Cinnamon Stick

Description

Cinnamon Stick, Cinnamomum loureiroi, Saigon cinnamon or Vietnamese cassia. The Saigon cinnamon, originating from mainland Southeast Asia, is an evergreen tree. It shares a closer botanical relationship with cassia (C. cassia) rather than with Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum), although it belongs to the same genus as both. It is produced primarily in Vietnam, both for domestic use and export. This product at sknatural comes from Veitnam.

Cinnamon stick contains approximately 1-5% essential oil, with essential oil consisting of 25% cinnamaldehyde. This characteristic contributes to its comparatively higher price compared to other cinnamon species. Primarily, people use it for its aromatic bark, which closely resembles the taste of C. cassia but offers a more pronounced and complex aroma.

Saigon cinnamon contains higher levels of cinnamaldehyde compared to other varieties. This compound, responsible for its robust flavor and aroma, possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, like other cassia species, people consider it potentially harmful in large doses because of its elevated coumarin content. Coumarin, a naturally occurring chemical in cinnamon, can exert toxic effects. It poses moderate toxicity to the liver and kidneys. Additionally, exposure to coumarin during pregnancy has been linked to minor neurological dysfunction in children.

Recommended dosage:

The European Food Safety Authority established a tolerable daily intake of 0.05 mg per pound (0.1 mg per kilogram) of body weight. This translates to approximately 1 teaspoon (2.5 grams) of it per day.

Medicinal uses:

Cinnamon stick, may offer neuroprotective benefits, potentially safeguarding against minor neurological dysfunctions. While consumed in moderation, it can support liver and kidney health by aiding in detoxification processes.

Studies suggest cinnamon can help reduce blood sugar, offering a potential benefit for people with diabetes. Here’s how it works: cinnamon increases your cells’ sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar by ushering it into cells. Multiple studies on people with diabetes found that taking 1-6 grams of cinnamon supplements daily for 4-16 weeks led to a moderate reduction in blood sugar levels.

Beyond blood sugar control, cinnamon packs a powerful antioxidant punch. These antioxidants shield your cells from harm caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that damage cells. The spice also boasts anti-inflammatory compounds that benefit your overall health. Human studies support this, showing that high-dose cinnamon extract supplements increase blood antioxidant levels and decrease markers of oxidative stress, a cellular damage culprit.

Research consistently confirms cinnamon’s antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. This is why people use it in both food and cosmetic products to fight bacterial contamination.