Cinnamon Challenge… What exactly is the cinnamon challenge? The Cinnamon Challenge is a challenge in which a person tries to eat 1 tablespoon of Cinnamon without the use of water in under 60 seconds. People think it’s so easy to do, yet it’s practically impossible. My experience, also, was a failure. There are 4 varieties of cinnamon. The most common being Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon; the varieties differ in texture, color and flavor. In China, cinnamon has been used to treat colds, nausea, diarrhea, help diabetics, and improve digestion. Cinnamon is a type of spice. Spice is an aromatic or pungent vegetable substance used to flavor food, e.g., cloves, pepper, or mace; flavor with spice.
Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known. It was mentioned in the Bible and was used in ancient Egypt not only as a beverage, but flavoring and medicine as well. Cinnamon is found in many parts of the world from India, China, Madagascar, and Brazil to the Caribbean. It was so highly treasured that it was considered more valuable than gold. The use of cinnamon dates back as long ago as 4,000 years. It has a broad range of historical uses in different cultures. Cinnamon has been used as a treatment of diarrhea, gas relief, bloating, regulating glucose, as an antibacterial and many more. Cinnamon is harvested by growing the tree two years and then cutting it. The next year a dozen or more shoots will form from the roots. These shoots are then stripped of their bark and left to dry. Only the thin inner bark is used; the outer woody portion is removed, leaving metro long cinnamon strips curl into rolls on drying. Each dried quill comprises strips from numerous shoots packed together. These quills are then cut to 5-10 cm long pieces for sale.
The best cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka, but the tree is also grown commercially at Tellicherry in Java, Sumatra, the West Indies, Brazil, Vietnam, Madagascar, and Egypt. Sri Lanka cinnamon of fine quality is a very smooth bark, with a light-yellowish brown color, and a fragrant odor. Cinnamon has great health benefits. Numerous studies show that cinnamon regulates blood sugar, making it a great choice for diabetics. Cinnamon is also great for anyone who wants stable energy levels and moods. It reduces LDL cholesterol levels. LDL is also known as the harmful cholesterol. Reducing it may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It reduces pain linked to arthritis.
Cinnamon has been shown in studies at the Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Korean Hospital, to reduce cytokines linked to arthritic pain. Research at the University of Texas, published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, shows that cinnamon may reduce the proliferation of cancer cells, holding promise for cancer prevention and sufferers of the disease. It has a natural food preservative. It contains fiber, calcium, and manganese. Cinnamon contains a natural chemical called cinnamaldehyde, which studies show increases the hormone progesterone and decreases testosterone production in women, helping to balance hormones.
Cinnamon can help cure Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumor, according to research at the Cytokine Research Laboratory and The University of Texas, their research shows that cinnamon reduces chronic inflammation linked with these disorders. ½ teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower your bad cholesterol. Cinnamon may help treat type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and increasing the amount of insulin production in the body.
Cinnamon has antifungal properties, and it’s been said that candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment. Cinnamon can reduce the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells. It has anti clotting effect on the blood. Honey and cinnamon combined has been found to relieve arthritis pain. When added to food, cinnamon inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural preservative. Smelling cinnamon boosts body function and memory. Cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices. Cinnamon has been found to be an effective natural remedy for eliminating headaches and migraine relief. Cinnamon can also help stabilize blood sugar.
Doctors say the challenge is impossible because the cinnamon cannot be digested without water. By inhaling the cinnamon dust, teens run the risk of inflaming or scarring their lung tissue, or having their lungs collapse. It can also cause coughing, choking, vomiting, or pneumonia if spice gets into the lungs. There have also a number of cases where children needed ventilator support because they weren’t able to breathe as a result of this challenge. Parents should warn their child of the dangers of attempting the cinnamon challenge, as well as using any drug in general.
Although cinnamon is a common use, swallowing a spoonful may result in unpleasant effects that can cause a health risk. The number of calls to poison centers concerning teens ingesting cinnamon as part of the “cinnamon challenge” has highly increased dramatically in the first three months of this year. From, only, January to March poisons centers received 139 calls regarding teen exposure to cinnamon, and 30 required medical support. As an result in the increase, poison control experts are now warning parents and teens about the health risks associated with the intentional misuse or abuse of cinnamon.