Cinnamon is not just cinnamon: Interesting facts about its effects and types

The effects of cinnamon on your health can vary widely. The cinnamon variety plays a decisive role in the effect of the aromatic spice.

Cinnamon: effect of the spice

Cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices. Cinnamon was part of ancient Chinese medicine thousands of years ago. In the 14th century, the spice came to Europe and the curative Greeks and Romans not only used cinnamon as a spice in the kitchen, but also to alleviate various illnesses.

• At that time there was a type of cinnamon that was mainly grown in Sri Lanka, the Ceylon cinnamon . As the spice became more popular and the demand continued to increase, the cassia cinnamon was added.
• The cassia cinnamon comes from the cinnamon cassia, which is called the Chinese cinnamon tree. The cinnamon cassia is still mainly grown in China. Cassia cinnamon is extracted from tree bark just like Ceylon cinnamon
• The Ceylon cinnamon tree and the cinnamon cassia belong to the laurel family. However, the Ceylon cinnamon tree and the cinnamon cassia are completely different types.
• Specifically, this means that cassia cinnamon is not real cinnamon, but an own spice. This is exactly what gives rise to the decisive differences that are decisive for health.

Grave distinctions between the types of cinnamon

Both Cassia cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon are obtained from the bark of the respective plant species. The secondary plant substance coumarin is found in both types of cinnamon. The difference between the species is the concentration of this substance.

• While there are only marginal amounts of coumarin in Ceylon cinnamon, the amounts in Cassia cinnamon are usually very high.
• There is an average of three grams of coumarin in one kilogram of cassia cinnamon. However, it is by no means unusual for the proportion of coumarin to be up to around 9 grams per kilogram.
• Ceylon cinnamon, on the other hand, contains hardly any, depending on the quality, a maximum of 0.8 grams of coumarin per kilogram.
• Depending on how much you consume of coumarin, enjoying it can cause severe headaches and discomfort .
• Inject large amounts of coumarin into your body regularly, including risk of kidney problems, inflammation of the liver and, in the worst case, severe liver damage . Coumarin is also suspected of being carcinogenic .
• For this reason, both the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the consumer advice centers warn against consuming too much cassia cinnamon.
• Note : You can often tell which cinnamon was used in the product from the list of ingredients. If there is only cinnamon, it is usually cassia cinnamon. Food manufacturers who use the slightly more expensive Ceylon cinnamon will notify the list of ingredients accordingly.

Ceylon cinnamon - that's how healthy it is

Ceylon cinnamon contains essential minerals such as iron, magnesium and calcium, potassium and manganese. You will also find numerous essential oils, antioxidants and phytochemicals.

• Among other things, Ceylon cinnamon is rich in eugenol, which has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
• Ceylon cinnamon is also said to regulate blood fat levels and lower blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, however, you should speak to your doctor before consuming cinnamon.
• Ceylon cinnamon is antibiotic and can be helpful in combating bacterial infections. It also strengthens the immune system and is said to promote healthy digestion.
• The exact effect of Ceylon cinnamon on diseases is still being investigated.
• If you have pre-existing conditions and are taking medication, be sure to talk to your doctor. Cinnamon supplements in particular can lead to side effects in combination with other medications.
• If blood clotting is impaired and blood thinners such as aspirin are taken, cinnamon is generally not recommended.