Cinnamon comes in two different forms. One is called Cassia cinnamon and the other is called Ceylon. Ceylon cinnamon is generally more expensive, lighter in color, it is more of a finer powder, smells sweeter and will be imported from either Brazil, Caribbean, India, Madagascar or Sri Lanka. Cassia cinnamon is imported from China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea or Vietnam. Cinnamon is used not only in flavoring drinks, foods or used as aroma therapy it’s bark and flower from the Cassia cinnamon plant has been used for medicine and has been one of the oldest remedies in traditional Chinese medicine. Cinnamon is available in powder, oil or in stick forms. Cassia cinnamon contains higher levels of the natural compound coumarin which is a natural blood thinner. Most active traits of cinnamon are located in the water-soluble portion but not in cinnamon oil because it is mostly fat soluble. Cinnamon has a 3-5% effect on blood sugar which would make cinnamon a good option for those with either pre-diabetes or diabetes. Research has shown that cinnamon oil is a leading essential oil against three strains of Candida or yeast overgrowth. Cinnamon research also indicates that it can be used as an anti-bacterial for those with salmonella and E-coli and can also be used as that of a natural disinfectant. Cinnamon research indicates it will aid in digestion. Another research may indicate that cinnamon may aid in treating tumors, gastric cancer and melanomas by slowing cancer cells. The chemicals cinnamaldehyde and eugenol have been studied in the development of nutraceuticals that aid in the fight of Human cancer cells as cinnamon may aid the starvation of cancer cells of sugar that is required to grow cancer cells.
There has been much research on the effects of cinnamon with various symptoms and diseases. Research has shown that cinnamon may reduce serum glucose in those with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon can also aid in the reduction of cholesterol totals and triglycerides. Recent studies are indicating that just 6 grams of cinnamon at breakfast can lower blood sugar levels by 25 percent in a two hour period. It appears that Cassia cinnamon has more benefits in the treatment of various conditions such as muscle spasms, diarrhea, vomiting and even erectile dysfunction. Cassia cinnamon list of benefits include: assist in flatulence (gas), loss of appetite, reducing inflammation, be an antioxidant, fight bacterial and fungal infections. Tel Aviv University researchers have found that the extract in cinnamon bark may aid in preventing Alzheimer’s. Another study has shown that cinnamon can aid against HIV and Multiple Sclerosis. Other uses for cinnamon include bed wetting, menstrual issues, symptoms of menopause, cramps, chest pain and kidney disorders. Dietary fiber, calcium, iron and manganese are also found in cinnamon, which are an added bonus of the health benefits of cinnamon.
Cinnamon is yet another one of God’s foods that are medicine. Our food was always designed to be our medicine and if we remember this then we might be more likely to reach for food to heal our bodies instead of drugs to temporary patch an area knowing that in the end it will have between 7- 500 side effects meaning other systems, organs, glands and tissues that it negatively affects. So take the drugs to save your life in a crisis and take God’s food all the rest of the time and for all of the rest of your health needs.
