Suppression
Cinnamon
Category: Food
Type
Voluntary
Introduction and description
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods. Cinnamon trees are native to South East Asia. Medicinally each tree does have slightly different properties, as such one does need to know the specific plant and its constituent make-up to be able to heal, but in the culinary sense the varieties can be used interchangeably. Examples include:
- Cinnamomum verum J. PRESL -- Ceylon Cinnamon, Cinnamon
- Cinnamomum aromaticum NEES -- Canela de la China (Sp.), Canelero chino (Sp.), Canelle de Cochinchine (Fr.), Cannelier Casse (Fr.), Cannelier de Chine (Fr.), Cassia, Cassia Bark, Cassia Lignea, China Junk Cassia, Chinazimt (Ger.), Chinese Cassia, Chinese Cinnamon, Chinesischer Zimtbaum (Ger.), Kashia-Keihi (Jap.), Saigon Cinnamon, Zimtcassie (Ger.)
- Cinnamomum burmannii (NEES) BLUME -- Java Cinnamon, Padang Cassia
- Cinnamomum sieboldii -- Japanese Cinnamon
It can be used in desserts, and curries as well as other savoury dishes where it adds a warm pleasant flavour to foods. It goes well with apple.
And at moderate doses it has healing properties particularly it seems for diabetes.
Background

Cinnamon consumed in its natural state has health benefits, but at overdose levels it is dangerous. The so called ‘health industry’ have started to produce cinnamon ‘supplements’ which are highly concentrated extracts of cinnamon that supposedly have health benefits. This is one area where the dangers lie.
According to Wikipedia “the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, states that 1 kg of (cassia) cinnamon powder contains approximately 2.1 to 4.4 g of coumarin. Powdered Cassia Cinnamon weighs 0.56 g/cc; therefore, 1 kg of Cassia Cinnamon powder is equal to 362.29 teaspoons. This means 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder contains 5.8 to 12.1 mg of coumarin, which may be above the Tolerable Daily Intake for smaller individuals”.
More details can be found in the section Cinnamon supplements and smoking mixtures
Nutrients
The table below shows some of the mineral and vitamin content of cinnamon.
Source: US National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
Release 26 Software v.1.3.1 Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion
Nutrient |
Unit |
|
|
---|---|---|---|
Proximates |
|||
Water |
g |
10.58 |
|
Energy |
kcal |
247 |
|
Protein |
g |
3.99 |
|
Total lipid (fat) |
g |
1.24 |
|
Carbohydrate, by difference |
g |
80.59 |
|
Fiber, total dietary |
g |
53.1 |
|
Sugars, total |
g |
2.17 |
|
Minerals |
|||
Calcium, Ca |
mg |
1002 |
|
Iron, Fe |
mg |
8.32 |
|
Magnesium, Mg |
mg |
60 |
|
Phosphorus, P |
mg |
64 |
|
Potassium, K |
mg |
431 |
|
Sodium, Na |
mg |
10 |
|
Zinc, Zn |
mg |
1.83 |
|
Vitamins |
|||
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid |
mg |
3.8 |
|
Thiamin |
mg |
0.022 |
|
Riboflavin |
mg |
0.041 |
|
Niacin |
mg |
1.332 |
|
Vitamin B-6 |
mg |
0.158 |
|
Folate, DFE |
µg |
6 |
|
Vitamin B-12 |
µg |
0.00 |
|
Vitamin A, RAE |
µg |
15 |
|
Vitamin A, IU |
IU |
295 |
|
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) |
mg |
2.32 |
|
Vitamin D (D2 + D3) |
µg |
0.0 |
|
Vitamin D |
IU |
0 |
|
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) |
µg |
31.2 |
|
Lipids |
|||
Fatty acids, total saturated |
g |
0.345 |
|
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated |
g |
0.246 |
|
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated |
g |
0.068 |
|
Fatty acids, total trans |
g |
0.000 |
|
Cholesterol |
mg |
0 |
|
Method
Cinnamon bark is widely used as a spice in both sweet and savoury dishes.
It is used in the preparation of some chocolate, especially in Mexico, which is the main importer of cinnamon. It is also used in many dessert recipes, such as apple pie, doughnuts, and cinnamon buns as well as spicy candies, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and liqueurs.
In the Middle East, it is often used in savoury dishes of chicken and lamb. Cinnamon can also be used in pickling. Cinnamon has long been an important spice in Persian cuisine, used in a variety of thick soups, drinks, and meals. The cuisine of the northern part of India in Kashmir, for example, uses cinnamon and yogurt extensively in dishes which tend to be much milder with less use of chillis.
It is used in sambar powder or BisiBelebath powder in Karnataka, which gives it a rich aroma and unique taste. It is also used in Turkish cuisine for both sweet and savoury dishes.
How it works
see observations
Related observations
Healing observations
- Assessing the antibiotic potential of essential oils against Haemophilus ducreyi 023254
- Bingen, Hildegard of - Cinnamon 022699
- Cinnamon cholesterol and diabetes 005402
- Constipation anise and other plants 006260
- Contact and fumigant toxicity of cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid and related compounds to Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) 023837
- Dr Duke's list of antiparasitic plants 010310
- Dr Duke's list of mercury chelating plants 017825
- Dr Duke's list of Plants containing NICKEL 021500
- Dr Duke's list of Plants containing Safrole 018559
- Dr Duke's list of Plants containing SALICYLIC ACID 020467
- Dr Duke's list of Plants containing SULFUR 021408
- Dr Duke's list of plants for Superactivity Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis 017744
- Dr Duke's list of plants having chemicals with vasodilatory activity 017836
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anti-aggregate activity 017520
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiacne Activity 018404
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antibrucellosic activity 018358
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (kidney) activity 018460
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (pancreas) activity 018464
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (prostate) activity 018465
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antidysentric activity 018372
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiklebsiellic activity 018432
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antileukemic activity 019585
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antipneumonic Activity 018416
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antipseudomonic Activity 020192
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antirhinitic Activity 019885
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antisalmonella activity 018398
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antisinusitic Activity 019886
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antistaphylococcic Activity 018276
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Herpetifuge activity 019494
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Myorelaxant Activity 019681
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Tranquilizer activity 018138
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with [Natural] Nematicide activity 018292
- Dr Duke's top 20 plants with laxative properties 017657
- Dr Duke’s list of Plants containing BENZYL-BENZOATE [as scabicide] 021369
- Dr Duke’s list of Plants with high Antiescherichic activity 021245
- Effects of dietary polyphenols on metabolic syndrome features in humans: a systematic review 021219
- Ethnomedicine of menstruation in rural Dominica, West Indies 019418
- Herbs and Streptococcus pyogenes 010326
- Hippocras 027875
- Mead - Metheglin 020936
- Mrs Grieve on Cinnamon 005549
- Patent literature on mosquito repellent inventions which contain plant essential oils--a review 016774
- Roast shoulder of lamb with rhubarb 017518
- Spices herbs and bacteria 005424
- The Lancet - Theriac in antiquity 012766