Cinnamon comes from a type of tree bark, although you might be more familiar with it in its ground form. You typically use this spice to add a warm, sweet flavor to coffee and baked goods, and it is readily available at grocery stores throughout the country. For a fresher flavor, grate cinnamon sticks into powder. This low-calorie ground spice offers a range of health benefits, including minerals and medicinal properties.
Basic Nutrition
A 1-tsp. serving of ground cinnamon contains 5 calories. You will not get any fat or protein from this spice, although you will take in 2 g of carbohydrates. Additionally, you take in 1 g of fiber in each serving of cinnamon.
Minerals
Despite not containing much in the way of calories and macronutrients, one serving of ground cinnamon serves up 6 percent of the iron you need each day. This makes cinnamon a spice that boosts red blood cell production, which positively impacts the amount of oxygen in your system; this can influence your energy levels. You also take in 4 percent of the daily recommended intake of calcium in a serving of this spice. Calcium plays a significant role in bone strength and integrity, and it may help prevent high blood pressure.
Diabetes Benefits
If you have diabetes, ground cinnamon may offer health benefits, although research is inconclusive. While research in the December 2002 issue of "Diabetes Care" notes that study participants with Type 2 diabetes who consumed 1 to 6 g of cinnamon every day over a 40-day period demonstrated a reduction in glucose and bad cholesterol, another study in the April 2006 edition of "The Journal of Nutrition" suggests that cinnamon does not positively influence these factors. More research is needed to determine ground cinnamon's true benefits for people with diabetes. Speak to your physician about cinnamon if you suffer from diabetes.
Blood Clot Prevention
A compound that gives ground cinnamon its flavor, cinnamaldehyde, prevents blood from clotting by thinning your blood. By that same token, it can prevent blood clots that form in your arteries and block blood flow. If you take blood thinners or suffer from a disease that makes blood clotting difficult, consult your physician about eating cinnamon.
References
- Nutrient Facts: Ground Cinnamon Nutrition Facts
- MayoClinic.com; Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork With These Nutrition Guidelines; February 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Iron; June 4, 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Calcium; March 20, 2009
- "Diabetes Care"; Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People...; Alam Khan, et al.; December 2003
- "The Journal of Nutrition"; Cinnamon Supplementation Does Not Improve Glycemic...; K. Vanschoonbeek, et al.; April 2006
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