Manufacturers process the bark of Cinnamomum trees to create a fine, reddish powder called cinnamon. People have used this powder as a fragrance and as a spice for thousands of years. The plant also has medicinal properties, including a broad range of possible health benefits. Yet, some species contain coumarin--a toxic chemical. Consult with a health care professional before ingesting large quantities of cinnamon.
Prevents Bad Breath
Halitosis, or bad breath, affects 32 percent of the population, according to a 2009 survey in the "European Journal of Oral Sciences." Special mouthwashes treat this problem, but they are inconvenient and expensive. A 2011 paper in the "Journal of Clinical Dentistry" looked at the impact of Chinese cinnamon on bad breath. Healthy adults received either cinnamon-sugared gum, flavored-sugared gum or unflavored-sugarless gum during a single testing session. Relative to the other treatments, the cinnamon gum reduced the amount of halitosis-causing bacteria in the subjects' saliva. It also reduced the total amount of oral bacteria. The authors did not observe any adverse events in this study, but the long-term effects of this treatment remain unknown.
Improves Alzheimer's Symptoms
At least 35 million people throughout the world have dementia, according to a 2010 article in the "International Journal of Stroke." And Alzheimer's disease, a severe type of dementia, continues to increase despite medical advances. Herbal remedies may be able to help prevent this increase. A 2011 report in "PLoS One" evaluated the effect of Chinese cinnamon on Alzheimer's symptoms in an animal model. Laboratory rodents, genetically altered to develop dementia, received either the cinnamon extract or an inert treatment for four months. The extract improved the rats' performance on learning and memory tasks. It also reduced the amount of plaque formed in their brains. While promising, results obtained in animals may not apply to humans.
Reverses Diabetic Damage
Diabetes has become more prevalent each year. Behavioral changes could prevent 80 percent of cases, according to a 2011 report in "Transplantation Proceedings." A diet that includes spices like cinnamon may make a difference. A 2010 study described in "Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry" tested Ceylon cinnamon's effect on diabetic rats. The rodents first received injections of streptozotoxcin--a poison that causes diabetes. They then received infusions of either the cinnamon extract or an inert treatment for three weeks. Cinnamon reversed diabetes-induced kidney disease and high sugar levels. The effects were not mediated by insulin-like processes. Cinnamon, therefore, may complement conventional treatments for diabetes in the future. Yet, additional testing is necessary before doctors can recommend cinnamon for diabetic patients.
Kills Cancer Cells
Cancer has become the most lethal disease for Americans under the age of 85, according to a report by MSNBC. While scientists have made progress in treating cancer, prevention remains a better approach. Herbal supplements may effectively fight cancer, and they rarely cause side effects. A 2010 experiment presented in "BMC Cancer" assessed Chinese cinnamon's impact on cancer cells. The authors exposed different types of cancer cells to the extract during a single testing session. The trials included colorectal, cervix, lymph, breast and skin cancer cells. Cinnamon killed cancer cells and reduced tumor growth. Tests in laboratory animals produced similar results. These findings need replicated before firm conclusions can be drawn.
References
- "European Journal of Oral Sciences"; Prevalence of Halitosis in the Population of the City of Bern, Switzerland; Michael M. Bornstein, et al.; June 2009
- "Journal of Clinical Dentistry"; Short-Term Germ-Killing Effect of Sugar-Sweetened Cinnamon Chewing Gum on Salivary Anaerobes Associated With Halitosis; M. Zyu, et al.; 2011
- "International Journal of Stroke"; Dementia and Stroke: The Present and Future Epidemic; Toby Cumming and Amy Brodtmann; December 2010
- "PLoS One"; Orally Administrated Cinnamon Extract Reduces β-Amyloid Oligomerization and Corrects Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease Animal Models; Anat Frydman-Marom, et al.; Jan. 28, 2011
- "Transplantation Proceedings"; Epidemiology and Costs of Diabetes; G. Bruno and A. Landi; January-February 2011
- "Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry"; Verification of the Antidiabetic Effects of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum) Using Insulin-Uncontrolled Type 1 Diabetic Rats and Cultured Adipocytes; Yan Shen, et al.; 2010
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