Cinnamon - කුරුදු

Cinnamon

කුරුදු

The botanical name for "true" cinnamon is Cinnamomum verum, which belongs to the family Lauraceae. It is widely known as Ceylon Cinnamon or Sri Lankan cinnamon, distinguished from common commercial "Cassia" cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum).

If there is a spice that Sri Lanka is particularly famous for, it is undoubtedly be Cinnamon.                    

“Ceylon Cinnamon” is world renowned for its notable qualities such as unique flavour, colour and aroma in comparison to Cassia. It has been a major spice in Ceylonese culture thousands of years.

These thin brown pieces of bark emanate a sweet fragrance and are commonly found in bakery products and flavoured teas. Additionally, it is in meat preservation. It is not only an excellent mood elevator but also an acknowledged health promoting product.     It is believed to possesses medical properties to heal chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

It has anti-inflammatory properties.

As a notable Ceylonese export product, Ceylon Cinnamon it is exported in its natural form and as a processed product. It is converted into value added tablet, a powder and as an oil to the global market.               

Sri Lanka ranks in the top, as the source of 90% of theCeylon Cinnamon exported.

Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. Some research suggests that it may help you manage blood sugar, protect against heart disease and reduce inflammation. Cinnamon is a spice that has been ranked top among the plants with medicinal properties for thousands of years. Cinnamon contains almost no protein or fat and won’t play a big role in your overall nutrition, but a teaspoon of ground cinnamon does include lot of trace elements, many vitamins and phytochemicals.

Energy             6 Kcal

Protein            0.1 g

Fat                     0.03 g

CHO                 2 g

Fiber                 1 g

Calcium            26 mg

Potassium         11 mg

Beta-carotene    3 mcg

Vitamin A         8 IU

Cinnamon doesn't just spice up the flavour of our food and drinks it has many health benefits. Some research shows cinnamon may be good for people with diabetes. A review of 18 studies suggests that cinnamon might lower blood sugar. Many of the studies do not say what type of cinnamon was used or have other problems that make their findings uncertain.              

One review suggests the benefits of cinnamon for weight loss. It is sometimes used for irritable bowel syndrome or other stomach or intestinal problems.         It is not clear that it works.

Cinnamon contains potassium, magnesium and calcium. Potassium helps to counteract sodium’s effect on blood pressure and controls the heart rate. Potassium is also involved in nerve function. Magnesium and calcium work together to maintain a healthy heartbeat. These two minerals are essential for skeletal health, preventing the weakening of bones, a condition called osteoporosis.

In addition, cinnamon can provide other health benefits like:

Cinnamon is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Researchers tested the phytochemicals found in cinnamon and discovered antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In one study, certain cinnamon compounds also targeted free radicals with promising results.

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels to feed tumours. One of the keys to treating cancer is to stop angiogenesis. A study showed that cinnamon can slow down or hold off angiogenesis,    cell growth and retard cellular signaling involved in carcinogenesis. This suggests that cinnamon could be a tool in preventing or treating cancer.

The compound cinnamaldehyde is responsible for cinnamon’s distinct odour and flavour.                 

This phytochemical also has proven widespread antibiotic effects. Cinnamaldehyde was tested against several bacteria and viruses, including staphylococcus, E. coli, salmonella, and candida. Researchers found that it was able to prevent these bacteria from growing.

Cinnamon has a ton of antioxidants, like polyphenols. These can help your body avoid oxidative damage. The antioxidants in cinnamon are so strong that it can sometimes be used as a natural food preservative.

Experts have seen that taking cinnamon supplements can boost antioxidant levels in our blood as well as lower inflammation markers.

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 one is having major metabolic disease.    It lowers blood pressure if it is consistently take for 7 weeks.

Cinnamon also might help with, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV, tooth decay and some allergies.