Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that people have used since 2000 BC. In Ancient Egypt, this spice was highly regarded for its many benefits. Doctors used it to remedy conditions such as sore throats, arthritis, and coughing. This spice also has a warm smell and pleasant flavor that has made it popular in cooking.

According to Denver functional medicine, this spice can fight infections, soothe an aching neck, among other benefits. Some of the benefits include:

It Has Anti-Fungal, Anti-Viral, and Anti-Bacterial Properties

Cinnamon has many soothing and medicinal properties and is periodically used in Chinese herbal medicine. It has a distinctive flavor and smells from the essential oils in its bark. This essential oil is commonly referred to as cinnamaldehyde. The oil has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and ant-viral properties.

Some types of fungal infections may get treated using cinnamon oil. In 2016, a laboratory study revealed that cinnamon oil could remedy a type of Candida found in the bloodstream. This healing property gets attributed to the antimicrobial properties of cinnamon.

It Contains Antioxidants

Cinnamon has large amounts of antioxidants containing anti-inflammatory effects. These polyphenol antioxidants also protect your body from diseases and the damage caused by free radicals. The antioxidants in cinnamon are so powerful to the extent of making cinnamon a natural food preservative.

It May Reduce the Risk of Coronary Disease

Heart disease is the common cause of premature death in the world. Cinnamon may reduce the risk of getting this deadly killer condition. Also, if you have type 2 diabetes, take a gram or a half teaspoon of this spice daily to help you regulate your blood markers. This spice reduces total cholesterol levels: it stabilizes the good HDL cholesterol and alters the bad LDL cholesterol.

It Improves Sensitivity to the Hormone Insulin

Insulin helps in the regulation of energy use and metabolism. It’s also essential in the transportation of blood sugar from the bloodstream to the cells. The challenge is that many people aren’t responsive to the effects of insulin. This condition is commonly referred to as insulin resistance and usually leads to severe conditions like type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

The good thing is that this spice can reduce insulin resistance, thus enabling the hormone insulin to do its job.

It Has a Powerful Anti-Diabetic Effect and Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

This spice is commonly known for its blood-sugar-lowering properties. Once it increases insulin sensitivity, the blood sugar levels reduce. It can also use other mechanisms to lower blood sugar levels. First, it lowers the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream after a meal. It achieves this by altering the many digestive enzymes, thereby slowing the digestion of carbohydrates in the gut.

Second, cinnamon has a compound that can mimic insulin to improve glucose uptake by your cells. This spice also has anti-diabetic effects as it can lower fasting blood sugar levels by up to 10 to 29 percent. Take between 1 and 6 grams of cinnamon daily if you have diabetes and hypertension.

Cinnamon is among the spices that people have used for many centuries. It has many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of getting heart disease and curing type 2 diabetes.

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5 Natural Home Remedies for Acne and Pimples

Lately I am experiencing pimples breakout especially before my period comes. It must be due to hormonal change and/or because of stress and sleep deprivation. Look how unpleasant it can be.

Acne or pimples is a common skin problem affecting people of all ages. Anyone can suffer from this but acne or pimples is most common among teenagers because of the increased level of hormones in their bodies. Apart from hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, too much stress and unhealthy diet can also cause acne or pimple breakouts.

Aside from it's not pleasant to look at, it can sometimes be painful because of swelling due to bacterial infection. Whenever I have breakouts, I always opt to use my tried and tested natural home remedies for acne and pimples.

Apple Cider Vinegar Toner

Apple cider vinegar toner is always my first aid when I am having pimple breakout. The antibacterial properties of apple cider cider help keep acne under control. The malic and lactic acids found in apple cider vinegar soften and exfoliate skin thereby reducing the red spots and balance the pH of skin.

How to use:

You can start with the 1:2 (ACV:water) ratio concentration. Use a cotton ball and apply just like a toner after washing your face. Don't forget to moisturize your face after.

Baking Soda Scrub/Mask

Baking soda is one of natural remedies we always have at home. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, has a mild antiseptic properties and also has ability to fight fungus and bacteria. It works as gentle exfoliant for skin, unplugging pores and removing dead akin. Thus, making the skin soft and beautiful.

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How to use:

You can use the baking soda as scrub or mask. As scrub, just add water to baking soda to make a paste mixture. Massage the paste on your face. After 5 minutes, rinse thoroughly with warm water, pat dry and moisturize.

As mask, just add water to baking soda to make a paste mixture. Massage this mixture on your face in a slow circular motion and let it dry for 15-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, pat try and moisturize.

Brown Sugar Scrub

Brown sugar is a gentle exfoliant too. It helps remove excess skin cells that clogs pores. Unlike other exfoliants, brown sugar does not dries skin because it is a natural moisturizer.

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How to use:

You can use mix equal parts of brown sugar with honey or  olive oil to make an instant scrub. Or just mix brown sugar with plain water to create a paste mixture for ready to use facial scrub. I usually use brown sugar scrub with calamansi or lemon juice. Apply the mixture on your face and gentle massage on the face. Leave for few minutes then rinse off with water.

Cinnamon and Honey Mask

Cinnamon and honey make a killer combination for acne and pimples. It's because cinnamon has antimicrobial properties that help stop bacteria from growing. While honey is a natural anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory too.

How to use:

You can use mix 2 tbs of honey with 1 tsp of cinnamon to create a paste. Apply this paste on your face or just spot treat on the affected areas. Leave for 10-15 minutes and rinse off thoroughly. Pat and dry.

Olive Oil

Olive oil has many therapeutic properties. Olive oil has anti-bacterial properties that hinders the growth of acne bacteria. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that helps reduce the redness of the skin and also the pain from the swelling. Moreover, olive oil is a fantastic anti-oxidant so it helps to get rid of hard spots and blemishes after the acne affliction.

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How to use:

You can use mix olive with brown sugar or baking soda to make a scrub. But I simply use it like a moisturizer on face or as treatment using a cotton ball then directly apply on the affected areas. After applying overnight, you can see a quick result the next day especially with swollen pimples. It can quickly reduce swelling and pain.

Those are 5 of the natural home remedies for acne and pimples that I have tried and tested. Natural remedies are safer and cheaper to use than using chemical treatments.

Now, it's very important to know what is/are the cause/s of your acne or pimple breakouts. It could be because of hormonal change or because of lack of sleep, high stress level or unhealthy eating habit. The root cause should be addressed because acne will just recur over and over until the main cause is addressed. Also, make sure to have a regular skin care routine, and add the natural remedies. And be patient in waiting for the treatment effect.

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