Want to lower your inflammation? Add cinnamon to your coffee!
According to a recently published article from Yahoo Life, dieticians say incorporating daily habits that work to minimize inflammation could significantly improve how you feel if you experience brain fog, chronic aches and pains, hormone imbalances, digestive distress, skin issues, or have an autoimmune disease.
Inflammation is the immune system’s response to harmful stimuli, and while it plays a crucial role in defending the body from these unwanted invaders, chronic inflammation can cause a range of health problems. Chronic inflammation can lead to not only the aforementioned ailments but also chronic diseases and cognitive decline. Therefore, physicians and healthy eating experts often stress the significance of developing healthy habits that prevent or lower inflammation. We engage in many actions throughout the day that are either related to preventing or causing inflammation, including everything we consume.
Foods that are high in sugar, fried or ultra-processed are linked to causing inflammation, while vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, legumes, and many other whole foods are linked to preventing it. What we drink also plays a role. Starting the day with a cup of coffee is a habit that can help prevent inflammation, but according to scientific research and healthy eating experts, adding a dash of cinnamon to your morning drink can make it even healthier.
The power of Cinnamon – how does it help lower inflammation?
Cinnamon is an anti-inflammatory spice that can be used to add a hint of sweetness to coffee without the need for sugar or alternative sweeteners, which can cause inflammation, according to Kristen Yarker, MSc, RD, a registered dietitian leading a team of dietitians in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Scientific studies have shown that cinnamon has numerous health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, the ability to reduce cholesterol levels, and support cardiovascular health, among others. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants, which protect the body’s tissues from damage caused by free radicals, preventing an inflammatory response.
When a dash of cinnamon is added to coffee, an anti-inflammatory herb is added to a drink that is already anti-inflammatory, providing additional benefits. According to Barbara Sobel, MS, CNS, LND, a functional medicine nutritionist, coffee is high in antioxidants and can help reduce inflammation, much like cinnamon. Antioxidants remove free radicals and decrease oxidative stress, both of which are key components of inflammation. Sobel suggests that if there isn’t much variety in one’s diet, coffee can become one of the primary sources of antioxidants in the diet.
Other healthy ways to lower inflammation in your diet
If you’re not a fan of cinnamon in your coffee, there are other herbs you can try that can decrease inflammation and be delicious additions to your morning beverage. According to Barbara Sobel and Kristen Yarker, unsweetened cocoa powder, nutmeg, and cloves all contain phytonutrients that help decrease inflammation and can be mixed together to find a blend that suits your taste buds.
However, not everyone should drink coffee, as it can be overstimulating and cause digestive issues, interrupt sleep, and increase blood pressure in those who already have high blood pressure. In such cases, drinking coffee can backfire and cause inflammation instead of preventing it.
If coffee isn’t your thing, there are other anti-inflammatory options to start your day, such as green or black tea, which is high in antioxidants and linked to preventing inflammation. You can also indulge in a morning smoothie spiked with cinnamon, unsweetened cocoa powder, or other herbs of your choice, as fruits and vegetables are also anti-inflammatory.
Both healthy eating experts suggest that it’s important to consider your diet and lifestyle habits as a whole when it comes to preventing or lowering inflammation. Starting the day off with a healthy habit can inspire you to live healthier throughout the day. Moreover, coffee with a dash of cinnamon is a lot more nutritious than a sugar-loaded specialty coffee drink. Sometimes, the simplest approach is the best.
