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February 2022

Halina’s Herb Corner

Cinnamon

Once again, we are delving into our winter stocks looking to our cooking spices to help protect our health and heal us.

Growing up we remember mum’s amazing cinnamon apple cake, and I can just about remember chomping on dentine gum and using cinnamon flavoured toothpaste!

As is often the case, the traditional uses of a spice were not merely based on their fantastic flavours, they survived because the offered many benefits above and beyond. It used to be rare and valuable and was regarded as a gift fit for kings.

There are many varieties of cinnamon, but 2 types are the most widely available.

True cinnamon (also known as Ceylon cinnamon) is harvested from the inner bark of Cinnamomum zeylandi / verum grown primarily in Sri Lanka. The sticks are smooth, light brown and comprised of several thin pieces of inner bark rolled together with a sweet, floral, delicate flavour.

Cassia from the Cinnamomum cassia tree is grown in China.  It is reddish to dark brown in colour, the sticks are harder and courser as they come from the outer bark of the cassia tree and form a hollow tube.  It has a more intense peppery flavour. 

The rougher characteristics of cassia mean that it is cheaper but is often sold as cinnamon (so it’s always worth checking the origin of your cinnamon.)

Cinnamon is loaded with volatile oils such as cinnamaldehyde which is thought to be responsible for most of it’s health benefits.

These volatile oils along with its polyphenols are powerful antioxidants. In a study which compared the antioxidant activity of 26 spices, cinnamon wound up as the clear winner, even outranking “superfoods” like garlic and oregano. The antioxidants in cinnamon have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower some key risk factors for heart disease including cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.

It seems to increase insulin sensitivity, reducing insulin resistance so lowering blood sugar levels.  Additionally Cinnamon has been shown to reduce fasting blood sugar levels, having a potent anti-diabetic effect when taking ½ to 2 teaspoons per day. *

Cinnamon has been shown to lead to various improvements for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease in animal studies. However, human trials are still ongoing.

Cinnamaldehyde has antifungal and antibacterial properties, which may reduce infections and help fight tooth decay and bad breath (I’m remembering the cinnamon toothpaste!).  In fact, it is so powerful that cinnamon can be used as a natural food preservative

*Caution: Although Cassia has many of the properties of Cinnamon it contains coumarins which may cause liver issues in those with predisposing conditions, so only small amounts should be used.

                                                              True Cinnamon                                                                                                                                 Cassia

Please remember because we are all unique, we can have different responses – do not replace medication.  Always ask a qualified health professional if unsure.