Benefits of Honey and Cinnamon Remedy

Benefits of Honey and Cinnamon Remedy

Real Cinnamon

Ceylon cinnamon has been hailed as the "true cinnamon" or the "real cinnamon" that possesses outstanding health benefits especially for the diabetics and those challenged by obesity and high cholesterol issues. Unfortunately this cinnamon which is native to Sri Lanka and sourced from the plant Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, is rather unknown to most people and also known as Cinnamomum Verum or Mexican Cinnamonor (Canella).

In the United States and many parts of Asia, what the majority of us have been buying from the Supermarket and groceries and consuming is actually not the real cinnamon but Cassia cinnamon, which comes from a different plant called Cinnamomum Cassia (or Cinnamomum Aromaticum), also commonly known as Chinese cinnamon that are mostly cultivated in China and Indonesia. While the two species of cinnamon share certain characteristics such as antimicrobial, and in terms of inhibiting the growth of fungi and yeast, and regulating blood sugar, their contents differ much in terms of the amount of coumarin, which is a naturally ocurring substance with strong blood-thinning properties. The coumarin level in Ceylon cinnamon is negligibly small, while that in Cassia cinnamon is an appalling 1200 times higher. The ingestion of large amount of coumarin or consumption of coumarin over a prolonged period of time can cause serious health damages and a negative impact on the liver and kidney. German FDA has warned against consuming the excessive intake of Cassia bark due to its coumarin content.

Ground Cinnamon

Because apart from any packaging or labeling, there is no way to tell if the cinnamon powder has been made from the Ceylon cinnamon or the Cassia cinnamon. Most bottles of cinnamon we buy (including the bottle I currently have in my kitchen) do not indicate the type of cinnamon tree the cinnamon is sourced from. In many countries this Ceylon cinnamon is not available on the shelves. Check directly with the supplier to ascertain its origin of the cinnamon before buying the cinnamon powder. And my review of the two types of cinnamon powder? When the packages (ground and sticks) were air-freighted to me, I immediately opened one up and took a sniff of the powder. WOW BANG! It was exactly like how others have described it! The aroma was sweet enough to make you fall in love with it immediately. Its pleasant fragrance was a heaven and earth difference from the harsh, pungent Cassia cinnamon I had always known. Never did I ever expect cinnamon could smell so delightful. Immediately I was able to imagine the vast difference in taste it would make for baking pastries and cakes. Before that, I was never able to understand how one could make their own Christmas ornaments with Cinnamon sticks or allow the natural fragrance of cinnamon to fill their home. Now with just one sniff of the Ceylon cinnamon, I could make all those connections straight away. What a lovely discovery!

Cinnamon Sticks

As for the cinnamon sticks, there are several ways of determining whether you are getting the real deal. I've taken a picture of the two types and placed them side by side. Study the following table and check the cinnamon sticks in your kitchen right away to find what you have been eating all this time.

7 Key Differences Between Ceylon Cinnamon and Cassia Cinnamon

Ceylon Cinnamon	Cassia/Chinese Cinnamon
A highly valued culinary and medicinal spice. Price can be up to 10 times more than the Cassia/Chinese cinnamon.	Commonly available and very cheap. You get a bag of the sticks for less than a dollar.
Contains a small, negligible amount of coumarin, a naturally occurring blood-thinning substance. Recommended for regular use, eg for correcting blood sugar level.	Contains a high level of coumarin content which can be harmful for the liver and kidney when consumed daily or regularly. Not a concern for occasional use. (Note: Saigon Cinnamon, a type of cinnamon from Vietnam that shares a similar appearance with Cassia, also contains a relatively high level of Coumarin.)
Tan brown in colour.	Reddish dark brown.
Thin and paper-like textured bark that forms multiple layers when rolled up.	Uneven thick bark that forms only a few layers when rolled up.
Fragile, easily broken.	Tough, difficult (if not impossible) to grind to powder with an electric home kitchen grinder.
Delicate, sweet with subtle notes of clove. Creates an excellent flavor profile for pastries, cakes and desserts.	Pungent, full-bodied taste. Suitable for Chinese braised meat recipes.
Mostly originated from Sri Lanka and used in most part of Europe.	Primarily sourced from China and supplied to the USA and Asia.

Amazed by the differences? I am! Spread the word around, too few people know about this. Tell your family and friends about this real cinnamon, they'll appreciate it!
Cheers,
Ruth Tan
July 2017 (Updated)

More...

1. Where can you get these real cinnamon sticks and powder? If you are residing in Singapore, you can get them from Bee Healthy. Otherwise, you can get it form online spice stores such as Druera and Spice Barn.

2. Recipe for regulating sugar level, reducing weight and cholesterol level: Cinnamon and Honey Recipe.

3. Recipe Tips: Cinnamon powder and sticks are both commonly used in cooking and baking of many diverse cultures. They add a whole new dimension to the flavour of main dishes, desserts, ice-cream, puree, mousse, and salads, etc. There are various ways to spice up your day - breakfast toast sprinkled with cinnamon and drizzled with honey offers a potential metabolism boost, a dash of cinnamon stirred into a cup of coffee or tea adds a dynamite flavour, and a cinnamon stick at the bottom of your cup brings a delightful finale to a hearty meal. You can also make a DYI healing mask for your face with a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and two teaspoons of raw honey.

4. Storage Tips: Like all other spices, cinnamon loses its strength in fragrance and color over time. Store your cinnamon powder or sticks in air-tight bottles in a cool place, away from any moisture, sunlight or heat. Racks above the stove or near a window are poor storage choices. Refrigerating spices without any tight sealing is not recommended due to the high humidity level in fridges. For large quantities of spices, you may want to store them in air tight containers in the freezer compartment. The shelf life of properly stored cinnamon is about 4-5 years for whole cinnamon and 2-3 years for ground cinnamon.


The combination of honey and cinnamon has been used for centuries in both traditional Chinese and Ayurveda, a system of healing founded 5000 years ago in India. The two ingredients with unique healing abilities have a long history as a home remedy. Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known to mankind and honey's popularity has continued throughout history. Cinnamon's essential oils and honey's enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide qualify the two "anti-microbial" foods with the ability to help stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi. Both are used not just as a beverage flavoring and medicine, but also as an embalming agent and are used as alternatives to traditional food preservatives due to their effective antimicrobial properties.   Also, it is worth mentioning that in Ayurvedic medicine, honey is known as 'Yogavahi', which means "the carrier of the healing values of the herbs to the cells and tissues". It is believed that when combined with another substance (eg a herb or spice) in a formulation, the special quality of honey enhances the medicinal qualities of that formulation and helps them reach the deeper tissues in the body more effectively. And honey and cinnamon, which is one of the best-known mixtures, has been reported to be a natural cure for many diseases and a formula for many health benefits:




1) HEART DISEASES: Apply honey and cinnamon powder on bread instead of using jam or butter and eat it regularly for breakfast. It is believed that in the long run, this can help prevent blockages in blood vessels, heart attacks and hypercholesterolemia.

2) ARTHRITIS: Apply a paste made of the two ingredients on the affected part of the body and massage slowly. Drinking tea with honey and cinnamon daily can also help relieve pain and stiffness in the joints.

3) HAIR LOSS: Apply a paste of hot olive oil, a tablespoon of honey, a teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath, leave it for 15 min and wash.










4) BLADDER INFECTIONS: Mix a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and half a teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink. This can help destroy the bacteria in the urinary system.

5) TOOTHACHE: Apply a paste of cinnamon powder and honey and on the aching tooth.

6) CHOLESTEROL: Add honey to cinnamon powder mixed in boiled water or green tea and drink.
7) COLDS: Make a glass of lukewarm honey water mixed with a pinch of cinnamon powder to help boost your immune system during the cold season. It is also helpful in clearing the sinuses.

8) INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on a spoonful of honey taken before food relieves acidity and prevents indigestion.

9) LONGEVITY: Regularly take tea made with honey and a little cinnamon powder to strengthen your immune system and protect your body from viral and bacterial attacks.

10) PIMPLES: A clinical study has shown that the combination of cinnamon bark extract and honey has potential activity against acne-causing bacteria (Scientia Pharmaceutica, 2017 Apr, 85(2)). Mix honey with cinnamon powder and apply paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash away the next morning.

11) OBESITY: To reduce weight, daily drink a mixture of a teaspoon of honey with half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder boiled in water with an empty stomach in the morning about half an hour before breakfast.

Cinnamon has an insulin boosting property (water soluble compounds called polyphenol type A polymers) which have the ability to boost insulin activity about 20 fold and can benefit people who have high sugar levels (obese people, pre-diabetics ((Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 2010 May; 4(3): 685–693) and diabetics). Also, read the honey hibernation diet theory to find out how honey contributes to the metabolizing of undesirable cholesterol and fatty acid, provides a fuelling mechanism for the body, keep blood sugar levels balanced, and let our recovery hormones get on with burning body fat stores.

12) BAD BREATH: Gargle with honey and cinnamon powder mixed in warm water so that breath stays fresh throughout the day.

Honey plus cinnamon together besides being a amazing potential cure for so many illnesses, their total fragrant, sweet and warm taste is also a perfect match for the palate. The combination adds a magic effect to the taste of cakes, breads, biscuits and rolls and is known to make many winning recipes in the world of delicious food, such as the famous, easy-to-make, kids' favourite classic - honey and cinnamon butter toast!

Step-by-Step Honey and Cinnamon Weight Loss Recipe

This recipe speeds up body metabolism. Best to take it first thing in the morning. (Avoid taking cinnamon before bedtime as some have complained about restless sleep.)

Are You Eating the Real Cinnamon?

If you don't know what real or fake cinnamon sticks are, read more in: Ceylon Cinnamon Versus Cassia Cinnamon.
 

        Zee, South Africa     10/03/2018 @05:30:12

I have problem of arthritis and knee problems, I would ask to know how cinnamon can help me.

        Tich, Zimbabwe     02/03/2018 @23:22:59

Makes me energetic.

        Htoo, Myanmar     30/12/2017 @07:51:40

I really want weight loss, so I've to try these recipes, also about my pimples and acne, I wish it really does work. Thanks for the recipes.

        Ruth, Benefits of Honey     11/10/2017 @12:26:24

Scot, a glass of warm water mixed with 2 teaspoons of honey and half teaspoon of cinnamon.
If you are not taking cinnamon regularly, the regular cinnamon from the grocery shop will do fine. But if the consumption is regularly, use Ceylon cinnamon, you can try getting Ceylon cinnamon from online websites such as Amazon or iHerb.

        Scot, United Kingdom     09/10/2017 @08:35:07

What are the spoon size for honey and cinnamon for sleep, also what is the correct type of cinnamon? Thank you.

        Ruth, Benefits of Honey     31/08/2017 @11:02:34

Bharti, cinnamon may not be suitable for you because it could further lower your blood pressure.

        Bharti, India     30/08/2017 @09:26:13

Hi, I am looking for weight lose of 10 kgs but I have low blood pressure problem and piles so just wanted to know if use of cinnamon and honey along with hot water and empty stomach will not make it worse and will help to achieve my desired goal of weight. Please advise truly. Thanks.

        Wamorena Laone Rannyena, Botswana     20/08/2017 @07:14:25

It works in amazing way.

        Seipati, Lesotho     06/08/2017 @16:16:20

I had left side chest pains, I started using cinnamon and honey, the pain is now so scarce.

        Carmen, United States     26/07/2017 @07:55:25

I want to try the remedy for arthritis. Every other day help with my inflammations.

        Rae, United States     26/05/2017 @09:39:13

I was diagnosed with Meineres Disease and I have allergies; the two do not mix well at all. After taking a tablespoon of honey from my local area (from the local bees), I am no longer dizzy or vomitting.

        Nat Honger, Ghana     22/05/2017 @14:05:53

It's all true.

        Mohamed Abdulmajid, Tanzania     14/05/2017 @15:56:56

The above information concerning the advantages of cinnamon and homey was very helpful.

        Deborah Noriega Moore, United States     11/05/2017 @05:35:34

I will begin using cinnamon and raw honey today and will record and document results in 2 weeks.

        CHiOMA, Italy     23/04/2017 @12:18:22

I am yet to try it, but I heard that cinnamon and honey is great in healing ovarian cyst. I need to try it and see if it will work for me.

        Ruth, Benefits of Honey     23/03/2017 @12:21:15

Sorry, Vasudev, we haven't come across any reports on cinnamon and honey as a cure for this form of arthritis.

        Vasudev, India     23/03/2017 @10:12:06

I want to know if Cinnamon Honey mix in warm water taken on empty stomach is a cure for inflammation in Ankylosing Spondylitis condition.

        Ruth, Benefits of Honey     22/03/2017 @18:13:28

Hannah, you can find the comparison of the regular cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon in this page: Ceylon Cinnamon Versus Cassia Cinnamone.

        Hannah, Nigeria     22/03/2017 @15:47:12

Just want to start, but would like to know about the difference of the real and fake cinnamon sticks.

        Juan, United States     06/03/2017 @21:30:32

I want to loose 65 pounds and get better of arthritis.

        Jeannette, United States     05/03/2017 @00:51:45

I've been drinking peppermint tea with honey and cinnamon as part of my daily regimen for my bladder, and O think it's helping me feel better.

        Moses, Malawi     25/02/2017 @09:26:41

I like the combination and I noticed a big change in my body, I feel light myself.

        Pam, United States     21/02/2017 @16:01:38

Honey and cinnamon helped my wheezing cough.

        Christopher, Kenya     04/02/2017 @04:23:30

Honey and cinnamon is very good to cure many sicknesses.

        Monica Gamez, United States     28/01/2017 @20:04:38

I was diagnosed in April 15, 2010 with MS. I had chronic massive headaches but I started taking a teaspoon of honey with cinnamon, my headaches drastically decrease!! I used to have to take Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen for my headaches, but now I don't get headaches. Rarely. But I'm doing a whole better!! I do believe the honey & cinnamon made a difference for me!!

        Garry, Zimbabwe     18/01/2017 @09:18:52

I take honey, cinnamon, and ginger garlic every day, would you say this is good, can't remember been ill. Regards, Garry.

        Cytone Siweya, South Africa     15/01/2017 @15:04:25

Good diet.