Saigon Cinnamon

Saigon cinnamon is derived from the bark of cassia trees, which are native to southeast asia. Saigon cinnamon, also known as vietnamese cassia, is one of the sweetest and strongest varieties of cinnamon. It's a member of the cinnamomun cassia family -- the predominant cinnamon variety sold in the united states, according to pennington biomedical research center.

Saigon cinnamon provides valuable health benefits common to all cinnamon varieties. True cinnamon is usually labeled "ceylon cinnamon" and comes principally from sri lanka, 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.

Both types of cinnamon are excellent sources of the trace mineral manganese which is an important activator of enzymes essential to building healthy bones as well as other physiological processes, including carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

Cinnamon has historically been used as a cold remedy, as well as a means of treating some digestive issues such as diarrhea (one japanese study even hinted at cinnamon helping to prevent stomach ulcers). When used to treat colds or digestive problems, cinnamon has been ingested as a tea, so don't think that eating a snickerdoodle is going to cure the runs.

Spices such as saigon cinnamon display insulin-enhancing properties. Of the two main classifications of cinnamon, cinnamomum cassia has shown greater benefits for blood glucose levels and insulin levels than cinnamomum zeylanicum.

An article published in "diabetes care" in december 2003 noted a study conducted on 30 men and 30 women with type 2 diabetes found that after consuming cinnamon for 40 days -- whether the dose was 1, 3 or 6 grams -- the test subjects showed reduced blood sugar levels, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol.

The study also suggested that including cinnamon in the daily diet might reduce diabetes and heart disease risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes.

Inflammation is one of your body's natural defense mechanisms against infection and injury, but when uncontrolled it could result in painful inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and cancer.

According to memorial sloan kettering cancer center, in vitro studies -- those conducted in laboratory vessels or in a controlled laboratory environment, but not on humans -- have demonstrated cinnamon's anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

Cinnamic aldehyde, also known as cinnamaldehyde, has, in some experiments, activated antioxidant responses in human colon cells, which has led some scientists to believe it might help with the prevention or treatment of certain cancers.

When it comes to the idea of cinnamon as a cancer cure, i am a bit dubious.

I have read of some other studies that suggested that elements of cinnamon may help to slow or halt the growth of specific types of tumors, but again, i'm not entirely sold, as the studies seemed pretty small and preliminary.

Just a quick addendum to the research that has been done regarding cinnamon and diabetes.

As was pointed out in some of the studies mentioned above (and additional studies that took place in countries ranging from the united states to pakistan), cinnamon appears to have a positive effect on insulin levels. Because insulin resistance can lead to weight problems, anything that may help to control it (i.e. Cinnamon) may help to aid weight loss. That said, there is no way you are going to lose weight by downing a dozen cinnamon rolls every day.

Go, instead, for cinnamon supplements, cinnamon tea, or perhaps some extra cinnamon sprinkled on your steel-cut, water-only, sugar-free oatmeal.

Brain function.

There has also been some research suggesting that cinnamon may aid brain function. One preliminary study found that subjects who smelled cinnamon or chewed cinnamon gum performed slightly better on cognitive tests when it came to memory and information processing speed.

While such results may be due to subjects' being put at ease by a relaxing action (chewing gum) or smelling a comforting smell, perhaps there is something else about cinnamon that gets people's noggins going.