Cinnamon tea: benefits and harm to the body

What are the benefits of adding spice?

• Stabilization of sugar levels - help for those suffering from diabetes.

American scientists have proven that by drinking a drink with cinnamon in the morning on an empty stomach, insulin-dependent people can achieve a 29% reduction in sugar levels. This is due to hydroxychalcone, derived from cinnamon, which acts as an insulin mimetic, that is, it imitates the hormone naturally synthesized in the blood, replacing its positive properties.

• Positive effects on the cardiovascular system, in particular, a decrease in cholesterol and triglycerides, which can cause plaque and blockage in blood vessels and veins.
• Accelerating cellular metabolism, in simple words, helps you lose weight.
• A significant anti-inflammatory effect helps in the treatment of many colds.
• Improving brain function and preventing neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's - this indicates the benefits of taking it for people of all ages.

In addition, the aromatic drink has positive taste characteristics and is distinguished by an unforgettable aromatic bouquet.

How to make cinnamon tea for weight loss

The presence of fiber and antioxidants helps to gently cleanse the gastrointestinal tract and stabilize the gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, metabolism is significantly accelerated.

Many nutritionists use spice in their recommendations. However, there is a myth according to which its smell stimulates the appetite. The fact is that the seasoning is often used to create spicy baked goods, added to apple pies, strudels, and croissants. Therefore, many people who are prone to obesity associate the aroma with sweets. This is not entirely true, since the smell obtained during brewing is far from baking - it is interrupted by other components.

So, 1 tsp. cinnamon is added to tea with honey or juice, which, for greater effectiveness, can be supplemented with ginger. The resulting drink is drunk once every 2 days and immediately, in one sitting. Before using it for dietary purposes, we recommend consulting with a nutritionist, as well as with your doctor if you have any chronic diseases. If you have acute illnesses, it is better to refrain from taking it until you recover, so that there are no negative consequences. It is also important to determine the absence of allergic reactions to all ingredients; if there are none, you can use one of the recipes we offer below.

Fights bacteria and fungi

Cinnamon has powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties.

For example, test-tube studies show that cinnamaldehyde, the main active component of cinnamon, prevents the growth of various bacteria, fungi, and molds (,).

These include common bacteria such as staphylococcus, salmonella and E. coli, which can cause illness in humans.

Additionally, cinnamon's antibacterial effects may help reduce bad breath and prevent tooth decay (, ).

However, more human studies are needed before conclusive conclusions can be drawn.

Summary:

The compounds found in cinnamon tea may help fight bacteria, fungus, and mold. They can also help freshen your breath and prevent tooth decay.

Cinnamon tea - how, when and how much to drink

The following recommendations should be used:

• The best time for the first tea is early morning. Immediately after waking up on an empty stomach, you can drink a glass of water, and 10-15 minutes later tea. Afterwards you should refrain from breakfast for half an hour.
• You can brew the drink twice, but then it is recommended to use black leaves for morning drinking, and green leaves for evening drinking.

Otherwise, you should carefully monitor your health, focusing on your blood pressure.

The volume of drinking also depends on individual characteristics. Usually a special kettle or 0.5 liter thermos is used for brewing. This will be enough for the daily diet.

How to brew and drink this drink correctly

Making cinnamon tea has its own unique secrets. In general, this spice can be added to almost any drink. They go well with milk, kefir, compote, coffee, black and green tea. The most popular recipe for tea with cinnamon and lemon. This drink is perfectly refreshing and invigorating, and also promotes natural weight loss.

How to properly brew and drink cinnamon tea:

1. Pour the usual portion of green or black tea into the teapot.
2. Pour boiling and slightly cooled water (temperature no higher than 90 degrees).
3. Add a cinnamon stick or ground spice to the container at the rate of 0.5 teaspoon per 0.5 liter of water.
4. Let it brew, pour into cups and drink.

For a richer bouquet, you can additionally use cloves, ginger, orange and lemon slices. Cinnamon goes well with lemon balm and mint, and tea with cinnamon and apple is a real “classic” and indescribably delicious drink. So that the spices can give the maximum flavor to the drink, you can first boil them in boiling water, and after infusion, brew tea with the spicy mixture.

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How to make cinnamon milk tea:

• Brew tea according to the previous recipe.
• Pour into cups, about ⅔ of the total volume.
• Add milk to the cup.

To improve the taste, you can use a small amount of sugar, or better yet, natural honey. Tea with honey and cinnamon is not only tasty, but also a very healthy drink, you just need to add honey to a slightly cooled liquid so that it does not lose its beneficial qualities.

Is it possible for pregnant and lactating women

A pregnant girl should consult her doctor before eating any new product. Like all natural spices, cinnamon has pronounced properties that can either positively affect the fetus and the health of the expectant mother, or negatively, depending on the condition and personal intolerance.

Women are allowed to take the drink if two basic conditions are met:

• Moderate doses. Enjoying it once a week or two is quite acceptable, but taking half a liter daily, as when losing weight, is completely prohibited.
• Normal course of pregnancy. The spice promotes contraction of the uterus, which can be dangerous in the first trimester, as well as in the later stages - this can cause miscarriage or premature birth. This has a negative effect on hypertension and other pathologies.

If no deviations are identified and moderate doses are observed, the content of vitamins A, C, E, K, B, as well as microelements: manganese, potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium will have a positive effect.

During feeding, you also need to adhere to moderation and monitor the baby’s condition. Start gradually introducing the drink into your diet when your baby turns 3 months old, not earlier. Before this, he was not yet strong enough for new products. Pay attention to the presence of allergies; if spots appear, stop drinking tea immediately.

The spice also contains coumarin, which is bad for the liver. At the same time, there is very little of it in the natural Ceylon spice (its second name is quinamon), but in the Chinese counterfeit (from the cassia plant) there is a lot. That is why it is important to buy only original products.

How to choose real cinnamon

If you are in doubt about purchasing, it is recommended to take cinnamon sticks and grind them yourself. For some recipes, as well as for aesthetic appearance, whole fragments are also suitable, but their use is more expensive.

When choosing a powder, pay attention to its color. The real spice has a light, sandy color, while the Chinese fake has a brown, dark brown color.

Additionally, you can perform a simple test. The chemical properties of the substance are such that when interacting with ordinary medical iodine, cinnamon acquires a pale bluish tint, while the cheap analogue leaves its rich color.

Recipes for making tea with ground cinnamon

Let's imagine several combinations.

Classic black

For one teapot (0.5 liters) you need to add half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder at the time of brewing. The whole difficulty lies in where and how to find the suitable ingredients, as well as how to carry out the procedure. Let's give some recommendations:

• The water should be soft - spring, artesian or regular tap water is suitable, but it has undergone multi-stage purification. Any impurities will not allow the tea leaves to convey all the beneficial and taste qualities.
• A suitable temperature is 90 degrees, that is, a couple of minutes before boiling.
• The most suitable teapot is porcelain or earthenware. Before adding the ingredients, pour boiling water over the inside.
• First, fill in the contents only ⅓, let the leaves open and swell, after 2-3 minutes you can fill in the rest, and also add cinnamon powder.

If you don’t like to experiment, you can buy a quality drink at the Russian Tea Company store - apple and hibiscus will add special notes to this classic taste.

How to make cinnamon and ginger tea

We recommend using whole sticks and ginger root. The first one needs to be crushed in a mortar just before brewing - this way all the essential oils will be preserved. It is recommended to peel the second one and finely chop it with a knife, pressing the pulp with the flat side and squeezing out the aromatic liquid.

Together with tea leaves, you can add the resulting mixture to water heated to 80-90 degrees. After complete brewing (5-7) minutes, you can optionally add lemon zest, a spoonful of honey or dried fruit.

“Russian Tea Company” recommends trying “Spicy mulled wine”, the warming taste of which is created by a combination of ginger, raisins, orange zest, apple, hibiscus and, of course, cinnamon.

With lemon

This fruit contains a large amount of vitamins, and it also attracts with its sourness and unique aroma. Both the pulp and the zest are suitable for brewing, however, you need to remember that the latter is bitter. But if you still decide to add the slices along with the peel, then you need to thoroughly wash it to remove any wax that may be used to treat the fruit.

The recipe for brewing tea with cinnamon sticks and lemon juice is very simple - you need to squeeze half a lemon into the ready-made drink, it will be enough for a half-liter volume. You can drink it hot or chilled, with ice, which is especially important in the summer heat. Before taking, it is better to strain the broth through a sieve or clean gauze. It is recommended to crush the cinnamon stick itself in a mortar.

Green tea

These tea leaves are subject to the same standards as black tea leaves regarding pre-treatment of the utensils and selection of spring water. But its temperature should be lower - from 80 to 85 degrees. If it is not possible to use a thermometer, then simply let the kettle cool slightly for 2-3 minutes. 1.5-2 minutes after brewing, the contents are poured into mugs, and the remaining tea leaves with a pinch of cinnamon are refilled with water (up to 5 times). This way the aroma will be unsurpassed, and all the healing properties will be preserved. Already in the cup you can add a slice of lemon, pour a little warmed milk.

How to Add Cinnamon to Pineapple Mint Tea

The peculiarity of this drink is that it perfectly curbs the feeling of hunger and cravings for sweets, so it is perfect for consumption during a diet, as well as for people who adhere to proper nutrition and abstain from sweets. For one glass of water you will need:

• Half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder.
• A spoon of green leaf tea.
• Juice from two mugs of ripe pineapple.
• A few fresh mint leaves.

With milk

The British prefer this method of consumption because the drink acquires a mild taste. To achieve the best effect, it is recommended to brew the leaves according to standard rules and only after pouring into cups, add warmed milk individually to taste (so that it does not curdle), and also immediately put a cinnamon stick into the glass. It is not only tasty and healthy, but also aesthetically beautiful.

With turmeric

Another spice that has ginger notes and the aroma of black pepper. The decoction using it turns out to be very spicy, rich and even a little sharp. The cooking method is no different from the classic version. The root vegetable is believed to be very beneficial for people over 50 years of age.

With bay leaf

There are only two ingredients here - bay leaf itself (5 pieces) and one cinnamon stick. Place everything together in an enamel pan and add water. Keep on fire after boiling for no more than 5 minutes. After this, let it brew until the dishes cool down. The “infusion” is drunk chilled and strained in a small glass three times a day.

Tea with cinnamon slices

In a separate container you need to boil water with the addition of 1 stick. Unlike powder, it cannot be faked. When the liquid acquires a light brown tint, pour it over the tea leaves in the teapot.

Recipe for tea in a thermos

The most convenient option for those who want to take a drink on the road or to work. You need to pour the ingredients into a container according to standard proportions and fill it with water at 80-90 degrees.

Lactic

The second method of preparation, to use it you need warmed baked milk. It is poured in a thin stream to the bottom of the cup, and ready-made green tea with cinnamon is added on top from the teapot. A special feature is that the mug must be preheated by rinsing with boiling water.

Apple

This is a classic combination that is used in cooking. The procedure is very simple. Tea leaves are brewed according to the above recommendations. During these 5-7 minutes, you can have time to cut 2 sweet and sour apples into small cubes, having previously removed their skins and seeds. Pour fruit into cups doused with boiled water, put a cinnamon stick, and then pour the infusion from the kettle over it all. Then you can add honey and lemon to taste.

Ginger tea for weight loss

Tea with ginger and healthy spice reduces glycemic indicators. Consequently, less insulin is present in the body, which causes it to store less fat. This is a major factor in weight loss. The advantage of drinking a drink for weight loss is the rapid manifestation of positive results. Drink tea with ginger and lemon 2 cups a day: 1 in the morning, 1 during the day.

How to make healthy ginger tea with lemon? Take:

• fresh ginger - to taste,
• ground cinnamon – 1/2 tsp,
• lemon juice – 1/2 tsp,
• honey.

Infuse cinnamon and ginger in 300 ml of boiling water for 10 minutes. Add lemon juice and honey.

A combination of green tea, cinnamon, ginger, lemon (juice) in the ratio 2: 1/2: 1: 1/2 is also suitable for weight loss.