Cinnamon crowned Ingredient of the Year
Cinnamon, one of the oldest spices in the world, has been revealed as Viridian Nutrition’s Ingredient of the Year for 2025.
Each year, the supplement brand’s nutritional experts review the latest studies to determine an ingredient which will be ‘significant in the field of nutrition’ over the next 12 months.
For 2025 cinnamon has been selected due to the considerable amount of clinical research which has evaluated its positive impact on common concerns such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular and reproductive health.
Viridian notes that what’s known as ‘Ceylon cinnamon’ or ‘true cinnamon’ — derived from the dried inner bark of an evergreen tree in the laurel family, native to Sri Lanka — differs from that which is commonly used for culinary purposes and has been widely studied by the scientific community for its broad therapeutic benefits.
Blood sugar management and metabolism improvement are two ways cinnamon is believed to improve Type 2 diabetes — affecting one in every 16 people in the UK — while research has also demonstrated its uses for reducing fasting insulin levels and improving insulin sensitivity in women with diagnosed PCOS.
“Cinnamon is a natural botanical which has been widely studied for its role in helping with blood sugar control … and therefore a very relevant herb for addressing today’s health concerns.”
“We believe cinnamon is a gamechanger in reducing the risks of these long-term health conditions,” says Aimee Benbow, Viridian’s nutrition director. “Sugar intake is a major contributor to our 21st century chronic conditions. Unfortunately, the risk of long-term illnesses developing is heightened with the increased intake of added sugar in processed foods.
“Cinnamon is a natural botanical which has been widely studied for its role in helping with blood sugar control … and therefore a very relevant herb for addressing today’s health concerns. We believe cinnamon shows promise in positively influencing our health, and rightly deserves celebrating.”
Dr Siobhan Brennan, advisor to the brand, adds that the emerging evidence around cinnamon is ‘an exciting development’.
By Rosie Greenaway, editor