Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices used in cooking, and its sheer versatility means that you’ll find it in dishes from breakfast through to dessert, where people enjoy the warm and slightly spicy flavor.
If you’re counting your calories, then you’ll want to know more about the calorific content of cinnamon, so that you can make more informed decisions about whether or not you want to include this spice in your cooking.
So, if you want to learn more about the calories found in cinnamon, as well as the health benefits of this spice, then we’ll provide all of the information you need to know in this convenient guide.
What Is Cinnamon?
We’re sure that many of you out there will be familiar with cinnamon, especially since it’s such a commonly used spice across the world. However, if you do happen to be unfamiliar with this spice, then allow us to tell you a little bit more about it.
Originating in Sri Lanka, as well as being cultivated in Vietnam, Brazil, India, and Indonesia, cinnamon comes from the dried-out bark of the cinnamon tree, which produces a warm and slightly spicy flavor.
Cinnamon is either sold in small sticks or as a powder and can be found in a variety of different dishes, both sweet and savory, such as oatmeal cookies, curries, and more.
So, if you’re trying to find some healthier dishes, then you might just find that the recipe calls for you to use cinnamon, but is it a high-calorie spice? We’ll take a look in the next section!
How Many Calories Are There In Cinnamon?
Just like any other food item, the amount of calories found in cinnamon depends on the size of the serving, so for the sake of this guide, we’ll keep the serving size to a singular teaspoon of cinnamon.
Despite some preconceptions that people have about cinnamon, it’s a spice with an incredibly low calorific content, having just 6 calories per teaspoon serving, which means that you can feel free to add it to whatever dish you would like without worrying that it’s going to have a dramatic effect on the calories.
While cinnamon itself is a particularly low-calorie spice, since it is often included in desserts and other sweet food items, it’s worth noting that these are dishes that are typically high in calories, especially because of the inclusion of sugar.
So, just because you notice that something contains cinnamon, it doesn’t automatically mean that it is low in calories, so keep an eye out for the calorie information on the packaging to check before you decide to buy it!
The Health Benefits Of Cinnamon
One of the reasons why cinnamon is such a popular and revered spice is because it has a large number of health benefits, which is why people who are trying to ensure that their diet is as healthy as possible like to include it in many different dishes.
Cinnamon is known to be both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, helping the body to create the necessary compounds to reduce the risks of chronic illnesses, as well as any potential damage from free radicals.
This isn’t all though, as cinnamon is also known to help boost insulin sensitivity, and lower blood sugar levels, making it an extremely beneficial ingredient for those with diabetes.
There have also been reports of improved brain function due to increased blood flow, as well as the enhancement of cognitive performance as a result of consuming cinnamon, which is why it’s recommended that you consume a teaspoon a day.
Finally, cinnamon is also said to have some anti-microbial properties, which makes it excellent for warding off bacteria and viruses.
As you can see then, there are many great health benefits to cinnamon, and since it’s also particularly low in calories, you should consider adding it to your diet regularly.
How To Add Cinnamon To Your Diet
If you’re looking to add cinnamon to your diet, then you’re probably wondering what some of the best ways to do so are, especially if you’re trying to watch the calories you consume.
With these few methods, you’ll be eating plenty of cinnamon in no time!
If you regularly eat fruit as a part of your daily routine, then simply sprinkling some powdered cinnamon on top is a great way to include it in your diet.
Not only does this help to keep your calories low, but it will also help to elevate the taste of your fruit too.
Another way of incorporating cinnamon into your diet is by steeping some cinnamon sticks in some boiled water, which will help to create an extremely low-calorie, yet flavorful, cinnamon tea.
For those who like to eat oatmeal, cinnamon can be sprinkled on top, which will help to improve the flavor, and allow you to reap the health benefits of regular cinnamon consumption.
These are just some of the great ways in which you can include cinnamon into your diet, and with it being so low in calories, and with so many health benefits, it’s something that everyone should try!
Using Cinnamon As A Low-Calorie Substitute
Cinnamon can also be used as a substitute for higher-calorie ingredients in some cases.
Although, it is worth noting that it won’t necessarily work as a replacement in every recipe, as different ingredients can play a large part in the textures and flavor palettes of different foods, so consider it before you go replacing ingredients.
If you regularly add sugar to the top of your sliced fruit or into your coffee, then why not add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder instead? It still has a slightly sweet and warming flavor, but is much healthier for you.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this guide to cinnamon and its calorific content has been helpful, and hopefully, you can add some cinnamon to your diet soon!
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