Written By: GreenMedInfo Research Group

If you live in North America or Europe that jar of "cinnamon" in your cupboard is probably not truly cinnamon at all, but a very similar spice known as cassia or "bastard cinnamon."

True cinnamon is usually labeled "Ceylon cinnamon" and comes principally from Sri Lanka (called Ceylon in colonial times), India, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean. Cassia, on the other hand, is often designated as "Chinese cinnamon" or "Saigon cinnamon" and comes principally from Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Japan and Korea.

Cinnamon is one of the oldest and most popular spices, and has been used for millennia both for its flavoring and medicinal qualities. In ancient Egypt, it was used to fill body cavities of corpses as an embalming agent. In ancient Rome it was considered so valuable that the Emperor Nero burned a year's supply on his wife's funeral pyre as proof of his devotion to her.

Ceylon cinnamon is more expensive and more difficult to find in North America where most spices labeled cinnamon are actually the cheaper cassia. Sweeter, lighter and more refined than cassia, true cinnamon is most suitable to flavoring desserts rather than more robust, savory dishes, which can handle the heavier cassia.

Besides flavor, the most important distinction between the two spices, however, is in their levels of coumarin, a natural compound that acts as a blood thinner when ingested. 

Cassia has much higher levels of coumarin than true cinnamon. Patients on blood thinners such as warfarin (trade name Coumadin) are often advised to limit their intake of cinnamon, but this generally applies to cassia more so than to real cinnamon.

Both types of cinnamon are excellent sources of the trace mineral manganese, which is an important activator of enzymes essential to building healthy bones as well as other physiological processes, including carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

They are also both very good sources of dietary fiber, iron and calcium. The combination of calcium and fiber is thought to be helpful in reducing the risk of colon cancer, lowering cholesterol levels and relieving constipation and diarrhea.

Whatever you do, makes sure to buy all your spices USDA certified organic because many conventional brands irradiate their raw material with intense doses of radiation.

Six Reasons to Get More Cinnamon in Your Diet

1. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

Cinnamon has been shown to normalize blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics by improving the ability to respond to insulin. It does so in part by slowing the rate at which the stomach empties after eating as evidenced by a study in which people ate about a cup of rice pudding with and without about a teaspoon of cinnamon. Adding the cinnamon slowed the rate the stomach emptied from 37% to 34.5% and significantly slowed the rise in blood sugar levels. Even less than a half of a teaspoon a day reduces blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics. 

2. Favorably Alters the Blood Lipid Profile 

Diabetics can also reduce their risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease by consuming even one daily gram (about 1/3 teaspoon) of cinnamon. One 2003 USDA study found that after 40 days of eating between just 1 and 6 grams of cinnamon (about 2 teaspoons), Type 2 diabetics were not only able to reduce their blood sugar levels by 18% to 29%, but also lowered their triglycerides by 23% to 30%, their LDL cholesterol by 7% to 27% and total cholesterol by 12% to 26%. [Note: the focus on LDL cholesterol particles by number versus their quality is misleading.]

3. Supports Healthy Blood Clotting

Much research has been devoted to cinnamon's effect on blood platelets, which contribute to clotting. It helps thin the blood and prevent unwanted clumping of platelets. It is so effective as an anti-coagulant that patients taking prescription blood thinners are warned not to take cinnamon in concentrated form such as supplements or extracts. Cassia has higher concentrations of the blood-thinning agent coumarin, which is all the more reasont to opt for the Ceylon form.

4. Fights Bacteria and Fungus

Ayurvedic medicine has long used cinnamon for it anti-microbial qualities to support the immune system and prevent colds and flu. It has been proven to help stop the growth of bacteria, fungus and the common yeast Candida. One study showed that it is an effective alternative to chemical food preservatives and just a few drops of essential oil of cinnamon added to refrigerated carrot broth prevented the growth of foodborne pathogens for up to 60 days.

5. Boosts Memory and Protects the Brain

Chewing cinnamon flavored gum or just smelling the sweet spice has been found to improve brain activity. Research led by Dr. P. Zoladz and presented at the 2004 meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences, in Sarasota, Florida, concluded that cinnamon enhances cognitive processing and was found to improve test subjects' scores related to attention, memory and visual-motor speed when working at a computer.

A 2011 study suggested that it may have a role in reducing the kind of chronic inflammation that leads to various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor and meningitis.

6. Improves Digestion

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cinnamon has been used for flatulence, nausea and diarrhea. It is also believed to improve the body's ability to digest fruit, milk and other dairy products. 

Both cassia and real cinnamon are often labeled the same in North America. The true Ceylon version will be more expensive, and it will be a lighter shade of brown, a finer powder and have a sweeter scent. When buying the sticks, known as "quills," keep in mind that, generally, cassia will be thicker and the two ends will be rolled toward each other rather than being rolled in one direction only.

Originally published: 2012-07-31  

Article updated: 2019-06-30

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