Honey and cinnamon is a classic pairing often used to enhance hot tea or baked goods. Both have received considerable attention among members of the medical community and alternative health advocates for their potential health benefits as well. Whether used separately or together, honey and cinnamon have been touted as natural remedies for a range of health problems. Scientific evidence is mixed regarding therapeutic use of these ingredients, so check with your physician before incorporating them into your routine.
Honey Benefits
Honey's benefits for the skin are among some of the more well-known advantages of this natural sweetener. Honey has long been used to promote healing of minor wounds and may keep them from becoming infected. It may also be effective as a treatment for burns. A research review published in October 2008 in the "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews" reveals that honey may be an effective alternative treatment for acute burns, even reducing healing time in comparison to conventional methods.
Cinnamon Benefits
While some of honey's most prominent benefits involve the skin, cinnamon may be more advantageous internally. It's historically been used as a treatment for bloating, upset stomach, nausea and other gastrointestinal ailments. A December 2006 study in the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition" also found that participants who took a 500 mg cinnamon supplement for 12 weeks had a 0.7 percent decrease in body fat. Those who participated in the study were all pre-diabetic. Cinnamon's antioxidant properties may also limit damage from free radicals in the body.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Both honey and cinnamon have garnered attention for their potential ability to regulate blood sugar. Some believe honey is more nutritious and won't affect your glucose levels as much as sugar. However, scientific evidence does not back up these claims. Dr. Maria Collazo-Clavell of the Mayo Clinic says that because honey is sweeter than sugar, you may use less of it, thereby minimally reducing the amount of carbs you consume. More extensive research has gone into cinnamon's effect. One study that got considerable attention, published in December 2003 in "Diabetes Care," found that taking 1, 3 or 6 g of cinnamon daily for 40 days lowered blood sugar in type 2 diabetics. Collazo-Clavell also says that cinnamon may be beneficial for diabetics but cautions that more research is needed.
Considerations
Neither honey nor cinnamon should replace medical treatment, particularly if you have health problems like diabetes. Discuss cinnamon use for blood glucose regulation with your doctor because it may increase the effects of your diabetic medication. While these remedies may have some benefit, it's unclear exactly how much you need to consume. A teaspoon of honey has more calories than an equal amount of sugar, so eating large quantities isn't ideal if you're diabetic or watching your caloric intake. Cinnamon may also interact with blood-thinning drugs and cause skin reactions, such as rosacea.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Wounds
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"; Honey as a Topical Treatment for Wounds; A.B. Jull, et al.; October 2008
- "Smart Supplementation"; Cinnamon: A Supplement for Diabetes, Body Composition, Cardiovascular Health & Antioxidant Protection; Gene Bruno, MS, MHS; 2009
- University of Texas at El Paso; Herbal Safety: Cinnamon; Armando Gonzalez Stuart, Ph.D.; 2005
- MayoClinic.com; Diabetes Foods: Is Honey a Good Substitute for Sugar?; Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D.; November 2010
- "Diabetes Care"; Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People with Type 2 Diabetes; A. Khan, et al.; December 2003
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