Cinnamon – the type produced in Sri Lanka, not in China – can be considered one of the most useful natural home remedies. I have been a great cinnamon lover without being aware of all the benefits this sweet spice can offer. Then I carried out a quick research. I found out that a teaspoon of Cinnamon contains 28 mg of calcium, almost one mg of iron, over a gram of fiber and fats in small quantities.
It contains a discrete amount of minerals such as calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, selenium and zinc. It is also rich in vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, ascorbic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, K and J. Some aminoacids too: aspartic acid, alanine, arginine, glutamic acid, leucine, lysine, valine, threonine, glycine and tryptophan.
Looking at this list it is easy to understand why cinnamon is a natural antiseptic able to fight and eliminate fungi, viruses and bacteria, and why it can be found more frequently among the ingredients of commercially available toothpastes, mouthwashes and similar products.
Health Benefits of Cinnamon
- Helps regulate the percentage of sugar in the blood (useful for diabetics and hyperglycemics).
- Helps the digestive process.
- Fights the fungus responsible for Candida, a vaginal infection.
- Effective natural remedy to fight the bacteria called Escherichia coli, the main cause of urinary tract infections.
It is also an excellent digestive as it facilitate the splitting of fats. The healing property is due to stimulation of a digestive enzyme called trypsin, which tends to improve significantly the annoying feeling of a swollen belly.
How I use Cinnamon
I usually use it to spice my smoothie up. The picture above show my favorite morning booster I quickly prepare by mixing in a blender: 1 banana, half cup of milk and 1 tbsp oats in. I sweeten it with a tbsp of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon (cinnamon and honey have been credited with healing benefits for centuries!).
If you want something lighter and warmer I suggest you to prepare a spicy and sweet infusion this way: Take a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and put it in a cup of boiling water, leave to infuse for 10-12 minutes, filter and drink it after meals, keeping in mind not to drink more than three cups a day. The recommended dose of cinnamon is 3 grams a day. Do not exceed it! Cinnamon can bring benefits to our body only if we don’t exaggerate with it.