We understand cinnamon can flavor up a meal, but do you know all about the pros and cons of cinnamon? As you may or may not have noticed, many of the foods and beverages that contain cinnamon are considered to be foods with an assortment of health benefits.
In many cases, cinnamon stands as one of the key components behind why those foods and beverages have an assortment of health benefits. Are the pros and cons of cinnamon worth considering? When you look at some of the pros of cinnamon specifically, the answer to that question is an emphatic yes.
List of Pros of Cinnamon
The pros of cinnamon are most certainly for real. There is a reason why cinnamon tends to remain popular with both medical professionals and everyday people on a fairly consistent basis. That’s because there are quite a few health benefits to consider. If you want to know more about the pros of cinnamon, here is what you are going to need to know:
1. Antibacterial.
Cinnamon is capable of acting as a powerful antibacterial agent. When we talk about the benefits of cinnamon, we are generally talking about the substance in cinnamon that is known as cinnamaldehyde. This is the component that allows cinnamon to function as the powerful antibacterial agent that we have already mentioned.
2. Antifungal.
Cinnamon is also capable of acting as a powerful antifungal agent. In addition to what cinnamon is capable of as an antibacterial agent, it also comes with powerful antifungal properties, as well.
3. Good for Blood Sugar Levels.
Cinnamon can potentially help with blood sugar levels: Although the research on whether or not cinnamon can help with blood sugar is still ongoing research, it is worth mentioning that a number of studies very strongly suggest that cinnamon can help you to lower your overall blood sugar levels.
4. Helps Gastrointestinal Issues.
While the research on cinnamon and blood sugar is still ongoing research, the research on what cinnamon can do for gastrointestinal problems is in. It is extremely positive. Cinnamon has been proven again and again to help with such problems as bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, and gas. Research on the whole thing continues to be conducted, but it does seem like an awful lot of people have been using cinnamon to treat stomach aches and more with successful results.
These are some of the more compelling pros associated with cinnamon use. However, as you can imagine, a complete look at the pros and cons of cinnamon is simply impossible, without also looking into some of the cons associated with the concept.
List of Cons of Cinnamon
There are some great potential benefits associated with cinnamon that are still being researched. By the same token, this research can also be extended towards some of the cons that are associated with cinnamon use:
1. Causes Breathing Problems.
Too much cinnamon can cause breathing problems. Quite simple, it is a known fact that ingesting way too much cinnamon can lead to breathing problems.
2. Increase Heart Rate.
Overuse of cinnamon can lead to an increase in your heart rate. This can tied into the point mentioned above. Having an abundance of cinnamon in your diet can lead to your heart rate speeding up.
3. Makes You Sweat.
Taking too much cinnamon can lead to sweating. In addition to the cons mentioned already, taking too much cinnamon can cause you to sweat uncontrollably.
4. Depression.
All of the above symptoms can be followed by a period of being depressed. If you do experience all of the things mentioned above, you can also potentially expect a period of depression to follow.
5. Intensifies Rosacea Symptoms.
Cinnamon can make rosacea symptoms worse. You will find that rosacea symptoms can be heightened through cinnamon use.
6. Oral Cancer.
Cinnamon oil can increase the overall risk of getting an oral-based cancer.
7. Cause Liver Issue.
Cinnamon can potentially cause liver harm.
8. Interact with Certain Medications.
Substantial amounts of cinnamon can interact with certain medications.
Is Cinnamon Healthy?
Cinnamon is an extremely popular ingredient. Look up a list of all the foods and beverages that contain cinnamon, and you are going to be impressed. What you want to do is cut the list from there to healthy foods that contain cinnamon. As you can perhaps imagine, cinnamon does not automatically make something healthy. Nonetheless, there are quite a few foods out there that are healthy, and contain cinnamon as a primary ingredient. Because of the healthful qualities of cinnamon, you could make the argument that cinnamon plays a key role in the benefits of many healthy foods and beverages.
However, is there something to be said for taking more cinnamon than what you can find in foods and beverages?
Perhaps. A number of studies indicate that cinnamon can be extremely beneficial in a variety of ways. You will want to consider these potential benefits, but you will also want to consider the potential downsides of taking cinnamon beyond its place as an ingredient in food and beverage.