Cinnamon Improves Learning Capacity and Memory
Researchers from Birjand University of Medical Sciences in Iran recently reported in Nutritional Neuroscience the potential value of cinnamon for improving learning and memory capacity. This was a large systematic review in which researchers collected 2,605 studies from multiple databases in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science and finally selected 40 eligible studies for systematic review based on evaluation criteria. Of these, 33 were studies in living organisms (e.g., humans, mice, or other animals), two of which were clinical studies (i.e., clinical patients), and five of which were studies outside of living organisms (e.g., various isolated cells or tissues).The review’s authors noted that in most of these studies, the results indicated that cinnamon significantly improved learning and memory capacity. The results of one of the studies in vivo suggest that eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, and cinnamic acid, which are contained in cinnamon, may be associated with improved cognitive function. In vitro studies found that cinnamaldehyde was effective in reducing tau protein aggregation and beta-amyloid and increasing cell viability. Analysis of two clinical studies showed that one concluded that cinnamon had a positive efficacy on cognitive function, while the other concluded that it had no such effect.
“Most studies reported that cinnamon might be useful for preventing and reducing cognitive function impairment. It can be used as an adjuvant in the treatment of related diseases,” the authors wrote. “However, more studies need to be done on this subject.”
Cinnamaldehyde Has Potential to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
As mentioned, cinnamaldehyde is effective in reducing tau protein aggregation and beta-amyloid while increasing cell viability. This is exciting news, as tau protein aggregation and beta-amyloid are widely considered to be markers for Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, cinnamon may well be of potential value in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.Cinnamon Is a Miracle Herb
Cinnamon has been an important spice and part of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Cinnamon is derived from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree. It’s found in the Himalayas and other mountainous regions, as well as in the rainforests and other forests of Southern China, India, and Southeast Asia. It can play an important role in the treatment of many diseases. Cinnamon was documented in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, a Chinese work from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 A.D.), where it was mentioned as a remedy for arthritis. In modern times, traditional Chinese medicine believes that cinnamon has the following five main effects:- Strengthens the spleen and warms the stomach: Many have indigestion issues after eating. Stomach pain and bloating are the most obvious symptoms. In this case, you can use cinnamon to regulate digestion. It can strengthen the stomach and help process food.
- Protects against wind and cold: You can use cinnamon to reduce the effects on the body from wind and cold. When used when you’ve been out in the rain, wind, or cold, it can reduce your chances of catching a cold.
- Promotes blood circulation to restore menstrual flow: Cinnamon can help regulate women’s menstrual flow and help infertile women to regulate their bodies, thus making menstruation more regular and preventing the occurrence of some gynecological diseases.
- Warms kidneys and strengthens yang energy: Middle-aged men are prone to impotence, which can be a problem for some. When taken correctly, cinnamon can warm the kidneys and aid men with impotence issues.
- Disperses cold and relieves pain: Many middle-aged and elderly people have rheumatic pain, especially when it rains. If joint swelling and pain are problematic, cinnamon can help disperse cold and relieve pain, especially in the autumn and winter.
Does Cinnamon Have Any Side Effects?
Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, cinnamon can help lower the risk of disease in middle-aged and elderly people. While it’s generally beneficial to these age groups, cinnamon shouldn’t be consumed excessively.How to Use Cinnamon
You can add ground cinnamon to food when baking bread, pizza, or other things, or you can make a baked cinnamon soda cake. You can also add it to syrup or use it to make desserts such as bread pudding.You can add cinnamon powder to tea or coffee, but it shouldn’t be added just to water. You can add cinnamon to milk or coconut milk to make deliciously sweet and tangy cinnamon milk.