Cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices in the world. It is either used or sold as sticks or ground into powder and used in many drinks and bakery products. Other than being used as a culinary spice, cinnamon is thought to have many medicinal purposes. It is an anti-oxidant that is known to have positive effects on blood sugar, indigestion, the common cold and many other things. In Dominica we learned that cinnamon is used for abdominal pains, diarrhea, the common cold, and relieving nausea and vomiting. It was used by ancient practitioners, such as Dioscorides and Galen for sore throats and cough, while it was used for arthritis and inflammation in folk medicine. Recent studies have shown that cinnamon does in fact lower blood sugar levels by up to 25% when taken in higher doses. Studies have also shown a moderate decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels with increased cinnamon intake. Although cinnamon has been granted the status of “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the FDA, substantial amounts of ground cinnamon can be unsafe due to the cinnameldehyde, which is the oily constituent that gives cinnamon its smell and flavor.
- Sara, Beth, and Jess
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