True cinnamon is usually labeled "Ceylon cinnamon" and comes principally from Sri Lanka (called Ceylon in colonial times), India, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean. Cassia, on the other hand, is often designated as "Chinese cinnamon" or "Saigon cinnamon" and comes principally from Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Japan and Korea. Cinnamon is one of the oldest and most popular spices, and has been used for millennia both for its flavoring and medicinal qualities. In ancient Egypt, it was used to fill body cavities of corpses as an embalming agent. In ancient Rome it was considered so valuable that the Emperor Nero burned a year's supply on his wife's funeral pyre as proof of his devotion to her. 1. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels Cinnamon has been shown to normalize blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics by improving the ability to respond to insulin. It does so in part by slowing the rate at which the stomach empties after eating as evidenced by a study in which people ate about a cup of rice pudding with and without about a teaspoon of cinnamon. Adding the cinnamon slowed the rate the stomach emptied from 37% to 34.5% and significantly slowed the rise in blood sugar levels. Even less than a half of a teaspoon a day reduces blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics. 2. Favorably Alters the Blood Lipid Profile Diabetics can also reduce their risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease by consuming even one daily gram (about 1/3 teaspoon) of cinnamon. One 2003 USDA study found that after 40 days of eating between just 1 and 6 grams of cinnamon (about 2 teaspoons), Type 2 diabetics were not only able to reduce their blood sugar levels by 18% to 29%, but also lowered their triglycerides by 23% to 30%, their LDL cholesterol by 7% to 27% and total cholesterol by 12% to 26%. [Note: the focus on LDL cholesterol particles by number versus their quality is misleading. 3. Supports Healthy Blood Clotting Much research has been devoted to cinnamon's effect on blood platelets, which contribute to clotting. It helps thin the blood and prevent unwanted clumping of platelets. It is so effective as an anti-coagulant that patients taking prescription blood thinners are warned not to take cinnamon in concentrated form such as supplements or extracts. Cassia has higher concentrations of the blood-thinning agent coumarin, which is all the more reason to opt for the Ceylon form.

If you weren’t able to attend our October seminar in the lobby but are interested in learning more about gut health, the recording is now available in our Nutrition Course Classroom alongside other seminars! Watch to learn from Dr. Serge as he dives into the importance of gut health and what you need to know to better support your digestive wellness. How to Watch: Classroom → Nutrition Course → Gut Health → “Gut Health Seminar”