In ancient times cinnamon was considered a high commodity gifted to nobility and extremely expensive. At one point, cinnamon was actually priced higher than gold. That being said, it is no wonder that cinnamon does more than taste good. Cinnamon has multiple benefits and very few disadvantages or dangers in taking. Although most people today use cinnamon for flavoring food, the effects of it go far beyond a tasty spice.
The cinnamon spice is harvested from the inner bark of a certain species of evergreen trees. Cinnamon sticks are mainly harvested in Asia through removing the bark from the slim evergreen branches and keeping it out to dry where the sticks curl up to become what we commonly see as cinnamon sticks, or quills. These quills are then cut and packaged accordingly. The type of cinnamon that we commonly see as cinnamon sticks is the Ceylon cinnamon, this type is much more expensive than its powder counterpart, the Cassia cinnamon.
Both forms of cinnamon are rich in antioxidants along with coumarin, an anti-coagulant for blood. Cinnamon has also been found to help lower cholesterol, improve insulin response for those with type II diabetes, treat yeast infections, be an anti-inflammatory, improve proper heart function, and fight against harmful bacteria such as H. pylori, an ulcer forming bacteria. Cinnamon can also reduce allergies with the same potency of some OTC drugs. All of these benefits are partially due to the antioxidants found in cinnamon and partially due to cinnamon oil's natural cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, and cinnamyl alcohol components.
New studies are also showing cinnamon to help with arthritis pain since it is an anti-inflammatory. This anti-inflammatory effect has lead to further research using cinnamon to fight Parkinson's disease, meningitis, and brain tumors. The ability for cinnamon to help with brain function, specifically Alzheimer’s is currently under research as well, although it has been shown to increase proper brain function after being ingested. According to research done at The University of Texas, cinnamon also has anti-cancer properties, stating that it reduces the cancer cell's ability to proliferate.
Along with all of the positive possibilities cinnamon holds, there are a few negatives. High doses of cinnamon can damage the liver and burn the esophagus and lungs. This is most commonly seen during the cinnamon challenge. Cinnamon is extremely dense and absorbs moisture extremely fast. Most worst case scenarios of inhaling cinnamon include collapsed lungs. Although I have never personally wanted to complete the cinnamon challenge (what, vomiting cinnamon does not sound like fun?) I am way more deterred since it can cause damage to my lungs, or even, create a permanent cough. For healthier ways to get your daily dose, try mixing 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon into hot water, tea, or coffee.
Here are a few more interesting articles and fun reads on cinnamon and it's benefits:
Cinnamon is One of the World's Healthiest Foods
Livestrong article on cinnamon and arthritis