Like many spices, cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) offers many potential health benefits. It contains powerful botanicals known as polyphenols. “Polyphenols act as antioxidants,” said Stacey Simon, RDN, owner of Stacey Simon Nutrition, a virtual nutrition counseling practice in New York City. “Antioxidants help reduce chronic inflammation and can also play a role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease.”
A previous study found that cinnamon had higher antioxidant properties than other common spices used in desserts, including mint, ginger, and liquorice.
In addition, cinnamon can lower high blood pressure and blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, a review of studies mainly done on animals found. Research on humans would shed more light on the connection.
It’s important to note that, as the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes, human studies do not unequivocally support the use of cinnamon for every health condition by your doctor, ”says Simon. If you are taking medication for an existing medical condition, it is important to have this conversation with your medical team to avoid potential drug interactions.
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It’s much safer (and tastier!) To include cinnamon in your meals and snacks. “Eating a healthy diet rich in herbs and spices is beneficial to our health and wellbeing, so including cinnamon in your meal preparation is a great way to increase the potential nutritional benefits,” says Simon.
Each of the following healthy recipes list cinnamon as one of its ingredients.
