I LOVE busting myths (or backing them up) with chemistry. Today I want to address a topic that has been floating around for a long time. Do cinnamon and honey really cure all things like arthritis, weight loss booster, cold, flu, and more?

The question can be answered with simple chemistry!

And personal testing too.

Do Cinnamon and Honey Really Cure All Things

I can’t tell you the number of times people have come up to me or sent me an article about cinnamon and honey together. Many send me information due to having rheumatoid arthritis, while others wonder if it can really work.

Health claims state that it will help you shed unwanted pounds fast by speeding up your metabolism.

Some claims state that it will cure all your arthritic pain in just a few weeks. There are even articles about it curing cancer! So, the big question is are there any scientific backings to these health claims? Or are they just junk???

To answer this, we have to first look at the science.

The Chemistry of Honey

Honey is a big topic on Chemistry Cachet. I have thoroughly researched it and even tested it for years when it comes to inflammation.

Raw honey has a compound called propolis in it. Propolis is also know as bees glue which is responsible for the stickiness in honey. This chemical compound is a huge anti-inflammatory. It can even be used as a natural pesticide (but that topic is for another day 🙂 )!

Honey is something I personally use for arthritic inflammation, but not just any honey from the store. It has to be raw, unprocessed honey for the benefits. Here is the case study I did.

Although I love honey, it does have sugar in it. So, I’m still mindful of when I use it even though it is a natural sugar. Natural sugars are treated differently by the body versus added sugars. You can read the difference between natural sugar vs added sugar in this article!

The Chemistry of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is another favorite topic on Chemistry Cachet! In fact, cinnamon is big part of my plant care. Read about that here.

Cinnamaldehyde, the chemical found in cinnamon, is responsible for many health related benefits. Not only is it an anti-inflammatory, but it also anti-fungal and anti-microbial!

Not all cinnamon is created equal though. When it comes to your health, ceylon is best. It comes straight from the cinnamon bark and impacts your health the most. You can read more about the research here.

Most of the cinnamon you buy in the store for food flavoring is not ceylon cinnamon. Most cinnamon sold in the US is cassia cinnamon unless it is called ceylon on the label! 

So, if you are using regular cinnamon for food flavoring, odds are it is just cassia.

Combining the Two

As you can see, apart cinnamon and honey each have their own health benefits if you are using the right kind. Together?

Together they are the same. You are still getting the same benefits you did if using separate. There is not special chemical reaction that occurs between the two making it more magical for your health!

Testing It

I have personally tested using honey and cinnamon for my health. Both together and separate. As I  have mentioned, honey does so many good things for my rheumatoid arthritis. It helps with inflammation and pain. I can tell such a difference when I am using it versus not taking it at all.

Cinnamon doesn’t really do much for me. I love it for flavoring, but I especially love it in the garden. Other than that, I have not noticed it helping inflammation or pain using it exclusively. I think it is a great addition to smoothies or drinks for the added health benefits (like heart health), but it takes an overall good diet too.

So, yes cinnamon and honey are healthy options used correctly….but based on the chemistry, together they aren’t any different!

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