Some studies have shown cinnamon can reduce the risk of heart disease and other related diseases. The proper dosage hasn't been established and may require adjustments for each individual.
Cinnamon Fights Heart Disease
Most people think of cinnamon as a commonly used spice for cinnamon buns, cookies, pies, and various dishes. Not everyone knows cinnamon is considered a powerful weapon for heart disease prevention.
Possible Treatment for Atherosclerosis
One of those medicinal properties is an anti-clotting agent important in the treatment of atherosclerosis (accumulation of plaque in arteries). In the book, Drug Discovery from Nature (2016), the authors cite studies showing the various properties of cinnamon and its effect on diseases.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The anti-inflammatory property in cinnamon is one of the most exciting discoveries. Cinnamon administered to patients has shown a reduction in the production of the inflammatory molecule, thromboxane A2 that's found in the bloodstream of patients suffering from heart diseases.
Cinnamon Prevents Plaque
These same anti-inflammatory properties give cinnamon the ability to prevent the release of arachidonic acid (inflammatory fatty acid). When arachidonic acid is released into the membranes of blood platelets, it promotes the formation of plaque in the arteries.
Anti-Clotting Properties
For over 3,000 years, Ayurvedic Medicine has used cinnamon for various ailments, including heart disease. Ayurvedic Healing Cuisine author, Harish Johan, discusses the anti-clotting properties of cinnamon and how it's been used for centuries to fight heart disease.
Heart Disease and Thickening of Blood
One challenge presented by heart disease is the thickening of the blood. This can cause the patient's blood pressure to be elevated in the body's effort to push the thicker blood through the vascular system. This taxes the body's circulatory system and damages the arteries and organs. Cinnamon thins the blood and prevents this thickening process.
A Natural Blood Thinner
When administering Ceylon CWE (Cinnamon Water Extract) to patients suffering from thickened blood, cinnamon normalized the blood, acting as a blood thinner. In turn, the patients' blood pressure lowered, relieving the dangerous stress and pressure on the arteries and organs.
Cinnamon Reduces Cholesterol
High cholesterol is considered a contributing factor to heart disease, such as atherosclerosis. C. zeylanicum bark extract (Ceylon cinnamon) is used as an anti-atherosclerotic treatment by reducing high cholesterol levels. Lowering bad cholesterol levels is a big step toward preventing atherosclerosis and the development of heart disease. A very interesting connection has been made between insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Tests have shown cinnamon stabilizes blood sugar levels.
Ceylon Cinnamon Effects and Safety
In a study designed to evaluate the safety of Ceylon cinnamon and the effects it has on the human body, only healthy adults participated. The conclusion read, "CZ demonstrated beneficial antihyperlipidaemic (cholesterol) and blood pressure lowering effects among healthy adults." The researchers called for a larger population participation for a longer time to further evaluate Ceylon cinnamon as a possible treatment and preventive measure.
Two Kinds of Cinnamon
There are two kinds of cinnamon, Cassia, and Ceylon. Which one should you take? Ceylon cinnamon is known as True Cinnamon. It's a little sweeter than Cassia which is the most common cinnamon sold in American grocery stores. However, when using to treat heart disease, Ceylon cinnamon is preferred over Cassia since it contains less coumarin. If over-consumed, coumarin can cause liver damage.
Typical Daily Dosage
The daily dosage of cinnamon hasn't been determined. The rule of thumb is between 1g to 6g, depending on the height and weight on the individual. However, if using cassia cinnamon, you should reduce the intake, since it contains higher traces of coumarin (5.8 to 12.1 mg per one teaspoon) than Ceylon cinnamon.
Maintaining Blood Sugar Levels Equals Heart Health
With so many health benefits, you can easily incorporate cinnamon into your daily diet. Add cinnamon to meals to slow digestion and prevent blood sugar spikes after meals.
Ayurvedic medicine offers a morning tea combining two spices to help regulate blood sugar.
- Combine equal parts of cinnamon and ginger to make a tea.
- This morning tea will also improve blood lipids.
- In addition, this concoction will deliver antioxidants to combat Chronic Heart Disease (CHD).
Make Cinnamon a Dietary Mainstay
You can add ground cinnamon to many foods, such as:
- Spice bread and pasta with a dash of cinnamon.
- Add ground cinnamon to teas and coffees.
- Make a cinnamon and honey tea.
- Cinnamon added to apple and pumpkin pies, as well as cookies and buns, taste great.
Heart Disease May Be Prevent Using Cinnamon
Cinnamon may be a preventive treatment for heart disease. Keep tabs on your progress and never take it or any other food in excess.
