Start off the month with some spice

The start of this month, November 1, is a very special day: National Cinnamon Day. Cinnamon is important and good for you at the same time. James Shammas in 6th grade really likes cinnamom.

“I would rate it 10/10,” Shammas said. “I really like cinnamon rolls. I think cinnamon is important because it tastes really good, and it adds flavor to almost anything.”

Cinnamon also has a lot of benefits for your diet and health. According to one health website called WebMD, Cinnamon helps fight aging and some diseases like cancer. It can also help your body fight swelling from infections. It’s scientfic name is Cinamomum Zeylanicum.

“I like cinnamon, and I’ll give it a 7/10,” Jamie Whitney said. “My favorite food with cinnamon is cinnamon oatmeal.”

Many foods have cinnamon flavoring such as cinnamon rolls, buns, cereal, and donuts. Even though some people think it’s tasty and it can be good for you, too much of a goof thing can be harmful to your health. Too much cinnamon can irritate your mouth and lips. Some cinnamon has a natural ingredient called coumarin, which can also be harmful in large amounts. Too much cinnamon can also be bad if you have diabetes because high levels can cause low blood sugar.

Cinnamon has been around for more than 4,000 years, according to the Rocky Mountain Spice Company’s website. It comes from the bark of a tree in Sri Lanka or Ceylon which is in Southeast Asia. These trees can grow up to 66 feet tall, but most are cut into bushes. To make cinnamon, the bark of the cinnamon tree is peeled then dried. Sometimes, it’s then ground into powder. It also comes in strips that are rolled up.