Since ancient times, people have consumed honey and used cinnamon as medicine. They are revered throughout the world for their unique curative qualities and capacity to offer relief for a variety of medical conditions. When consumed together, honey and cinnamon contain complementary substances that function even more effectively to treat health issues than when taken separately. The sweet and spicy combination is therefore a healthy way to lessen the symptoms of common health problems and maintain your overall well-being, in addition to being delicious.
Why Cinnamon?
The leaves and inner bark of several tree species found in India, Egypt, China, Sri Lanka, and Australia are used to make the spice cinnamon. A significant molecular component of cinnamon, cinnameldehyde, has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that are largely attributed to it. It is significant to remember that there are two primary varieties of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon, which is native to Sri Lanka, and Cassia cinnamon, which is native to China. Although Ceylon cinnamon is harder to find, it is thought to be more genuine and to have more potent health advantages.
Why Honey?
Honey is a sweet substance made by honeybees from plant nectar; it is high in fructose and glucose, two types of carbohydrates. Honey has strong antibacterial and antioxidant properties, much like cinnamon. Additionally, it possesses a particular anti-inflammatory property that has been demonstrated to significantly lessen inflammation in rat and human tissues. Although the precise biological effects of honey are unknown, phenolic compounds are frequently mentioned as contributing factors. It's important to remember that these effects are significantly more noticeable in raw, unprocessed honey than in the liquid, gold-pasteurized honey that is sold in grocery stores.
Honey & Cinnamon: Now That’s Even Better
Together, honey and cinnamon have strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial effects which prove beneficial in the treatment of a variety of health problems! Read on to discover four widespread health issues that can be helped by ingesting this dynamic duo!
1. The common cold
Many of us are familiar with the common cold, especially during the winter time. Essential oils in cinnamon have been shown to kill species of bacteria characteristic to the common cold such as; E.coli and L.monocytogenes by causing damage to their cell membranes.
In combination with honey, which is known to boost immunity by reducing the formation of free radicals, your common cold does not stand a chance against a honey-cinnamon blend. Try this basic mix for when you have a cold, or even daily use!
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Stir in honey and cinnamon into hot water and sip while hot or warm once or twice a day while fighting a cold.
2. Digestive issues
Digestive issues such as constipation, stomach gas, ulcers, and gastroenteritis can be treated by combining honey and cinnamon. Honey, consisting mainly of glucose and fructose is capable of being quickly transported into the blood, and used as energy in the metabolism of food. Honey also contains long carbohydrate chains, oligosaccharides, that have been shown to have pre-biotic effects, activating helpful bacteria to aid in digestion.
The distinct anti-microbial functions of cinnamon may help relieve gastroenteritis (food poisoning) experienced by bacterial infections in the stomach. Honey also has been observed to externally destroy H.Pylori, a stomach-ulcer-causing bacteria.
So replace greasy French fries with roasted sweet potatoes dressed in honey and cinnamon. Watch this quick and easy recipe from the food network below.
3. Acne
Both honey and cinnamon are rich in anti-microbial properties that destroy and prevent the colonization of bacteria on the skin. It is no surprise then, that cinnamon oil mixed with honey is a common skin care treatment that is used across the world to prevent acne. In fact, combining 3 tablespoons of honey with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon can be applied as an overnight acne spot treatment.
4. Arthritis
Cinnamon and honey have prominent anti-inflammatory properties that are not yet fully understood scientifically. While no formal studies have observed the effects of cinnamon and honey to treat rheumatoid arthritis in humans, studies performed on animals have shown them to drastically reduce inflammation and improve arthritic pain. Given the strong anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamon and honey, enjoying a cup of honey and cinnamon tea to aid arthritic pain may prove to be effective!
Combining cinnamon and honey into your diet is an ancient practice that has persisted over centuries, for its undeniable healing capabilities. Be sure to try out these simple ways of implementing honey-cinnamon mixtures into your lifestyle to prevent against a multitude of health issues!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1297490/pdf/jrsocmed00002-0059b.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074916/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/91597-benefits-ground-cinnamon-skin/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47350289_Cinnamon_and_Health
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2013/679680/abs/
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07315724.2008.10719745?scroll=top&needAccess=true