Cinnamon is one of the most common spices anybody would find in their kitchen. Whilst cinnamon instantly brings fond memories of delicious buns and cookies, it has more uses than just that! An essential part of culinary cuisine, cinnamon is one of the most important and second most popular spices in the world. It holds cultural significance as well, from being used in ancient Egypt to medieval Europe to Indian Ayurveda.
Earthly, sweetly aromatic, with a hint of spice. Cinnamon boasts not just a rich flavor profile but is packed with plenty of health benefits too. In the wake of it, it has become well incorporated into cooking, right from creamy gravies to delectable beverages like Apple Cinnamon tea. Join us as we probe into the health benefits of cinnamon tea!
An Antioxidant powerhouse
Beyond its alluring aroma and rustic flavor, cinnamon tea is packed with potent compounds that can help you deal with oxidative stress and promote overall wellness.
But what is oxidative stress? Let us break it down for you. At all times in the body, there are both free radicals and antioxidants present. Free radicals are charged molecules that render the body unstable. Antioxidants help neutralize these free radicals, thus creating a stable environment in the body. When there is no balance in the body, i.e. if the amount of free radicals is more, the body is in a state of oxidative stress.
Long terms of being in oxidative stress aggravates the contraction of cardiovascular diseases, tumours, diabetes, and so on. The variety of antioxidants present in cinnamon work together to combat this and maintain a balanced environment in a cellular level.
Chronic inflammation is a key contributor to multiple issues in the body such as heart diseases, diabetes, and arthritis. The antioxidants present in cinnamon help by scavenging free radicals and preventing them from causing further damage. These compounds target inflammatory pathways in the body, inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory molecules and thus reducing inflammation levels.
A strong immune system is key to warding off diseases and staying strong. The antioxidants present in cinnamon tea can help keep your immune defenses up by protecting immune cells against oxidative damage, helping you be healthy and resilient.
As we grow older, our cells become more susceptible to oxidative damage. Antioxidants help slow down this process, keeping you look young and stay healthy.
A Heart Health Keeper
Cinnamon tea helps nurture heart health in multiple ways:
Antioxidants: Antioxidants help cardiovascular health by protecting against oxidative damage to the heart and blood vessels. Regular consumption of cinnamon tea could help lower cholesterol levels, improve blood circulation, thereby reducing the chances of heart attacks and stroke.
Lowering cholesterol levels: When a good level of cholesterol is maintained, heart health is regulated!
Blood pressure regulation: Cinnamon tea helps relax the blood vessels and improve blood flow. This helps reduce the strain on the heart and reduce the risk of hypertension , heart attacks, and stroke.
Empowering Blood sugar control
Cinnamon tea helps maintain blood sugar levels in various ways:
Cinnamon contains bioactive compounds that enhance insulin sensitivity, helping the blood cells respond better to insulin, and absorb glucose from the bloodstream in a better way This helps regulate blood sugar levels more effectively.
When carbohydrates are absorbed quickly in the gut, there is a surge in blood sugar levels. Cinnamon tea helps in gradual absorption of carbohydrates in the digestive tract, thereby facilitating a gradual spike in blood sugar levels. This will help especially when you enjoy carbohydrate rich foods!
Certain compounds present in cinnamon help in increased glucose uptake, meaning that cells absorb more glucose from the bloodstream, converting it into energy efficiently. When such glucose absorption is promoted, it can help lower blood sugar levels and to increase metabolic health.
The compounds present in cinnamon inhibit certain digestive enzymes from breaking down, so that carbohydrates are digested at a slower pace. This will help control the amount of glucose released into the bloodstream after meals, supporting better sugar control.
A Weight Watcher
Cinnamon tea could help reduce weight through a number of mechanisms:
Cinnamon tea is effective at regulating blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels are regulated, individuals have a lesser craving towards highly caloric foods, and thus body weight is regulated.
The compounds in cinnamon tea help in suppressing appetite and keeping one satiated for long. Drinking cinnamon tea between meals helps reduce calorie intake, thus helping in maintaining body weight.
There is some research which says that cinnamon tea enhances the body’s metabolism, thus burning fat at a higher rate. Higher fat burn contributes to accelerated weight loss.
Studies have been proven to show that cinnamon targets visceral fat, i.e. the fat around the belly. By consuming cinnamon tea regularly, individuals might experience a reduction in belly fat, which translates to a better body composition.
Cinnamon, renowned for balancing cholesterol levels, aids heart health by reducing bad cholesterol and increasing HDL, while indirectly supporting weight loss, making it an ideal addition to your regimen as a weight loss tea.
An Antimicrobial Warrior
Cinnamon tea possesses a number of antimicrobial properties that help it to combat bacteria and fungi through different mechanisms:
Just as its name suggests, this compound Cinnamaldehyde imparts the distinct flavour and aroma. This compound disrupts the cell membranes of a number of bacterial strains, inhibiting them from developing inside the body.
Bacterial biofilms are a group of bacterial organisms that adhere to surfaces, and form a matrix kind of structure, making it highly resistant to antibiotics and immune responses. Cinnamon tea has the power to inhibit the formation and growth of these structures, making it effective against bacterial biofilm infections
Cinnamon tea has been shown to display antifungal properties, which can help fight fungal infections like Candida Albicans. The components in cinnamon attack fungi at their cellular level, disintegrating them at the root.
The PMS soother
Cinnamon has positive effects on hormones involved in the menstrual cycle, such as estrogen and progesterone. By promoting hormonal balance, cinnamon tea helps regulate menstrual irregularities and alleviate symptoms like mood swings, irritability, and breast tenderness. Also, the warmth of the drink makes it an ideal go-to for soothing the cramps and discomfort that some bleeding women experience.
The Bottom Line
Overall, cinnamon tea is a concoction that comes with one-too many benefits, whilst the spice humbly sits in our kitchens. I’m going to make myself an apple cinnamon black tea right away! What about you ?
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