Cinnamon is a fragrant spice that is in the arsenal of almost every housewife. And this spice has been known since ancient times. It was presented as a gift to monarchs, used as an air flavoring agent and added to dishes that were prepared for dinner parties.
In the Middle Ages, cinnamon was a curiosity and the fact that it is the dried bark of a tree from the laurel family (it is she who is called "cinnamon") was not even suspected in Europe. Arab traders delivered the spice to Alexandria, where it was acquired by Venetian merchants - monopolists in the sale of spices in the West. In those days, cinnamon was very expensive and only representatives of the nobility and crowned heads could afford an apple pie with a fragrant addition. Fortunately, today it is available to everyone. And it has so many useful properties that the fingers of one hand are not enough to list them!
Dossier. Cinnamon is an evergreen of the cinnamon species. It is grown for two years and then cut to the root. Over the next year, new shoots form at the site of the cuts, from which the bark is removed. After getting rid of the wooden layer, small brown stripes remain, which, when dried, roll up into beautiful tubes. They are either crushed to a dusty state, or immediately sent for sale. The incredible aroma and spicy, slightly tart taste of cinnamon is due to its constituent essential oils, the base of which is cinnamic acid aldehyde.
The spice is marketed in two varieties: as Ceylon cinnamon and as a Chinese brown tree. The first is distinguished by a sharp taste, a less dense structure and more pronounced properties that provide a healing effect.
Beneficial features. In medicine, cinnamon is used as an antiseptic and antimicrobial agent. In addition, it improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and is effective in the prevention of colon diseases.
A few pinches of cinnamon a day will help flush excess fluid and bile salts from the body.
The spice has a positive effect on concentration and memory, and also allows you to fight fatigue, which is especially valuable in the autumn-winter period, when the body is weakened and suffers from a lack of sun and vitamins.
A mixture of cinnamon and honey strengthens the immune system, stimulating the body's defenses. Your digestive system will thank you for adding this spice to your diet every day: it improves metabolism, relieves bloating and other unpleasant symptoms.
Thanks to its essential oils, cinnamon helps fight autumn depression, relieving tension and stress. Aromatherapy using this spice is also quite effective.
Place a few cinnamon sticks on your work table and you will be energized.
Not a panacea. Remember that in the presence of serious diseases, cinnamon can be used exclusively in complex therapy and only after consulting a specialist. Not so long ago, a huge number of articles appeared on the Web on the effectiveness of cinnamon in the treatment of diabetes. Some studies have actually shown that cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels by aiding insulin absorption. Other experiments have given the opposite result. The American Diabetes Association is also interested in this topic. After completing their research, her representatives called for caution with cinnamon treatments.
Text: Natalia Kapitsa
