Scientists have long suspected that cinnamon can help prevent blood-sugar spikes and protect against insulin resistance, a risk factor for diabetes. But how, exactly, has remained a mystery.
In a Facebook post, a bottle of golden-colored honey and red-brown cinnamon is held side-by-side. The accompanying text alludes to a treatment drug companies wont like getting around.
It is found that a mix of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases, David Wright posted to Facebookin 2014 in a post that has garnered attention on the platform since late May. In separate paragraphs dedicated to certain diseases and common ailments, heprovides detailed dosages and methods for intake.
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, put it on toast instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast, Wright advises for heart disease. For arthritis, bladder infections, colds, GI and respiratory issues, longevity and even hearing loss, he recommends mixing varying proportions of the household spice and sweetener with boiling or lukewarm water to drink daily or until symptoms dissipate.
Wrightalso dispenses relevant scientific facts to add a layer of medical authenticity.
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural Ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu, he writes. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) to fight bacterial and viral diseases.
The post has received over a million shares and 70,000 comments, the latter of which have been overwhelmingly positive.
Wow, I knew it helped with some things but I had no idea it helped so many things! Belinda Lee Christian commented.
Some commenters, however, expressed skepticism.
How the heck is hearing related to something you ingest?? Diane Plourde asked.
Wright did not respond to USA TODAY for commentsand clarification.
The use of honey has been well-documented since antiquity, dating as far back as the Stone Age. In the fourth century B.C., the Sumeriansof Mesopotamia, a region once spanning most of modern-day Iraq and eastern Syria, documented the sweet, viscous syrup as both nutritional and medical, even usingit as an ointment. Ancient texts penned by the fathers of early medicine like Aristotle and Hippocrates, as well as Arab and Ayurvedic doctors, also recognized honeys medicinal benefits.
In the last 20 years or so, scientists have uncovered much about this food made by the humble bee.
Bees collect the dilute-sugary nectar of flora plants, produce an enzymatic activity after ingestion, regurgitate it into honey cells and evaporate a high percentage of water out of it, Dana Hunnes, a senior dietitian at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, explained to Timelast year.
The end product honey consists of simple sugar molecules, mostly fructose and glucose, which can be easilyused by the body for energy.
The rest of honeys chemical composition is made up of enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, calcium, iron, zinc and potassium to name a few. And much of its prized pharmacological effect comes from antioxidants called polyphenols.
These compounds are responsible for some of honeys potential health benefits and part of what distinguishes the sweetener from more traditional ones like sugar, Jenny Friedman, a Philadelphia-based registered dietitian, told Time last year.
Cinnamon, like honey, has also enjoyed a long history. Its first documented use was as a perfuming agent during the ancient Egyptian embalming process. During the Middle Ages, it became known as a useful meat preservativeand a treatment for coughs, arthritis and sore throats.
The much-loved fragrant spice, obtained from the bark of Lauraceae family of trees found in Asia, Australia and South America, contains polyphenols and various other chemical compounds with reported anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer and lipid-lowering properties.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one teaspoon of ground cinnamon contains 26 mg of calcium, 0.2 mg of iron, less than 1 mg of magnesium and phosphorous each, about 11 mg of potassium and 0.4 micrograms of vitamin A.
More: Best recipes for stress baking during the pandemic, from beginner level to challenging
Many studies involving honey or cinnamon have not focused on their combined action. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, honey has shown promise in wound care and fighting off catheter-associated UTIs. More rigorous studies are needed to conclude it's helpfulness in alleviating eczema, ringworm or acne but its generally agreed salving on some of the natural sweetenerdoesnt hurt.
Studies have found cinnamon could potentially lower fasting blood glucose and blood pressure in type 2 diabetics. Levels of LDL, total cholesterol and HDL may also improve but are subject to further study. Additionally, cinnamon may protect against stomach ulcers, Alzheimers disease, increase life span, prevent hepatitis C viral entry and improve arthritic pain. Most results are derived from animal models, in vitro studies or from small sample sizes and would require detailed investigation.
The claim of honey and cinnamon for oral hygiene, however, may be substantiated. One 2017 study found that honey and cinnamon appear to work together to fight against Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium known for its role in tooth decay.
There are no studies indicating honey and cinnamon effective in curing hearing loss, fatigue or increasing life span in human subjects. While honey and cinnamon may soothe symptoms of the common cold or the flu, they cannot kill influenza germs (influenza being a virus and not a bacteria) as the Facebook post claims.
There are hundreds of honey types worldwide, with over 300 variations in the United States alone. The benefits of one particular honey can differ from another depending on many factors including the nectars floral source, the environment and even the bees age. New Zealand manuka honey has been well-researched and recognized for its medicinal properties; Tualang honey found in Malaysia and buckwheat honey are also gaining attention. Buyers must beware of imported honey, which can be filtered with other sweeteners like corn syrup thereby reducing its health and nutritional value.
When it comes to cinnamon, it may come as a surprise to learn most supermarket cinnamon is not of the true cinnamon, or Ceylon variety, but cassia, Chinese cinnamon. While both have been used in studies looking at effects on blood glucose, eating too much of cassia cinnamon may be harmful in large doses.
As far as recommended daily dosages of either one, experts recommend consuming no more than a tablespoon of honey or one-quarterto about 1.25 teaspoonsof cassia daily (there are no human studies available yet for optimal dosing with Ceylon cinnamon). Many of the doses prescribed in the Facebook post exceed the recommended limits.
We rate the health claim of honey and cinnamon as a cure for most diseases PARTLY FALSE because some of it was not supported by our research. While its true honey and cinnamon individually may help improve and even protect against some diseases, there is a lack of studies looking at both honey and cinnamon together. There's no scientific evidence backing improving hearing loss and the claim of weight loss may be inferred but has not been confirmed. The prescribed dosages mentioned exceed the recommended daily servings and could be potentially harmful.
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.
Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/06/14/fact-check-health-benefits-honey-and-cinnamon/3175131001/
- Pharmacist explains best diet to reduce arthritis, inflammation and joint pain - The Mirror - March 10th, 2024
- Teen Raises Funds to Fight Arthritis - Arthritis Foundation - March 10th, 2024
- Is there a higher risk of depression among specific populations of patients with rheumatoid arthritis? - News-Medical.Net - March 10th, 2024
- Here's How to Explain Your Arthritis Pain to Your Doctor So They Actually Get It - Northwest Georgia News - March 10th, 2024
- Despite Their Prevalence, Arthritis, Neck and Back Pain Receive Few Research Dollars, Analysis Finds | BIDMC of ... - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical... - March 10th, 2024
- This Is the Difference Between Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis - Prescott Daily Courier - March 10th, 2024
- The #1 Early Sign of Arthritis Most People Miss, According to a Rheumatologist - Northwest Georgia News - March 10th, 2024
- The Efficacy and Safety of Apremilast in the Management of Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - Cureus - March 10th, 2024
- MU Researchers Participating in International Clinical Study Targeting Prevention of Osteoarthritis - University of Missouri School of Medicine - March 10th, 2024
- Review: Real-World Evidence Confirms Effectiveness and Safety of Adalimumab Biosimilar SB5 - The Center for Biosimilars - March 10th, 2024
- A Gender-Bias-Mitigated, Data-Driven Precision Medicine System to Assist in the Selection of Biological Treatments of ... - Cureus - March 10th, 2024
- Young arthritis cases are on the rise, new research suggests - The Examiner - March 10th, 2024
- Quiz: ACR Guideline for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis - MD Magazine - February 10th, 2024
- Psoriatic arthritis: What to know about medications for children - Medical News Today - February 10th, 2024
- Ancient Egyptian woman had holes on her bones. Experts say its rare case of disease - Miami Herald - February 10th, 2024
- Arthritis and Pregnancy: Fertility, Gestation, Postpartum - Verywell Health - February 10th, 2024
- 3500-year-old burial of Nubian woman reveals 1 of world's earliest known cases of rheumatoid arthritis - Livescience.com - February 10th, 2024
- Impact of frailty severity and severe pain on cognitive function for community-dwelling older adults with arthritis: a cross ... - Nature.com - February 10th, 2024
- IHL-675A: Advancing Towards Innovative Arthritis Solutions, with Mark Bleackley, PhD - MD Magazine - February 10th, 2024
- Insomnia, Shorter Sleep Duration Linked to the Risk of Autoimmune Arthritis - MD Magazine - February 10th, 2024
- Advancements in Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment for Children: A Beacon of Hope - Medriva - February 10th, 2024
- Breakthrough Molecule RvT4 Reverses Inflammation and Clears Arterial Blockages in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients - SciTechDaily - February 10th, 2024
- Personal Experience with Psoriatic Arthritis and Atopic Dermatitis - Medriva - February 10th, 2024
- EULAR Recommendations on Imaging in Crystal-Induced Arthropathies (CiA) - Medriva - February 10th, 2024
- The Importance of Ultrasound-Guided Synovial Biopsy in the Workup of Seronegative Inflammatory Arthritis: A Case ... - Cureus - February 10th, 2024
- Autoimmune diseases like lupus, MS, and rheumatoid arthritis strike far more women than men. Scientists now think they know why - Fortune - February 2nd, 2024
- Multiple Ulcers in the Ileum and Lymphadenopathy Following the Usage of Methotrexate in a Patient With Rheumatoid ... - Cureus - February 2nd, 2024
- These are the best arthritis creams of 2024, according to health experts - Yahoo Life - February 2nd, 2024
- Do Your Joints Ache When a Storm Is Brewing? Here's What's Really Happening - DISCOVER Magazine - February 2nd, 2024
- Olympic bronze medalist opens up about balancing arthritis with motherhood and triathlon - TRI247 - February 2nd, 2024
- Some Dinosaurs May Have Had Arthritis 90 Million Years Ago - IFLScience - February 2nd, 2024
- 3500-year-old remains of ancient Egyptian suffering from rheumatoid arthritis uncovered - Xinhua - February 2nd, 2024
- Lupus and other autoimmune diseases strike far more women than men. Now there's a clue why - The Associated Press - February 2nd, 2024
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day on February 2: What you need to know - CNBCTV18 - February 2nd, 2024
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day 2024: Signs, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Prevention - News18 - February 2nd, 2024
- Improving arthritis in cold weather | Health Smart - WPMT FOX 43 - February 2nd, 2024
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day: History, Significance And All You Need To Know - ABP Live - February 2nd, 2024
- Dietary Factors Tied to Osteoarthritis Pain | MedPage Today - Medpage Today - February 2nd, 2024
- Cold-weather coping tips for people with arthritis, osteoporosis and lung diseases - Southernminn.com - February 2nd, 2024
- How to manage arthritis and joint pain: Effective tips for knee pain relief - Health shots - February 2nd, 2024
- New study illuminates the genetics of thumb arthritis treatment - News-Medical.Net - January 25th, 2024
- Rheumatoid arthritis: 30 minutes of walking may lower blood pressure - Medical News Today - January 25th, 2024
- RA Disease Activity Assessed Too Little After Starting TNFi - Medscape - January 25th, 2024
- Lifestyle tips for youth's bone health: Avoid these habits to prevent arthritis - Hindustan Times - January 25th, 2024
- Best arthritis pain relief cream of 2024, according to experts - AOL - January 25th, 2024
- Vasculitis, an Early Unusual Presentation of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report - Cureus - January 25th, 2024
- Patients with later menarche, earlier menopause have higher risk for rheumatoid arthritis - Healio - January 25th, 2024
- Investigating Maternal Inflammatory Arthritis and Pregnancy Outcomes < Yale School of Medicine - Yale School of Medicine - January 25th, 2024
- Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes: What's the Connection? - Health Central - January 25th, 2024
- Oxidative DNA Damage and Zinc Status in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Duhok, Iraq - Cureus - January 25th, 2024
- Changes Afoot for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis with Marked Gains in Preference and Utilization of IL-17 Inhibitors - Yahoo Finance - January 25th, 2024
- The Connection Between Potassium and Rheumatoid Arthritis - Health Central - January 25th, 2024
- What Is the ACR20 (American College of Rheumatology) Criteria? - Health Central - January 25th, 2024
- RA Treatment Advances and Where They Are Headed - Health Central - January 25th, 2024
- TMC Medical Minutes- Arthritis & Cold Weather - KXII - January 25th, 2024
- How to deal with joint and arthritis pain in the cold weather - Crossroads Today - January 25th, 2024
- Arthritis: Regular exercises, calcium-rich diet and other habits to keep your bones strong and healthy - Moneycontrol - January 25th, 2024
- Men With Arthritis Have Higher Fertility Rates, Study Finds - Zenger.News - January 25th, 2024
- Pain on Top of Foot: 5 Causes, Swelling, Treatment - Verywell Health - January 25th, 2024
- Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women: Genetics, Hormones, and Impact - Medriva - January 25th, 2024
- Arthritis | Johns Hopkins Medicine - January 9th, 2024
- Ideal cardiovascular health metrics have better identification of arthritis - BMC Public Health - BMC Public Health - January 9th, 2024
- Acupuncture for Arthritis: Benefits and Risks - Verywell Health - January 9th, 2024
- Why do arthritic horses have more trouble during the winter? - EQUUS Magazine - January 9th, 2024
- Rather than roll over and die, I'm like, 'No, I still want to play': Steve Morse says arthritis diagnosis forced him to ... - Guitar.com - January 9th, 2024
- Top Signs that Your RA Treatment May No Longer Be Working - Health Central - January 9th, 2024
- What Is The Life Expectancy Of Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Review By Doctors - MSN - January 9th, 2024
- Nature Coast Orthopaedics | arthritis care | medicare and most insurance accepted | Beverly Hills, FL | chronicleonline ... - Citrus County Chronicle - January 9th, 2024
- Millions of arthritis patients could struggle to get blockbuster drug, as CVS pulls it from pharmacies - Daily Mail - January 9th, 2024
- What Is Arthritis? | Arthritis Foundation - May 17th, 2023
- Procedure to Surgery for Arthritis Is Recommended After First Failed Non-Operative Therapy - DocWire News - March 29th, 2023
- Higher Prevalence of Sarcopenia Reported in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis - Rheumatology Network - October 7th, 2022
- Exploring the Relationship Between Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis - Dermatology Times - October 7th, 2022
- Are Tomatoes Bad For Arthritis? Here's What An MD Has To Say - Women's Health - October 7th, 2022
- Tocilizumab for Treating ICI-Induced Arthritis and Colitis - DocWire News - October 7th, 2022
- Why Arthritis Is A Clear And Present Danger, And How We Can Fight It - CNBCTV18 - October 7th, 2022
- Arthritis: Five cruciferous veg 'block inflammatory process' - backed by 10-year study - Express - October 7th, 2022
- 5 Exercise Habits for Arthritis in Your 50s - Eat This, Not That - October 7th, 2022
- Arthritis: 8 types of fish can cause acid crystals to build up in joints - 'very painful' - Express - October 7th, 2022
- EMA Issues Positive Opinion on the Safety of Filgotinib - Medscape - October 7th, 2022