Cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia Cinnamon - Not the Same Cinnamon
There are 2 types of cinnamon: Cassia and Ceylon

Cinnamon is a very popular spice.

It is not only delicious, but also has great health benefits.

Cinnamon is cheap, widely sold in markets and supermarkets. At least you can find a kind of cinnamon there.

Most people do not realize that there are actually two types of cinnamon.

Both types are healthy, but one contains harmful toxins if eaten too much.

This article will explain the difference between cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon.

What is cinnamon?

Cinnamon is a spice made from the bark of a plant called cinnamon ( Cinnamomum ).

The inner shells are dried until they are rolled into a circle of cinnamon rolls, or often called cinnamon sticks. They can then be pulverized or extracted.

The uniqueness of this spice comes from the essential oils and aromas of cinnamon, especially in essence .

This substance helps cinnamon with its own flavor and aroma, and also contributes to creating many health values ​​for cinnamon.

Summary: Cinnamon is made of the shell of the tree Cinnamomum (cinnamon limb). The unique properties of cinnamon come from its essential oils, such as cinnamaldehyde.

Cassia Cinnamon

Cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia Cinnamon - Not the Same Cinnamon
Cassia cinnamon is of Chinese origin and is widely consumed worldwide

Cassia cinnamon is made from Cinnamomum cinnamon, also called Cinnamon Ceylon (Scientific name is Cinnamomum aromaticum )

It originated in southern China, and is also called Chinese cinnamon.

However, some other cinnamon species are now widely grown in East Asia and South Asia .

Cassia cinnamon usually has thick crust with dark red brown color. It also has a rougher, rougher texture than Ceylon cinnamon.

Cassia cinnamon is said to be of low quality. It is very cheap and is widely consumed worldwide. Most types of cinnamon that you see in the supermarket are Cassia cinnamon.

Cassia cinnamon has long been used in Chinese traditional cooking and medicine. About 95% of its essential oils contain cinnamaldehyde, giving it a characteristic pungent taste .

Summary: Cassia cinnamon is the most popular cinnamon. It has a stronger flavor than cinnamon Ceylon and contains 95% of essential oils of cinnamaldehyde.

Cinnamon Ceylon

Cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia Cinnamon - Not the Same Cinnamon
Ceylon cinnamon has a mild taste

Cinnamon Ceylon or "true cinnamon" originated from Sri Lanka and southern Indian provinces.

It is made from the inner crust of cinnamon Cinnamomum verum .

Ceylon cinnamon is light brown in color and contains many tightly wrapped fibers with a soft outer cover. These properties make it of high quality and characteristic texture.

Ceylon cinnamon is less common and has long been used as a cooking seasoning. It's quite expensive compared to popular Cassia cinnamon.

Ceylon cinnamon has a sweet taste, gentle and suitable for dessert

About 50-63% of its essential oils contain cinnamaldehyde, slightly lower than Cassia cinnamon. This explains why its aroma and taste is so mild .

Summary: Cinnamon Ceylon is a high quality and high quality spice. About 50-63% of its essential oils contain cinnamaldehyde, which explains the mild aroma and flavor of Ceylon cinnamon.

Both cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia are good for diabetics

Cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia Cinnamon - Not the Same Cinnamon
For many generations, cinnamon has always been appreciated for its value to health.

In particular, it is thought to be beneficial in controlling blood sugar - a very important thing for diabetics.

A review of 16 previous studies on diabetes treatment showed good results with Ceylon cinnamon powder when used as a functional food .

Animal and laboratory studies have shown that it can reduce blood sugar levels, enhance insulin sensitivity and improve metabolic signs associated with insulin resistance .

Unfortunately, there are no human studies that determine the optimal efficacy or dosage of Ceylon cinnamon as a supplement.

On the other hand, Cassia cinnamon has been used in a number of studies on people without diabetes and people with type 2 diabetes. Most studies have observed a significant reduction in the amount. blood sugar within a few months of testing .

The standard dose of Cassia cinnamon ranges from 1-6 grams per day. It has few side effects, or has no side effects at all.

Summary: Both cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia are thought to lower blood sugar levels and fight diabetes. However, Cassia cinnamon is studied more in humans.

What kind of health effects are more?

Both cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia have different health benefits.

That's because their ratio of essential oils varies.

However, recently published studies have not produced a clear distinction.

For example, some cinnamon biological compounds seem to block a protein called "tau" that accumulates in the brain.

This finding is very important, because it is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease .

However, this effect has been observed and studied by using both cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia. Therefore, it is not clear in which category is higher in the two categories.

In general, it is impossible to say which one is more beneficial to health. However, Ceylon cinnamon is less harmful when used regularly.

Summary: There are no studies comparing the health benefits of two types of cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia.

Cassia cinnamon contains Coumarin - a substance that can be toxic

Cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia Cinnamon - Not the Same Cinnamon
Should choose cinnamon Ceylon for safety reasons

is a natural compound found in some plant species

It can be toxic in large doses.

In rodents, coumarin causes damage to the kidneys, liver and lungs. It can even cause cancer. In humans, there are also some incidents with similar consequences .

In fact, coumarin 'acceptable daily intake (Tolerable Daily Intake) is 0.2mg / lb (0.5 mg / kg) of body weight. It has been reduced to 0.05mg / lb (0.1mg / kg)

Cassia cinnamon, not Ceylon, is a source of a lot of coumarin.

Cassia cinnamon contains about 1% coumarin, while cinnamon Ceylon contains only 0.004%, 250 times less. This level is too low to sometimes not even detect it .

It is easy to exceed the coumarin allowance if you use many Cassia cinnamon. In many cases, just 1-2 teaspoons of coumarin can make someone exceed the coumarin threshold for daily consumption.

So if you regularly eat cinnamon or use cinnamon-containing functional foods, it's best to use cinnamon Ceylon and not Cassia.

Summary: Cassia cinnamon contains a lot of coumarin, which is very toxic in large quantities. If you eat a lot of cinnamon, choose cinnamon Ceylon to be safer.

Message for you

Both cinnamon Ceylon and Cassia are healthy and flavorful.

However, if you intend to use this spice in large quantities or use it as a dietary supplement, Cassia cinnamon can be very toxic because it contains a large amount of coumarin.

Finally, cinnamon Ceylon still has better quality and safer.