A favourite household spice, cinnamon was once traded as currency. The spice has a pleasant flavour and warm smell, making it popular for cooking, especially in sweet bakes and curries. Derived from the inner bark of a small evergreen tree, the bark is peeled and laid in the sun to dry, where it curls into rolls known as cinnamon sticks. Cinnamon is also available in powdered form. Ceylon cinnamon comes from the bark of cinnamon trees, which are small evergreens found in Sri Lanka and much of Southeast Asia. The bark is dried and can be ground or used in stick form to add sweetness and warmth to a wide variety of foods. Cinnamon is an important spice for curry, drinks, baked goods, and candy. Ceylon cinnamon also offers some impressive health benefits.
The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in Ceylon cinnamon provide significant health benefits. For example, cinnamon is full of beta-carotene, which is part of the reason for its rich brown color. The carotene family of pigments acts as important provitamins since they can be converted into vitamin A. This vitamin is an important part of keeping your eyes healthy. Ceylon cinnamon’s active ingredient, cinnamaldehyde, may have anti-inflammatory properties. Cinnamaldehyde has been shown to reduce the inflammatory response in the body, leading to fewer negative symptoms. Inflammation is linked to chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Ceylon cinnamon may be able to reduce symptoms of these conditions.
