Dr Amir Khan, who regularly provides medical advice on television, believes we should be incorporating one common spice into our diets owing to its many health benefits
A GP claims we should all be incorporating one common spice into our diets as it possesses a number of important health benefits. Dr Amir Khan, known for his appearances on ITV shows such as Lorraine, took to TikTok to reveal why cinnamon is one of his favourites spices.
That distinct smell and flavour of cinnamon is due to the oily part, which is very high in a compound called cinnamaldehyde’, that scientists now believe is responsible for most of cinnamon’s powerful, beneficial health effects,” he explained in a video. Dr Khan went on to add that cinnamon contains a large amount of plant antioxidants called polyphenols, which protect our bodies from roaming free radicals which can damage DNA.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that can harm the DNA within cells if they accumulate and result from various factors including air pollution, smoking, X-ray exposure and an inadequate diet.
“It can also reduce inflammation,” the GP continued.
“And it has also been known to reduce the risk of heart disease.” He elaborated: “A review of 13 studies found that cinnamon may reduce harmful fats, triglycerides – and bring down total cholesterol levels.”
The list of benefits doesn’t stop there, however, as Dr Khan advised the spice has also been linked to lowering blood pressure.
“Cinnamon is well known for its blood sugar lowering properties,” he added.
“It has been shown to decrease the amount of sugar that enters our blood stream after a meal. It is thought to do this by slowing down the breakdown of sugars in our gut and mimicking the effects of insulin so more sugar is taken up into our cells and out of our blood.”
The doctor closed by providing ideas on how we can consume more cinnamon in our diets – namely via porridge or by mixing in a teaspoon of the spice in our home-cooked meals.
“I love cinnamon!” one TikTok user declared in response. “I take cinnamon tablets every day along with all my other vitamins for migraines.”
While a second person confessed: “I use cinnamon in everything. Cakes, porridge, waffles, pancakes. Along with ground flaxseeds.”
Health website WebMD advises: “If you would like to use the most-studied type of cinnamon in your cooking, look for Ceylon cinnamon, also called ‘true cinnamon’, which is richer in potentially beneficial plant chemicals.
“Because cinnamon is unproven as a treatment, there isn’t a set dose. Some experts suggest 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (2-4 grams) of powder a day. Some studies have used about 1-6 grams of cinnamon. High doses might be toxic.”
Meanwhile, it warns: “Ceylon cinnamon, the kind usually connected with health benefits in scientific studies, should not be taken in large amounts during pregnancy.”