What Are the Potential Benefits of Bay Leaf and Cinnamon Tea?

Despite adding aromatics and flavour to a variety of curries, particularly in Middle Eastern and Indian dishes, cinnamon, otherwise known as Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cinnamomum cassia of the Lauraceae family), also holds beneficial health properties. It contains essential oils and compounds that aid it in being an antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory, and an antimicrobial, among other beneficial properties.

Bay Leaf

Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis of the Lauraceae family) is procured from the Bay Laurel shrub and is used throughout the world, particularly in Asian, subtropical, tropical, and European countries, as a food flavouring in curries, soups, stews, and sauces. Mainly known for adding depth and flavour without overpowering other flavours in dishes, bay leaf also holds beneficial health properties, such as being an anti-inflammatory, improving cardiac health, and aiding in acne prevention due to its antioxidant properties.

In combination, bay leaf and cinnamon brewed as a tea have properties aiding in stress relief, gut health, and weight management—not only being healthy and beneficial but also robust in pleasant flavour and delightful aromatics.

Let’s take a gander at these potential benefits of bay leaf and cinnamon tea and how to brew yourself a tea to drink yourself into good health.

How to Make Cinnamon and Bay Leaf Tea

A simple, easy, and quick tea to make, cinnamon and bay leaf tea is made by simply steeping cinnamon sticks and bay leaves in boiling water. Instead of your normal tea bag, you can replace it with just two ingredients you can pick up at your local spice shop or grocery store.

Let’s start with, firstly, boiling 2 cups worth of water. While you’re letting that kettle or pot come to a boil:

Procedure

1. Take 2-3 bay leaves and gently wash them to remove any dust or residue.
2. Once the water has come to a boil, add the bay leaves to the pot or cup, and then add your cinnamon stick (1 stick is sufficient, or if you only have ground cinnamon, add a pinch of the ground cinnamon to the cup or pot).
3. Turn off the heat (if you’re using a pot) or pour the boiled water into a cup and let it sit to extract the flavours and stew.
4. Strain your tea or remove your bay leaves and cinnamon sticks, and add honey or lemon if desired.

Potential Benefits of Bay Leaf and Cinnamon Tea

Bay leaf and cinnamon tea is a warm, tasty drink that may also have some health benefits. This tea is made from two simple ingredients, but together they can help with things like digestion and boosting energy. It’s an easy way to enjoy a flavorful drink while possibly helping your body feel better. Let’s look at some of the possible benefits of bay leaf and cinnamon tea.

May Help Improve Skin Health

Packed with antioxidants and essential oils, bay leaf and cinnamon tea aid in the prevention of premature ageing by fighting off free radicals, giving you clearer and more radiant skin.

This tea also boasts anti-inflammatory properties and regulates your blood sugar levels, which help combat the appearance of acne and can reduce skin irritations caused by ailments such as eczema.

Bay leaf and cinnamon tea contain antifungal and antimicrobial properties, which are particularly effective in combating bacteria that cause skin irritations and combating some fungal species.

May Help Promote a Healthy Gut and Digestive System

Bay leaf and cinnamon tea can help stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, which aid in breaking down food more efficiently while also decreasing bloatedness and gas production in the gut. This tea also works as a digestive, promoting regular and balanced digestion, which aids in the prevention and relief from constipation, nausea, and indigestion.

Antioxidants in bay leaf and cinnamon tea have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties (properties that help relieve spasms and relax muscles) that can help improve the symptoms of gastric disorders such as ulcers. The tannins contained within the tea have great beneficial action in treating ailments such as diarrhoea.

Consumption of bay leaf and cinnamon tea in the mornings on an empty stomach can regulate your digestive tract for the day, promote and aid in weight loss by boosting your metabolism, and act as an appetite suppressant—perfect if you’re trying to lose a couple of pounds by helping manage your calorie intake.

Also, with its high fibre content, it promotes a feeling of fullness and satisfaction, so you’re not suffering from hunger pangs that some dietary plans can sometimes make you feel.

Read More: Avoid Excess Cinnamon If You’re Taking These Medications

May Help Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

This is especially helpful to those who have type 2 diabetes. Bay leaf and cinnamon tea can assist with insulin sensitivity, with polyphenols in the bay leaves aiding glucose and cholesterol management, potentially helping in preventing major unexpected spikes and crashes associated with type 2 diabetes. However, more research on this topic is required.

May Help Promote Heart and Cardiac Health

Consumption of bay leaf and cinnamon tea helps with cardiovascular function—through bay leaf extracts like eucalyptol and polyphenols, they can help regulate cholesterol levels in the blood. These also prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and atherosclerosis.
Cinnamon compounds actively work to promote HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce high blood pressure by preventing the narrowing of blood vessels.

By reducing inflammation, which is thought to be one of the common causes of heart problems, it helps promote better heart health and blood circulation.

Stress Relief and Relaxation

Not only does bay leaf and cinnamon tea boast a myriad of health benefits, but it also aids in stress relief—with compounds like linalool and eucalyptol in bay leaves that promote relaxation of your central nervous system.

The aromatic properties also provide comfort and warmth that create a sense of stress relief, which further aids in its other beneficial properties.

In Summary

Bay leaf and cinnamon tea are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that provide antimicrobial and antifungal properties, with increased benefits to heart health, increased cognitive abilities, and the prevention and maintenance of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Bay leaf and cinnamon tea also provides stress relief and better skin health, regulation of the digestive system, and can even provide relief to gastrointestinal ailments.

Start improving your quality of life with just 3 simple ingredients and begin your journey to better health this very morning!