Cinnamon: The Second Most Popular Spice

WHAT IS CINNAMON?

Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the branches of trees of the Cinnamomum family. It is native to the Caribbean, South America, and Southeast Asia. It is now the second most popular spice, right after black pepper in the United States and Europe.

Generally, there are two main types of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) which originates from Sri Lanka and usually referred to as the "true cinnamon", and Cassia, or Chinese Cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum) that originates from Southern China and is cheaper than Ceylon cinnamon.

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HOW IS CINNAMON USED?

Cinnamon can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. People usually put small pieces of cinnamon in stews, desserts, and other dishes, whereas ground cinnamon is more commonly used in cakes or buns. In the United States, cinnamon and sugar are often used to flavour cereals, bread-based dishes (such as toast, and cinnamon buns), and fruits – especially apples. Another common use of cinnamon can also be found in the classic Christmas drinks such as eggnog.

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WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CINNAMON?

Some studies suggested that the compounds in cinnamon have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial properties. Cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels, reduce heart disease risk factors, and has a plethora of other impressive health benefits.

However, eating too much may cause side effects, because it contains high amounts of Coumarin, which has been linked to conditions like liver damage and cancer. Therefore, it is highly recommended for people to speak to their doctor before adding cinnamon to their regular diet, especially if they take anticoagulants or other drugs, have diabetes, and/or have a liver condition.

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