10 benefits of cinnamon to include in your diet

Around the year 2012, an Internet challenge game called The Cinnamon Challenge suggested that participants swallow a spoonful of this dried spice and upload the video (spoiler: they couldn't and there were several hundred cases of lung collapse). However, aside from this sovereign stupidity, according to a study by researchers from Taiwan and China, supplementing the diet with cinnamon could have impressive benefits for working memory. When people with high blood glucose levels – a common problem affecting memory in men over 40 – were asked about their diet, those who reported consuming cinnamon regularly showed better recall in tests .

Cinnamon contains compounds that improve insulin sensitivity, which inhibits inflammatory processes that can lead to mental decline. And you don't need to take a spoonful either, challenge style. Just a generous pinch daily in porridge, yogurt, milkshake or cappuccino. In fact, the spice is so potent that one study found that its fragrance alone can raise scores on tasks related to concentration and memory. The same study found that chewing on cinnamon gum had a similar effect, so it's worth having a pack on hand before a big presentation or to create sweet memories.

The 10 benefits of cinnamon in your fitness diet

1- Significantly reduces blood glucose levels, making it a perfect food for those who are diabetic.

2- Promotes weight loss. A good trick is to put a little every morning in your latte and even in your post-workout protein shakes after the gym. Cinnamon can help us lose weight because it is useful to control blood sugar levels as we have mentioned in the first point; it improves the efficiency of insulin and inhibits some enzymes, thus avoiding insulin spikes after eating. This allows you to maintain stable glucose levels which helps control hunger and stay satiated.

3- Helps to have good digestion, especially after a good meal or a menu rich in fats and foods with many carbohydrates.

4- Promotes and regulates the intestinal rhythm, taking care of your microbiota and maintaining good health of your large and small intestines. You only need to take a little a day, for example at breakfast, mixed in milk. If you don't like the taste, don't worry, you won't notice it much if you don't overdo it.

5- It is an important anti-aging food as it contains a large amount of antioxidants, which fight against free radicals.

6- It can even be used as a muscle relaxant if you take it in infusions of chamomile or linden. In addition, it improves mood and has certain antidepressant effects, since according to some scientific studies, it inhibits the inflammatory process in the brain, helping to increase serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter that regulates our feeling of well-being.

7- Strengthens your bones and prevents osteoporosis. Another ally to add to your diet, such as calcium from milk or broccoli.

8- In the case of women, it helps calm the pain of menstruation.

9- Better cognitive ability as we detail better below...

10- It is a good ally against infections, since it contains cinnamaldehyde, which can help fight various types of infections, both bacterial and fungal. Cinnamon essential oil has been shown to effectively treat respiratory tract infections caused by fungus, for example.

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