Health Note- Cinnamon

 Beloved,

I wish above all things that thou mayest ...be in health...

3 John 1:2

"The cinnamon you buy at the store could be one of the two main types, Ceylon or cassia, or a mixture of both. Ceylon is easier to

grind but it may not work as well for diabetes.
It is now the second most popular spice, after black pepper, in the U.S and Europe.

There are two main types of cinnamon:

• Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), often considered to be "true cinnamon"
• Cassia cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum), which originates from southern China

Ceylon cinnamon is very expensive, so most foods in the United States and Western Europe, including sticky buns, breads and other products use the cheaper Cassia cinnamon (dried Cassia bark).

However, cinnamon contains coumain, a natural flavoring.

Consuming too much coumarin can lead to liver damage and affect coagulation. For those on anti-coagulants or other drugs, or those who have diabetes, it is important to discuss taking cinnamon supplement with your health care provider.
Cassia cinnamon powder, commonly used in foods in the USA and Western Europe, contains more coumarin than Ceylan cinnamon powder.
-*-People with liver disease should limit their consumption of cinnamon.

People use cinnamon as a supplement to treat problems with the digestive system, diabetes, loss of appetite, and other conditions.
It has also been used in traditional medicine for bronchitis.
There is a lack of evidence supporting these uses, however.

Research published in 2003 in Diabetes Care found that cinnamon may help improve glucose and lipid levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Consuming up to 6 grams (g) of cinnamon a day appeared to lower serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in 60 people with type 2 diabetes.
The authors suggested that if people with type 2 diabetes include cinnamon in their diet, this may reduce their risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
A further small study did not find that a combination of cinnamon, calcium, and zinc helped control blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes.

Animal studies have suggested that cinnamon may help prevent Alzheimer's disease.
According to researchers at Tel Aviv University, an extract found in cinnamon bark, called CEppt, contains properties that may inhibit the development of symptoms. Mice who received the extract experienced a decrease in disease markers, such as amyloid plaques, and improvement in cognitive behavior.
Researchers tested mice that had consumed a mixture of cinnamon powder and water. The findings suggested that cinnamon could have an anti-inflammatory effect on the central nervous system (CNS), incuding improvement in function in the hippocampus.
Studies have also suggested that cinnamon may protect regulatory T cells, known as Tregs.
These are considered the "master regulator of immune responses." People with MS appear to have a lower level of Tregs than people without the condition. In mouse studies, cinnamon treatment has prevented the loss of certain proteins that are specific to Tregs."
MedicalNewsToday