Cinnamon Works as an Anti-Oxidant

Cinnamon bears many properties. Besides having its medicinal values, it also works as an anti-oxidant. 

Adding cinnamon to your diet is the simplest and most direct way of getting the anti-oxidant properties of cinnamon. Alternating it with turmeric, will give you the same effect with a different taste. Try cinnamon tea to start the day, and sprinkle some turmeric with a pinch of black pepper to your salad during lunch. It will definitely go a long way in improving your health with long term use. 

Although amounts of less than 6 g, is considered safe, avoid intake if pregnant and nursing. Keep you stash of cinnamon away from children, as high amounts of cinnamon can cause itchiness and a burning sensation. This is especially true for those who have allergies to cinnamon. Common signs of cinnamon allergy include: Runny nose, watery & itchy eyes, rashes after consuming cinnamon, upset stomach, swelling in the lips, throat or tongue, insomnia, and shortness of breath. For any signs of excessive swelling and difficulty in breathing, emergency medical attention must be provided immediately.

Cinnamon also works as an antifungal agent. Antifungal agents refer to plants or pharmaceutical medications that inhibit the growth of fungi or have fungicidal properties. There are a lot of strains of fungus, including those that cause yeast infection. An interesting fact is that cinnamon can also help with fungal infections in the nails, especially those in the toes. Toe nail fungus is one of the hardest to get rid of. This is commonly due to trauma when the nail bed separates from the nail and dies. The fungus begins to breed under the nail from moisture and creating a yellowish tinge on the surface. The most common fungus responsible is dermatophyte fungus. The toe nail is more susceptible to fungus due to poor blood circulation and conducive environment for growth. Wearing socks that do not absorb moisture well or closed shoes, often raise the risks. 

A study was sought to determine the inhibitory effects of cinnamon on dermatophyte fungus. Since cinnamon had shown great antifungal properties on Candida species, they wanted to see if it also applies to other species of fungi. The results indicated that the components of cinnamon, specifically cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and methoxycinnamaldehyde, were mostly responsible for inhibiting fungal growth. Cinnamyl alcohol also exhibited antifungal properties in four strains of dermatophyte fungi. It works by increasing the permeability of the cell membrane, allowing the nutrients to leak out of the cell, which eventually leads to cell death. 

Using cinnamon leaf oil, you can dilute it with carrier oil and apply one drop to the affected area. A stronger effect can be obtained by applying 1 drop of 100% cinnamon leaf oil twice daily on the toe. Make sure to not put on too much, since it may cause irritation. For the first application, it would be best to dilute the oil to determine any possible allergic reaction.

Author’s bio: Andaman Plantations is a company that is engaged in contractual farming. They produce many different products out of which cinnamon is one.