If you are reading this, chances are that you are a fan of cinnamon. The spice, which is gotten from the bark of a tree is a favourite for many people around the world, including Sri Lanka, which has its own specie of the tree (Ceylon) while the rest of the world consumes cassia, the other species of the plant. Cinnamon is commonly used around the world to improve and enhance the taste and smell of foods. It is sprinkled and used in toast, soups, stews, cereals, snacks, and so on. I recently noticed that a lot of Nigerians have started to make use of cinnamon and are wondering what the health benefits of cinnamon water is.
People like to use the spice the way they want and would enjoy it with anything they have. But besides being used to make food taste better, cinnamon also has health benefits that we enjoy whenever we consume it. For that reason, some people just prefer to drink cinnamon water or cinnamon tea.
As the name suggests, cinnamon water is just water that cinnamon has been added to. A roll of cinnamon is soaked into hot water, which is then drank. They can also just mix the powder with any kind of water. Many people like to drink cinnamon water because of the many health benefits it has, especially based on the claim that soaking cinnamon in water is the best way to extract all the nutrients from it.
Here we would be discussing some of the health benefits of drinking cinnamon water and why you should start drinking it if you have not started already.
1. Contains Antioxidant Properties
Cinnamon is a good source of antioxidants, like polyphenols. Polyphenols can help to treat digestive problems as well as diabetes and issues with the heart. Research studies has stated that drinking cinnamon water increases your body’s capability to fight off free radicals, keeping you healthy and protecting you from chronic diseases. [1]
2. Treats Inflammation
Cinnamon also contains anti-inflammatory properties that help it treat and manage inflammation like arthritis and joint pain caused by inflammation. Drinking cinnamon water every day can help people with such conditions find relief from the pain and help them manage their condition better. [2]
3. Boosts Immunity
Drinking cinnamon water daily helps build your immune system due to the presence of antioxidants like polyphenols and proanthocyanidins that get rid of free radicals from your body. It also contains antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties that protect your body from diseases and also helps your body fight whenever you have a condition. [3]
4. Helps With Weight Loss
Making cinnamon water a part of your daily diet can help you achieve weight loss faster and easier than you think. It counters some of the effects of high-fat foods so that they do not show on the body. It also reduces your appetite, making you eat less. This allows you to stick to a diet and eat only when necessary. [4]
5. Helps People With Diabetes
Cinnamon lowers blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream and also reduces insulin resistance, allowing people to properly feel the effect of insulin in their blood, which can help them manage their condition better. [5]
6. Improves the Skin
Another thing drinking cinnamon water can do for you is to improve your skin. This it does by clearing your holes open and getting rid of toxins from the body, some of which block the skin pores. It also treats skin conditions like acne. [6]
7. Helps To Manage Menstrual Cramps
Drinking cinnamon water for women can help them manage the cramps and pain that comes with menstruation. This is because cinnamon has analgesic properties that help to reduce pain. In one study conducted by scientists, women were given cinnamon water for the three days of their menstrual period. They found out that the women experienced less pain than those who didn’t take cinnamon water. [7]
8. Helps With Toothache
Cinnamon also helps in dealing with problems associated with toothache. People with toothache also apply it directly to parts where they feel with pain. Because of their powerful antibacterial effects, cinnamon water may help reduce bad breath and prevent tooth decay. [8]
9. Help Against Cancer
Cinnamon contains anti-cancer properties in the form of anti-carcinogens, which kill cancer cells and stop them from spreading. [9]
10. Helps With Aging Effects
Drinking cinnamon water also takes care of some of the effects of aging, like wrinkles, because it contains anti-aging properties. [10]
11. Enhances Brain Function
Taking cinnamon water can improve the way someone’s brain function, increasing their ability to focus. It also helps in preventing Alzheimer’s and also helps with coordination in people with Parkinson’s disease. [11]
12. Improves Heart Health
The health benefits of cinnamon water doesn’t just end there, it’s also very good for the heart. According to studies, cinnamon water may increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, that helps to keep your heart healthy by removing excess cholesterol from your blood vessels. [12]
13. May Boost Fertility
Research suggests that cinnamon may also help improve menstrual cycles in women affected by a common infertility disorder. A study by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center discovered that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), who took cinnamon had regular menstrual cycles. PCOS is a common cause of infertility in women, as it causes cysts to grow in the ovaries, which results in low fertility and irregular menstrual cycles. Cinnamon may boost fertility in women according to this study. [13]
Also, cinnamon might also boost fertility in men by improving blood flow and increasing sperm count.
Side Effects of Cinnamon
However, consuming large amounts of cinnamon may have adverse consequences. It may contain dangerously high amounts of coumarin (a compound that prevents the narrowing of blood vessels). When consumed in excess, this compound (coumarin) may increase the risk of bleeding and cause or worsen liver disease. So please take cinnamon water in moderation.
Bottom Line
Cinnamon is a spice that gives your food a delicious taste. It is also very nutritous and can be beneficial to you. You can take cinnamon water to enjoy it’s nutritional properties. Cinnamon water is full of helpful compounds that may offer various health benefits. The health benefits of cinnamon water includes it’s ability to promote weight loss, boost heart health, reduce menstrual cramps, fighting inflammation and alleviating blood sugar levels.
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Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.