肉桂可以降血壓，你信嗎?

Nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension (high blood pressure), reports Million Hearts. That's a staggering 116 million people! Worst yet, more than 92 million don't have their condition under control. Over time, high blood pressure can lead to stroke and cardiovascular problems, taking years off your life. Some say that cinnamon and other spices may help lower blood pressure, but can you trust these claims?

據(jù)報道，近一半的美國成年人患有高血壓。這可是驚人的1.16億人!最糟糕的是，超過9200萬人的病情沒有得到控制。隨著時間的推移，高血壓會導(dǎo)致中風(fēng)和心血管疾病，使你的壽命縮短。有人說肉桂和其他香料可能有助于降低血壓，但你能相信這些說法嗎?

A 2015 systematic review published in Pharmacognosy Research suggests that cinnamon boasts antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It also has cardioprotective effects and may improve blood lipids. Moreover, it can prevent diabetes complications by keeping your blood sugar levels low. In one study, it was just as effective as the lipid-lowering medication Simvastatin. However, most evidence comes from animal studies, so further research is needed to confirm the benefits of cinnamon on human health.

2015年發(fā)表在《生藥學(xué)研究》上的一篇系統(tǒng)綜述表明，肉桂具有抗菌、抗炎和抗氧化特性。它還具有心臟保護(hù)作用，可以改善血脂。此外，它可以通過降低血糖水平來預(yù)防糖尿病并發(fā)癥。在一項研究中，它與降脂藥物辛伐他汀一樣有效。然而，大多數(shù)證據(jù)來自動物研究，因此需要進(jìn)一步的研究來證實肉桂對人類健康的益處。

According to the above review, this versatile spice has been around since 2,800 B.C. Thousands of years ago, it was used as a natural remedy for digestive and respiratory problems. Its effects on blood pressure shouldn't be overlooked either.

根據(jù)上面的綜述，這種多用途香料自公元前2800年就存在了。數(shù)千年前，它被用作治療消化和呼吸問題的天然藥物。它對血壓的影響也不容忽視。

Cinnamon does more than add flavor to oatmeal and apple pie. It also has beneficial effects on blood pressure and heart health. A 2020 systematic review of nine studies conducted on 641 people found that cinnamon may help reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, via Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. The most significant effects were observed in those using at least 2 grams of the spice per day for 12 weeks or longer. Another study conducted on 200 men with obesity and diabetes suggests that cinnamon may help reduce body weight, body mass index, blood pressure, and waist circumference (per the Journal of Hypertension).

肉桂不僅能增加燕麥和蘋果派的風(fēng)味。它對血壓和心臟健康也有好處。2020年，通過《食品科學(xué)與營養(yǎng)評論》(Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition)對對641人進(jìn)行的9項研究進(jìn)行系統(tǒng)回顧，發(fā)現(xiàn)肉桂可能有助于降低收縮壓和舒張壓。最顯著的效果是那些每天使用至少2克香料，持續(xù)12周或更長時間的人。另一項針對200名肥胖和糖尿病患者的研究表明，肉桂有助于減輕體重、體重指數(shù)、血壓和腰圍(見《高血壓雜志》)。

The health benefits of cinnamon may be due to its nutritional profile. According to a 2014 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, this flavorful spice is rich in essential oils, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and other significant derivatives. These compounds are responsible for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic effects. Cinnamaldehyde, for example, dilates the blood vessels and hence may help reduce high blood pressure. On top of that, it slows the progression of diabetes-related hypertension, says the above review.

肉桂的健康益處可能是由于其營養(yǎng)成分。根據(jù)2014年發(fā)表在《循證補充和替代醫(yī)學(xué)》上的一項研究，這種香料富含精油、肉桂醛、肉桂酸和其他重要衍生物。這些化合物具有抗氧化、抗炎、抗癌和抗糖尿病作用。例如，肉桂醛可以擴(kuò)張血管，從而有助于降低高血壓。上述綜述稱，除此之外，它還能減緩糖尿病相關(guān)高血壓的進(jìn)展。

As the researchers note, this natural ingredient is likely safe and has no side effects. It's not a miracle cure, but it may improve your health and well-being. Just bear in mind that cinnamon alone cannot counteract the harmful impact of stress, poor eating habits, or lack of exercise on blood pressure.

研究人員指出，這種天然成分可能是安全的，而且沒有副作用。這并不是靈丹妙藥，但它可能會改善你的健康和幸福。請記住，僅靠肉桂無法抵消壓力、不良飲食習(xí)慣或缺乏鍛煉對血壓的有害影響。