Ceylon Cinnamon is an incredible spice. As well as its ability to boot brain health, reduce your risk of heart disease and manage blood sugar levels, it also helps fight infection. And if that wasn’t enough, it also tastes great.
From the flu to E-Coli, Cinnamon has been shown to help prevent and treat a wide range of common infections. We explore how Ceylon Cinnamon can keep you fit and healthy.
What causes infection?
Infection is caused by a wide range of factors, from bacteria to fungi. Here’s a roundup of the common causes:
Bacteria
Bacteria aren’t inherently bad. In fact, they’re found almost everywhere, including in the human body. Most bacteria don’t cause us much harm, but certain strains can cause infections when allowed to enter the body. Examples of these bacterial diseases include E-coli, Streptococcus and UTIs.
Viruses
Viruses grow and reproduce inside other living cells. This means they won’t survive very long outside their host cell, though they can stick around long enough to enter and infect out bodies, multiplying and causing viral infections.
These infections include gastroenteritis, chicken pox, measles and the common cold. These are some of the most difficult conditions to treat, since the infections live inside the cells of our body – so it’s even more important for us to take the important steps required to prevent the initial infection.
Fungi
Fungi thrive in warm, damp conditions – meaning our skin is the perfect environments for them to thrive. These organisms include moulds and yeasts, which can cause infections including ringworm, thrush and athlete’s foot.
How Ceylon Cinnamon fights infection
Some foods are naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. This means they can help the body prevent and treat the most common causes of infection. Ceylon Cinnamon is one such superfood.
Cinnamon is full of natural medicinal properties that can help strength the immune system against infections, and has been used for centuries to help treat common infections like cold and flu.
Cinnamon and fungal infections
Recent studies suggest that Cinnamon has some impressive antifungal properties, with research suggesting that this superfood spice might even help tackle Candida – a common cause of yeast infections.
A 2012 Chinese study examined the effect of Cinnamon oil on Candida albicans, both in the lab and in patients suffering from intestinal Candida. The results showed that following a treatment with Cinnamon, the Candida cells burst, giving relief to patients with chronic digestive issues.
Cinnamon and bacterial infections
Bacterial infections like E-coli are more than just an inconvenience – for some they can be deadly. That’s why Cinnamon’s antimicrobial potential is so exciting. According to a 2008 French study, Cinnamon oil was shown to contain more antimicrobial properties than well-known antibacterial agents like thyme and eucalyptus.
Infections can range from a simple sniffle to a dangerous illness. Ceylon Cinnamon might not be a magic bullet for each individual infection, research suggests that it could play an important part in preventing and treating some of the most common. So for an immunity-boost, why not try adding a little extra Cinnamon to your daily diet.
For another superfood with incredible infection-fighting potential, check out our article on how Ginger can help prevent cold and flu.
