What is cinnamon powder? The benefits of cinnamon powder

Cinnamon powder is a powder that is ground from the stem of the cinnamon tree. Cinnamon powder is a spice used in many dishes, especially in desserts.

To properly understand this powder and understand the uses for effective use. Let’s find out through this article with Tnhelearning.edu.vn!

What is cinnamon powder?

What is Cinnamon?

Cinnamon has the scientific name of Cinnamomum

Cinnamon is a bark extracted from the stem of the cinnamon tree, scientifically known as Cinnamomum .

When the cinnamon bark dries, it will roll up, people call it cinnamon sticks and the cinnamon sticks will be crushed into cinnamon powder. Cinnamon has such a scent because it contains the compound cinnamaldehyde.

Classification of cinnamon

Cinnamon has 2 types:

Ceylon Cinnamon (Ceylon cinnamon, real cinnamon)

Ceylon Cinnamon

Ceylon cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka and the southern regions of India . Cinnamon is obtained from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum verum tree and the type of cinnamon is very rare in the market , so its price is also quite expensive compared to regular Cassia cinnamon.

Ceylon cinnamon contains about 50-63% cinnamaldehyde essential oil, lower than Cassia cinnamon, has a mild sweetness and less bitterness, suitable for desserts.

Ceylon cinnamon powder has a light reddish brown color and a powdery texture that contains many tightly entwined fibers.

Cassia Cinnamon (Chinese Cinnamon)

Cassia Cinnamon

Cassia cinnamon comes from Southern China and is made from the bark of the Cinnamomum cassia (or Cinnamomum aromaum ) tree. Cinnamon is widely used globally, cheap and low quality compared to Ceylon cinnamon.

Cassia cinnamon contains about 95% cinnamaldehyde essential oil , has a pungent taste, used in cooking and in traditional medicine.

Cassia cinnamon powder has a dark reddish brown color and coarse powdery grain texture.

What is cinnamon powder?

Chair powder is powder that is crushed from cinnamon bark

Cinnamon powder is made by crushing cinnamon bark to give powder , reddish brown color and characteristic aroma and can be preserved for a long time.

Cinnamon powder contains a number of vitamins and minerals that are very good for the body such as vitamin A, pyridoxine, niacin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, …

On average , one tablespoon of cinnamon powder contains 1.4mg of manganese , which accounts for up to 75% of the recommended daily amount of manganese.

Besides, cinnamon powder also contains antioxidants and fiber that are very beneficial for health.

Effect of cinnamon powder

Cinnamon powder has many uses

Contains anti-inflammatory properties

According to Lao Dong newspaper, thanks to cinnamon powder containing antioxidants , it has anti-inflammatory and anti-infective effects and restores tissue damage .

Many studies have shown the strong anti-inflammatory effect of cinnamon powder thanks to the E-cinnamaldehyde and o-methoxycinnamaldehyde compounds in Ceylon cinnamon and the cinnamic aldehyde compounds in Cassia cinnamon.

In addition, cinnamic aldehyde compounds also have antibacterial and antifungal effects, reduce infections and prevent tooth decay, bad breath, and prevent the growth of some bacteria in the oral cavity such as Listeria and Salmonella. .

Contains antioxidants

Cinnamon powder contains many powerful polyphenol antioxidants , which protect the body from the harmful effects of oxidation caused by free radicals.

According to the results of analysis and research by experts when comparing the antioxidant capacity of 26 spices, cinnamon is almost at the top in terms of high phenol content, especially more than garlic and Oregano .

In addition, cinnamon is also used to preserve natural foods.

Reduce the risk of heart disease

Cinnamon can also improve problems related to heart diseases such as total cholesterol, cholesterol triglycerides and blood pressure .

According to a study on people with type 2 diabetes, when giving them 2.1g or half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder per day, their total cholesterol levels were gradually reduced, both Bad LDL cholesterol and neutral triglycerides also decreased, but good HDL cholesterol remained stable.

Besides, according to another study, there are results that: Daily consumption of 120mg of cinnamon has the same effect as the above results, and also increases the level of good HDL cholesterol .

Beneficial for people with diabetes

According to Lao Dong newspaper, insulin is a hormone involved in metabolism, essential for the transport of blood sugar from the blood to the cells of the body.

It has been shown that cinnamon is a food that reduces insulin resistance, making this hormone do its job normally.

In addition, cinnamon also works to lower blood sugar with many different mechanisms such as:

• Reducing glucose levels after you eat certain compounds in cinnamon will act with digestive enzymes, slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates .
• The hydroxychalcone compound in cinnamon works like insulin but at a slower rate, improving glucose absorption by cells.
• According to a human study that demonstrates the anti-diabetic effect of cinnamon, it reduces sugar levels by 10-20% when consuming 1-6g (about 0.5-2 teaspoons) of cinnamon powder per day.

Useful for neurodegenerative patients

Neurodegenerative disease is a condition in which brain structure is slowly disappearing or the function of brain cells is declining, especially in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease in older people.

With Ceylon cinnamon extract, has the ability to inhibit the accumulation of a protein in the brain – the cause of Alzheimer’s disease .

According to a study on rats with Parkinson’s disease, cinnamon has a protective effect on cells, improving nerve transmission speed and brain function.

Protect against cancer

Experts have proven that cinnamon powder works against cancer cells in animal and test-tube studies.

Certain compounds in cinnamon have been shown to reduce the growth of cancer cells and tumor cells.

• According to a study on mice with colon cancer, cinnamon has a strong effect on activating detoxification enzymes and against the growth of colon cancer .
• In addition, according to a test-tube experiment, cinnamon powder has the ability to activate antioxidant responses to protect human colon cells.

Anti-HIV

In vitro studies have shown that cinnamon has the ability to fight HIV-1 , a virus that slowly disrupts the body’s immune system.

Besides, another study proved that cinnamon is the most effective material used to treat HIV-infected cells among 69 medicinal plants .

Losing weight

Cinnamon contains many polyphenols , which effectively reduce weight and promote metabolism and burn peptide bonds quickly in the body, making the body lose fat and weight.

Skin beauty

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects and rich in antioxidants, cinnamon powder has the ability to reduce acne and aid in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases .

Besides, cinnamon powder also has the ability to provide moisture to the skin, improving blood flow on the surface of the skin .

In addition, cinnamon is a raw material to treat dry skin diseases, remove dead cells and restore damage on the skin , helping you to have healthy, bright skin.

Harm of cinnamon powder

Harm of cinnamon powder

Although cinnamon powder has many health benefits, if you abuse the powder too many times and use large doses, it will cause some problems such as:

Risk of liver damage

The large amount of coumarin in cinnamon powder, when you use too much it will become toxic, causing damage to the liver.

On average, in 2g of Cassia cinnamon powder contains about 5mg of coumarin . Meanwhile, experts recommend to only absorb 0.1mg/kg of body weight, that is, use only 1 teaspoon per day for people weighing 60kg .

Increased risk of cancer

If the body absorbs too much coumarin, it not only damages the liver but also increases the risk of cancer .

According to rodent studies, it has been shown that excessive consumption of coumarin leads to malignant tumors that thrive in certain internal organs such as the liver, kidneys and lungs.

Although currently there is no research to confirm that coumarin increases the risk of causing cancer in humans. But if too much cinnamon is used, it leads to the reduction of healthy cells in the body, the tumors are likely to develop into cancer.

Causes mouth sores

In cinnamon powder contains cinnamaldehyde , if you eat too much, make this active ingredient work to cause allergies in the mouth . In addition, you may experience swollen tongue, swollen gums, burning or itching in the oral cavity .

Lowers blood sugar

Cinnamon is a good food for people with high blood sugar. However, if you consume too much cinnamon powder, it will cause your blood sugar to drop low , leading to symptoms of hypoglycemia such as dizziness, fatigue and fainting.

Causes breathing problems

Because cinnamon powder has a small, smooth texture, it is easy to inhale when we use it, causing coughing, vomiting or difficulty breathing.

In addition, the cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon is also an irritant and irritates the throat . Therefore, people with asthma or respiratory diseases are especially careful when inhaling.

Reduces the effect of certain drugs

Cinnamon has medicinal properties, so when you are using medicine to treat a disease, then you need to consider using cinnamon powder in any form. Because cinnamon can cause side effects or reduce the effectiveness of medications .

The coumarin contained in Cassia cinnamon powder can cause liver damage . So, if you are taking medications to treat liver disease such as acetaminophen, statins and paracetamol, cinnamon will make the medicine less effective.

Dishes from cinnamon powder

Cinnamon roll bread

Cinnamon roll bread

The cinnamon roll bread has an eye-catching golden brown color, has a characteristic aroma of cinnamon and the bread is chewy, soft, and has a moderate sweet and fatty taste that is easy to eat.

Honey cinnamon tea

Honey cinnamon tea

With the slightly sweet taste of honey mixed with the aroma of cinnamon, a little acrid taste of the tea makes honey cinnamon tea more delicious and attractive. This is a drink that can be used in the morning and is also suitable for those who are losing weight.

Vegetarian cinnamon rolls

Vegetarian cinnamon rolls

Vegetarian cinnamon rolls are wrapped in a beautiful orange-yellow layer on the outside, with a fleshy taste, a little crunchy inside, very strange. This cinnamon roll you can eat alone or eat with wet cake, bread is also very delicious.

Tnhelearning.edu.vn hopes that the above article will help you better understand cinnamon powder and the uses of cinnamon powder in life. Use cinnamon powder properly to ensure health!

Source: Lao Dong Newspaper

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