Cinnamon

Caution Cinnamon

Cinnamon has many health benefits: lowers blood sugar; slightly lowers cholesterol, it is a source of manganese, dietary fiber, iron and calcium; smelling the scent can improve memory; has anti inflammatory qualities; anti bacterial anti yeast.

Its main usefulness is seen in regulating blood sugar. An active ingredient in cinnamon, proanthocyanidin, worms its way inside cells, where it activates the insulin receptor. Once this receptor is activated, whether by insulin or cinnamon, chemical reactions occur allowing the cell to use energy from sugar. Cinnamaldehyde (also called cinnamic aldehyde) has been well-researched for its effects on blood platelets. Platelets are constituents of blood that are meant to clump together under emergency circumstances (like physical injury) as a way to stop bleeding, but under normal circumstances, they can make blood flow inadequate if they clump together too much. The cinnaldehyde in cinnamon helps prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets. The main source of coumarin in the diet is cinnamon.

Caution With Cinnamon

Caution:
Cinnamon contains unmodified coumarin which has no effect on the vitamin K coagulation system, or on the action of warfarin-type drugs. Coumarin was first synthesized in 1868. It is modified and used in the making of warfarin (Coumadin) a type of vitamin K antagonists. It is also present in sweet clover, one of the most inexpensive honeys sold.

For those on blood thinners, cinnamon contains large amounts of coumarin. This has been known to cause liver damage in some people. In Italy there are cinnamon supplements that are distressing researchers. Cinnamon contains coumarin.

Alert:
May increase GERD by the lowering the pressure in the abdominal sphincter. Put aside for two weeks prior to any surgery.