5 Major Health Benefits of Cinnamon

A sprinkle of cinnamon on oatmeal, coffee, and other baked goods, gives it a festive touch of spice, especially as the weather gets colder. But beyond its great flavor, cinnamon can also benefit your overall health.

Cinnamon has been used for thousands of years as a spice, but also as medicine. The long history of using cinnamon in traditional medicine spans the continents, from Asia to the Middle East, according to the National Institute of Health. Today, cinnamon is commonly used as a supplement to lower blood sugar, alleviate irritable bowel syndrome, and more.

# Boosts antioxidants

Cinnamon contains a variety of phytochemicals that act as antioxidants, according to a 2018 study, that found it helped women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In the study, women with PCOS who received 3 cinnamon capsules (of 500 mg each) daily for 8 weeks showed improved antioxidant status that can help alleviate the symptoms of PCOS, a metabolic and reproductive condition that creates oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant levels in the body.

# Has Anti-inflammatory properties

Consuming cinnamon powder (in the range of 1.5 to 4 grams per day) showed a reduction in various proteins that indicate inflammation in the body, a 2020 meta-analysis found.

# Lowers blood sugar

Consuming 3 to 6 grams of cinnamon per day for 40 days had beneficial effects on blood glucose both before and after a meal, a 2019 study found. (However, there wasn’t a significant effect on the average blood sugar levels over two to three months.)

# Protects against neurodegenerative diseases

While further research needs to be completed on human studies, a 2021 study found that the supplementation of cinnamon extract reduced the severity of memory impairment and decreased neuronal loss in animals with brain injury. The loss of neurons leads to memory loss and the ability to conduct daily tasks, often seen in dementia and Alzheimer’s.

# Reduces the risk of heart disease

High LDL (bad) cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. A 2017 study found that cinnamon supplementation helped to reduce blood triglyceride levels and total cholesterol levels. Although this study didn’t find a difference in LDL cholesterol levels, another 2013 study showed that consumption of cinnamon was associated with improvements in both LDL and HDL (good) cholesterol levels.