16 January 2024 , 16:09
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What most people love most about the winter is being able to enjoy a nice hot beverage while being tucked up under their blankets - but did you know adding one particular ingredient to your drink has serious health benefits?
For most people, the popular choice of drinks includes hot chocolate, a spiced latte, hot apple cider, and mulled wine. Cinnamon is synonymous with winter and goes perfectly with different flavoured drinks. Not only that, research has shown that sprinkling the condiment on your breakfast meals and morning drinks can do wonders for your health.
Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds, which can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to the most common health issues as a result of aging, reports Wales Online. It is often called a 'silent killer' because it may have no symptoms, so it's best to contact your GP if you have concerns.
It goes great with your porridge and pudding (Stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)According to the NHS, when a person's blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on the blood vessels, heart, and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys, and eyes. This can then lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, heart attack, dementia, and strokes..
Thankfully, cinnamon comes cheap and can be easily purchased at most large supermarkets, including for 59p at Lidl or £1 at Tesco. A review of studies indicated that taking at least 1.5 grams, roughly 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon daily can lower triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood sugar in individuals with metabolic disease.
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Further analysis of 13 studies went on to find that cinnamon supplementation did indeed decrease levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol, both known risk factors for heart disease. While cinnamon can combat high blood pressure, it can also improve gut health, and dental hygiene, and reduce cholesterol levels.
According to the NHS, there are several lifestyle changes that can help prevent and lower high blood pressure and diabetes:
- Cut back on alcohol
- Lose weight if you're overweight
- Exercise regularly
- Cut down on caffeine
- Stop drinking
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is by having a test. This can be done at most pharmacies or your GP surgery. For diabetes, there are a number of symptoms you can look out for - including feeling very thirsty, peeing more than usual, feeling very tired, weight loss and blurred vision. If you experience any of these, you should speak to your GP.