Besides its delicious and warming effects, the benefits of cinnamon tea are many, which is why it has traditionally been used to treat a wide range of illnesses. This include the common cold, cardiovascular conditions, and chronic gastrointestinal disorders.
Cinnamon tea contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can boost your immune system, improve digestion, lower blood sugar levels, and even promote weight loss.
This article will explore the many benefits of drinking cinnamon tea and why you should consider adding this healthy brew to your daily routine.
What is Cinnamon Tea?
Cinnamon tea is a delicious and warming beverage that has been enjoyed for centuries. It is made by steeping cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon in hot water, creating a fragrant and flavorful infusion.
Cinnamon is a spice that has been used for centuries in many cultures and cuisines around the world. It comes from the inner bark of trees from the genus Cinnamomum, which are native to Southeast Asia.
There are two main types of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon (also known as true cinnamon) and cassia cinnamon (also called Chinese or Saigon cinnamon). Ceylon cinnamon has a lighter color and more delicate flavor than cassia cinnamon, which is darker and stronger.
Cassia is the common variety you’re likely to find in most stores, while ceylon is more expensive.
In addition to its health benefits, cinnamon tea is also known for its comforting aroma and flavor. The warm spice of cinnamon pairs well with other herbs like ginger, cardamom, and clove, making it a popular ingredient in chai recipes.
Health Benefits of Cinnamon Tea:
Cinnamon tea is known for its many health benefits, making it an excellent choice to add to your daily routine.
It contains powerful antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation and support overall health. It may also help lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity, making it beneficial for those with diabetes.
Here is a breakdown of some of the amazing health benefits of cinnamon tea:
1. It can fight inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury, infection, or irritation. However, chronic inflammation can lead to various health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Fortunately, natural remedies like cinnamon tea can help reduce inflammation.
According to lab studies, various compounds in cinnamon, such as cinnamaldehyde, are potent anti-inflammatory compounds that can help you fight against inflammation.
Also, cinnamon tea contains polyphenol antioxidants, which have been shown to offer multiple anti-inflammatory compounds and can thus help improve various inflammatory conditions.
2. Cinnamon tea can lower blood sugars
Cinnamon tea is a powerful natural remedy for anyone looking to control their blood sugar levels. This is because it contains compounds that mimic insulin, the hormone that carries glucose from the blood into the cells. So taking cinnamon tea can improve your glucose uptake by the cells, causing the blood sugars to drop.
Cinnamon tea can also help lower insulin resistance which is when the body cells are less sensitive to insulin and can’t let it in, thus resulting in high glucose in the blood.
One study found that a daily intake of 250 mg of cinnamon twice daily for 2 months improved insulin resistance among participants with high blood sugar levels.
Cinnamon has also been shown to slow the rate at which food leaves the stomach, meaning it slows down digestion, which can help keep your blood sugars steady.
3. Cinnamon tea is rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants are compounds that protect the body against damage by harmful molecules known as free radicals.
Too many free radicals can cause oxidative stress, which damages cells and can increase the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease.
Antioxidants help neutralize these compounds, thus preventing them from causing damage. Cinnamon is rich in rich in a specific type of antioxidants known as polyphenols, and taking its tea can boost your intake.
4. Cinnamon tea may boost weight loss
If you’re struggling to shade off some weight, research shows that adding some cinnamon to the equation may help.
The fact that cinnamon can regulate your blood glucose means it can control your sugar cravings which in most cases contribute to consuming too many calories than you need leading to weight gain.
Also, insulin resistance is a common cause of weight gain, especially in your midsection. This is because when the glucose in the blood is high, and the cells have locked out the insulin, the body will convert the excess glucose into fat, causing weight gain.
So taking cinnamon tea in addition to other weight loss strategies like a healthy diet and physical activity can be very beneficial in preventing this.
5. Cinnamon tea may reduce menstrual cramps
Cinnamon tea can be a safe and effective method of relieving menstrual pain without relying on conventional pain medication.
Menstrual pains occur when uterine muscles contract during menstruation. These contractions can result in pain, discomfort, and other symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and headaches.
While over-the-counter medications can help, they often come with several side effects, especially if your pains last longer. So taking something like cinnamon tea can help you rest assured that all is well.
In a controlled study, one group of women was given 3 grams of cinnamon, while a second group was given a placebo during the first 72 hours of their menstrual cycle. The cinnamon group experienced more relief compared to the placebo group.
Also, cinnamon has antispasmodic properties, which can help relieve various digestive symptoms associated with menstruation.
6. Cinnamon tea may fight infections
Cinnamon contains natural compounds such as cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and linalool that have antimicrobial properties. These compounds can help kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause infections in the body.
Studies have also shown that cinnamon extract can inhibit the growth of various strains of bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans (which causes dental caries), Escherichia coli (responsible for food poisoning), and Staphylococcus aureus (causes skin infections).
Moreover, cinnamon tea may also boost your immune system to fight off infections more effectively.
7. Cinnamon tea may boost heart health
Cinnamon tea is rich in antioxidants that can help fight inflammation, which can be the primary cause of heart disease.
These anti-inflammatory benefits can also help maintain healthy blood vessel walls, further minimizing the chances of developing cardiovascular conditions.
Also, the antioxidants in cinnamon may improve heart health by fighting free radicals that can otherwise damage cells leading to conditions like heart disease.
Additionally, cinnamon has been shown to increase HDL or good cholesterol levels, which helps remove excess LDL or bad cholesterol from the arteries, thus preventing atherosclerosis, a great contributing factor to heart disease.
8. Cinnamon tea may boost skin health
Cinnamon contains antioxidants that help protect the skin from oxidative stress caused by environmental factors like pollution and UV rays.
Additionally, cinnamon has antibacterial properties that can fight against acne-causing bacteria and other infections on the skin.
Drinking cinnamon tea regularly may also promote collagen production, leading to firmer and more youthful-looking skin.
9. Cinnamon tea may relieve common cold
Cinnamon tea is a traditional remedy for relieving colds, coughs, flu, and sore throat. This is because cinnamon is rich in antioxidants that can naturally fight inflammation and boost immunity.
Additionally, it’s rich in antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that can all work together to eradicate these illnesses.
To use cinnamon tea for a cold, prepare a mixture with half a teaspoon of cinnamon, hot water, and a tablespoon of honey and drink it before bedtime. This tea is especially perfect for cold winter evenings.
How to Make Cinnamon Tea?
To make cinnamon tea, simply add a cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon to hot water and let it steep for several minutes before straining.
You can also add other ingredients, such as a natural sweetener of your choice, peppermint, ginger, or lemon, for added flavor and nutritional benefits.
Possible Risk Factors of Taking Cinnamon Tea:
1. It may cause liver damage
Cassia, or regular cinnamon, is high in coumarin, a compound that has been shown to cause liver toxicity and damage when taken in high doses.
To minimize your risk of liver damage, it’s better to maintain a low intake of cassia cinnamon or go for Ceylon, which is naturally low in coumarin, especially if you are planning to take cinnamon regularly.
2. Allergic reactions
Although rare, too much cinnamon can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. If allergic to cinnamon, inhaling, touching, or ingesting it can cause allergic reactions. Common ones to watch out for may include coughing, wheezing, rashes, and nausea.
3. Low blood sugar levels
Cinnamon is known to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels, which is beneficial in managing diabetes.
However, if you’re on diabetes medication, cinnamon can drop your glucose levels too low, causing a condition known as hypoglycemia.
If taking any medication, ensure you speak to your doctor about your plan to incorporate cinnamon and monitor your glucose closely to understand how your body responds.
4. Blood thinning properties
Coumarin in cinnamon contains blood-thinning properties.
Thin blood will typically not show any symptoms, but it can cause easy bruises and excessive bleeding. This may include nose bleeds, bleeding gums, heavy periods, discolored urine or feces, and prolonged bleeding from a cut.
These effects may be common in people with an existing bleeding condition. So in case you fall under this category and are on anticoagulants like warfarin or heparin or on antiplatelets like aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix), taking too much cinnamon, especially cassia may not be suitable for you.
5. Risk of cancer
According to animal studies, too much coumarin can increase the risk of lung, liver, and kidney cancers.
While human studies are needed to confirm this side effect, scientists believe continued intake of coumarin slowly damages the cell DNA increasing the risk of cell mutations and cancer.
6. Drug interactions
Besides its effect on blood thinning medications, coumarin may interact with medications metabolized in the liver, such as paracetamol, cholesterol-lowering medications, and acetaminophen when consumed in high amounts.
How Much Cinnamon Tea is Safe to Drink?
With the above side effects, how much cinnamon tea is safe to drink? Well, there’s no definitive answer to this as it will depend on various factors, including cinnamon concentration in the tea, the type of cinnamon used, and weight.
The recommended daily intake of coumarin for adults is 0.1mg/kg (0.05 mg/pound) of body weight. This means someone weighing 59 kg or 130 pounds will only require 5 mg of coumarin daily.
To put this in context, a teaspoon of ground cassia cinnamon contains 7-18 mg of coumarin. With this amount, even someone with an average weight will end up consuming too much if they go with a teaspoon per day.
To be safe, half a teaspoon per day should be enough.
If you use cinnamon sticks to make your tea, it may be difficult to tell how much coumarin is in it. So go with one stick per cup serving or ground cinnamon, especially if using cassia.
Is it good to drink cinnamon tea every day?
As long as you’re sticking to the recommended daily amount of coumarin, you should be able to enjoy your cup of cinnamon tea every day without a problem.
Best time to drink cinnamon tea:
Since cinnamon tea is caffeine free, you can enjoy it any time of the day.
You can also take it close to meals to help regulate your blood sugar levels.
Who should avoid cinnamon tea?
Due to limited research on cinnamon tea safety for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children, it should be avoided, especially for medicinal purposes.
These groups can, however, enjoy cinnamon as a spice in food.
People on blood-thinning medications should also avoid cinnamon tea.
Final Thoughts
Cinnamon tea is a beverage made from cinnamon. It has numerous health benefits that make it a great addition to your daily routine.
From its ability to lower blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation to its antioxidant properties and potential cancer-fighting abilities, this delicious beverage is refreshing and incredibly good for you.
Whether you’re looking for an alternative to coffee or want to boost your immune system, cinnamon tea is definitely worth a try. So why not brew yourself a cup today and start enjoying all its amazing benefits?
More Healthy Herbal Teas:
- Mint Tea
- Ginger Tea
- Rooibos Tea
- Mullein Tea
- Cerasee Tea
- Rosehip Tea
- Chaga Tea
- Moringa Tea
- Saffron Tea
- Immunity Booster Tea
- Pineapple Peel Tea
- Fennel Tea
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