Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfast cereals, snack foods, bagels, teas, hot chocolate and traditional foods. The aroma and flavour of cinnamon derive from its essential oil and principal component, cinnamaldehyde, as well as numerous other constituents including eugenol.
There are two types of cinnamon:
- Ceylon cinnamon: This type is also known as “true” cinnamon.
- Cassia cinnamon: This is the most common variety today and what people generally refer to as “cinnamon.”
The Cassia variety contains significant amounts of a compound called coumarin, which is believed to be harmful in large doses.
All cinnamon should have health benefits, but Cassia may cause problems in large doses due to the coumarin content .
Ceylon (“true” cinnamon) is much better in this regard, and studies show that it’s much lower in coumarin than the Cassia variety .
Compared to Ceylon cinnamon, Cassia cinnamon is generally more affordable and more widely available.
The fragrant spice comes from the inner bark of the Sri Lankan cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum verum) and is used in sweet and savoury foods worldwide.
The tree is native to Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), the neighboring Malabar Coast of India, and Myanmar (Burma), and it is also cultivated in South America and the West Indies.
Cinnamon is used in different culinary. Bread, pastry, champurrado, cinnamon rolls. Ice cream, cream pies, chocolate, stewed fruit. Cinnamon rolls, coffeecakes, baked oatmeal. Quick bread, cookies, cinnamon rolls.
Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. Some research suggests that it may help you manage blood sugars, protect against heart disease, and reduce inflammation. Cinnamon is a spice that has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.
Cinnamon could lower your triglycerides and your total cholesterol levels, which could help prevent heart disease. If you take supplements with at least 1.5 grams of cinnamon a day, it may lower your total cholesterol, LDL (or bad) cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar if you have metabolic disease.
