Herb
Cinnamon (Ceylon)
A warming sweet spice, sprinkled into food or tea, traditionally used to steady blood sugar and comfort digestion — choose the gentle Ceylon kind.
⤢📊 How it ranks (our editor score) — 87/100Tap to see the breakdown
🌱 What it is
Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of a tree, ground into a fragrant brown powder.
📜 Where it comes from
Cinnamon has been traded and valued since ancient Egyptian times, when it was used in embalming and as a costly luxury spice, and it appears in the Bible among treasured aromatic goods. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda both incorporated cinnamon for warming digestion and supporting balance in the body. Ceylon cinnamon specifically became prized in Western trade for its milder, sweeter profile compared to other cinnamon varieties.
✨ Why it's good for you
- Adds sweet flavor so you can use less sugar
- Often studied for supporting steady blood sugar
- Warms up drinks, oatmeal, and baked fruit
🥗 Nutrition
Per 1 tsp ground (2.6g) · about 6 calories
- Fiber 1.4g
- Calcium 26mg
- Manganese 0.5mg
- Cinnamaldehyde (bioactive)
Source: USDA FoodData Central
🥄 How to use it
Stir ¼–½ teaspoon of true Ceylon cinnamon into oatmeal, teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea →, or warm milk daily. Choose Ceylon (“true”) cinnamon over the common cassia type, which is harsher and higher in a compound called coumarin.
How much: A practical food amount is ¼–½ teaspoon of Ceylon cinnamon a day in food or teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea →.
Why it works: Regulates blood sugar and reduces cravings.
Show full details & how to prepare it
Cinnamon is one of the oldest and most comforting spices there is, and beyond its warmth it has a gentle reputation for helping steady blood sugar and settle digestionHow your body breaks food down into pieces small enough to use for energy. More →. The key is which cinnamon: 'true' Ceylon cinnamon is mild and low in a compound called coumarin, while the cheaper, more common cassia type is harsher and high enough in coumarin to stress the liver if you take a lot every day.
A daily sprinkle of Ceylon cinnamon in oatmeal, teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea →, or warm milk is the gentlest way to enjoy it. Concentrated cinnamon oils and big supplement doses are a different matter and aren't needed for everyday benefit.
Ways to prepare it
⚠️ Cautions
- Use the Ceylon type and keep to modest amounts; the common cassia cinnamon is high in coumarin, which can stress the liver in larger daily doses.
- May lower blood sugar — use caution with diabetes medication.
- Concentrated cinnamon-oil or large supplement doses can irritate; food amounts are gentlest.
📚 Learn more
🌿 Deeper natural detail
🩺 The conventional view
💬 Ask Remy about Cinnamon (Ceylon)
📚 Resource confidence
Based on mentions in health references
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