January 17, 2024: Cinnamon is known for offering a sweet, woody flavour to a range of foods, from savoury curries to baked treats and even certain coffees and teacups. It is also full of antioxidants that research suggests can help slash diabetes, which can also help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, and reduce cholesterol levels.
Cinnamon (Dalchini in Hindi) was originally cultivated in Sri Lanka and India. It is brown, mildly bitter and a spicy cooking herb, popularly used in traditional Indian cuisines as a flavouring agent to curries. In Western countries, it is sprinkled on toast and lattes, cinnamon rolls being quite popular.
According to the NHS, when a person’s blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on the blood vessels, heart, and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys, and eyes. This can then lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, heart attack, dementia, and strokes..
A review of studies indicated that taking at least 1.5 grams, roughly 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon daily can lower triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood sugar in individuals with metabolic disease.
Further analysis of 13 studies went on to find that cinnamon supplementation did indeed decrease levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol, both known risk factors for heart disease. While cinnamon can combat high blood pressure, it can also improve gut health, and dental hygiene, and reduce cholesterol levels.
According to the NHS, there are several lifestyle changes that can help prevent and lower high blood pressure and diabetes:
- Cut back on alcohol
- Lose weight if you’re overweight
- Exercise regularly
- Cut down on caffeine
- Stop drinking
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is by having a test. This can be done by a healthcare professional or with a home blood pressure monitor.
For diabetes, there are a number of symptoms you can look out for – including feeling very thirsty, peeing more than usual, feeling very tired, weight loss and blurred vision. If you experience any of these, you should speak to your healthcare professional.
