnamon has a number of medicinal properties and health benefits.

Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties which may help lower your risk of disease.
It contains large amounts of the antioxidant polyphenol. Antioxidants can help protect the body from disease, and are typically found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices.
Cinnamon has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, the world's most common cause of premature death.
Cinnamon can improve sensitivity to the Hormone Insulin, which is a key hormone that regulates metabolism and energy use. It has been suggested that cinnamon can have a moderate effect in improving glycaemic control and supporting the management of Type 2 Diabetes.
In addition to its beneficial effects on insulin resistance, cinnamon can also lower blood sugar by several other mechanisms such as decreasing the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal.
It is said that honey and cinnamon water, surprisingly has amazing weight loss benefits, by helping to melt belly fat. Belly fat is linked to an increased risk of heart diseases, diabetes and some forms of cancer, is not easy to get rid of.

Cinnamon can be stored in an airtight container in a dark place. Ground cinnamon will start to lose flavour after a few months, but the whole cinnamon can last for up to a year. To maximise the potential health benefits from cinnamon, the fresher it is, the better.

Tell us below how use the nutmeg spice.