Cinnamon is a popular spice that comes from the inside bark of the cinnamon tree, according to Medicinal Herb Info. It's so popular that Food.com lists 39,368 recipes that use cinnamon as an ingredient. The ground spice alone is very low in calories, but when it is used as an ingredient in food, the food can be quite high in calories.
Calories
One tablespoon of cinnamon contains only 19 calories, reports WolframAlpha.com. However, Cinnabon's Classic cinnamon roll contains 813 calories, according to CalorieKing. Only about 19 of those calories come from the cinnamon.
Nutrition
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that one tablespoon of cinnamon provides calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamin A. WolframAlpha.com adds that cinnamon provides vitamins E, B6, zinc, iron and niacin.
Health Benefits
Cinnamon has been found to be beneficial for diabetics in normalizing their blood glucose levels. Researchers at Thames Valley University in London performed a double-blind study to investigate the health benefits of cinnamon for diabetic patients. The 12-week study tested several health factors in patients taking cinnamon and those taking a placebo. The results, published in the October 2010 issue of "Diabetic Medicine," showed cinnamon's ability to lower glucose levels and blood pressure.
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