Dr Amir Khan has recommended adding a popular spice to your meals because it has ‘loads of proven health benefits’. The NHS doctor and TV health expert, known for his appearances on shows like This Morning and Lorraine, explained that cinnamon is full of antioxidants, and it can help lower certain fats and reduce sugar spikes.
However, Dr Khan said you should limit yourself to one or half a teaspoon a day. The expert explained why cinnamon is one of his favourite spices in an Instagram post.
He said: “Cinnamon contains large amounts of plant antioxidants, called polyphenols. These protect our bodies from damage done from roaming free radicals, which can damage our DNA.”
Dr Khan added: “It can also reduce inflammation within our bodies. Cinnamon has also been linked to reduced risk of heart disease.” He said a review of 13 studies found that cinnamon may reduce harmful fats and total cholesterol levels.
Dr Khan added: “Cinnamon is well-known for its blood sugar lowering properties – it has been shown to decrease the amount of sugar that enters our bloodstream after a meal.”
The expert explained that it’s thought cinnamon lowers blood sugar by slowing down the breakdown of sugars in the gut and mimicking the effects of insulin.
To include more cinnamon in your diet, Dr Khan recommended adding it to milk, porridge, or cooked meals. “Add cinnamon, around half a teaspoon, to your diet today,” he advised.
Anyone receiving medical treatment for a health condition should follow their doctor’s guidance, and anyone with health concerns should speak to their GP.
While Diabetes.co.uk acknowledged cinnamon can regulate blood glucose, it emphasised it is not a treatment for type 2 diabetes. The health platform said: “As a result of the scientific evidence available, many health experts claim that cinnamon contains properties that are beneficial for blood sugar regulation and treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, bear in mind that like many natural compounds cinnamon is yet to be medically approved for prevention or treatment of any disease.”
According to Diabetes.co.uk, cinnamon can also help relieve indigestion, relieve pain in arthritis sufferers, boost the immune system, and stop medication-resistant yeast infections. The platform added that cinnamon is a great source of vital nutrients, such as calcium, fibre, and iron.
While generally safe, consuming excessive amounts of cinnamon, especially cassia cinnamon, could lead to side effects like gastrointestinal issues. Ceylon cinnamon is generally considered safer than cassia cinnamon due to lower levels of coumarin, a compound that can be toxic in high doses.
Diabetes.co.uk explained: “The majority of these health benefits are associated with use of true cinnamon (also known as Ceylon cinnamon) and not cassia bark cinnamon, which is the species involved in most diabetes research.”
