Introduction
For those of you who are aware of what a internet meme is, you should have come across 'The Cinnamon Challenge', which consisted of eating a tablespoon of cinnamon without inhaling or vomiting during the attempt. Even though there have been several attempts, it seems one more thing that seems to justify the 'regression' of mankind when it comes to evolution, thanks to the unrivaled stupidity of this particular challenge that was issued to most power internet users.
The reason for that harsh generalization was because that this challenge is a dangerous one (much like the sniffing up of Wasabi sauce – God, what morons!) as it triggers a bronchospasm resulting in the cessation of breathing.
However, cinnamon, when used for the right reasons is actually beneficial for human health. But before that, here are a few facts about the cinnamon spice.
Cinnamon
The spice 'cinnamon' is obtained from the bark of the evergreen tree belonging to the Lauraceae family. Similar species such as the Cassia and Cinnamomum burmannii are also reared for 'cinnamon' although it is not the same as the aforementioned family.
Normally, the tree that cinnamon is harvested from, is grown for two years after which the tree stem is chopped, and after one year, new shoots are formed from the stem.
With the branches that have been cut down, the outer bark is scraped while the branch is beaten heavily to loosed the inner bark. Once this is done, the inner bark is then prised out in long rolls and then dried for four to six hours. Once these rolls are dried, then they are cut into 5-10 cm lengths to be sold.
While cinnamon has been cultivated in Sri Lanka since the beginning of time, it is also commercially grown in southern India, Java, Sumatra, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Egypt, the West Indies, Brazil, and Vietnam.
Uses of Cinnamon
Since its use is primarily as a spice, some of its uses lies in the preparation of chocolate, desserts, candies, teas, cocoa and liqueurs, dishes of chicken and lamb, cereals, bread-based dishes and fruits such as apples.
Apart from being used widely in Persian cuisine as a flavor, it is also used an aromatic oil while also having medicinal purposes as well.
Health Benefits
Despite its use as a spice, cinnamon is known to have properties that have a positive impact on human health among others, and so here are a couple of benefits:
1. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and one tablespoon of honey provides relief from the pain of arthritis in one week, while being able to walk without pain if administered the same dose for a month
2. Smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive memory and function.
3. Cinnamon is a great source of calcium, iron, fiber and manganese.
4. Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on blood.
5. Cinnamon stops medication-resistant yeast infections while also has properties that help it fight the E.Coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
6. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon everyday lowers LDL Cholesterol levels in the human body.
7. Cinnamon has a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it beneficial for patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
8. Cinnamon also reduces the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
9. Cinnamon works as an excellent food preservative by stopping bacterial growth and food spoilage.
In Closing
And even though, mankind continues to show signs of digression or regression (when it comes to evolution!), the benefits of 'going back to the basics' (another form of regression, if you will) of which cinnamon is one such example bodes well for the future of human health.
1,117 views
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Its such a scary thought that people could die during the cinnamon challenge.
the benefits of cinnamon sound amazing.
Adam – Ditto Effect recently posted..9 Types of Useless Texts Everyone Hates to Receive But Send Anyway