39. Cinnamon | The Spice That Was Once Worth More Than Gold

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Mohivate, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores the remarkable story of cinnamon and its connection with metabolic health.For more than 4,000 years, cinnamon has appeared in ancient Egyptian tombs, Roman history, the Bible, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traders invented elaborate myths to protect it. Entire empires fought over it. At its peak, it was worth more than gold.Today, it sits  in kitchen cupboards around the world.But what exactly is cinnamon? And why has modern science only recently started catching up?In this episode, we explore the history, mythology, and science behind one of the world’s most famous spices. From giant bird nests and snake-guarded valleys to blood sugar, cholesterol, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic health, we follow cinnamon’s extraordinary journey across centuries and continents.We discuss the difference between Ceylon and cassia cinnamon, what current research tells us about blood sugar control and cholesterol, the potential benefits and limitations of cinnamon supplementation, and the practical questions worth knowing before adding it to your daily routine.This is a story about trade, medicine, mythology, curiosity, and the remarkable journey of a spice that has fascinated humanity for thousands of years.Because sometimes the most ordinary things have the most extraordinary histories.REFERENCES1.Crawford P. Effectiveness of cinnamon for lowering hemoglobin A1C in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, controlled trial. J Am Board Fam Med, 2009.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19734396/2.Cinnamon supplements may affect medication metabolism — University of Mississippi research, ScienceDaily.https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250424165657.htm3.The effects of cinnamon on patients with metabolic diseases: an umbrella review of meta-analyses, Frontiers in Nutrition, 2025.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12620228/4.Orally administered cinnamon extract reduces β-amyloid oligomerization and corrects cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease animal models, PLOS ONE, 2011.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3030596/5.Coumarin levels in Ceylon vs cassia cinnamon — assessment in ground cinnamon, PMC.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3385612/Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.