Cinnamon and your health

Cinnamon, does it have any health benefits?  Last week we talked about turmeric and the many health benefits spices have.  Cinnamon is a spice that also has health benefits.  Like turmeric, cinnamon has been around for a long time, “since 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt”.  In the U.S. cinnamon ranks just behind black pepper as a popular spice.  

What can cinnamon do for your health?

• Diabetes- some research has shown that cinnamon can help those with type 2 diabetes.  How?  By lowering blood glucose levels and also improving lipid levels.  Researchers monitored 60 people with type 2 diabetes who added cinnamon to their diets for 40 days. Those taking cinnamon lowered their blood glucose, their bad LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.  Another study found taking 1/4^th teaspoon of cinnamon a day lowered the LDL bad cholesterol.  However, other research indicates that adding cinnamon didn’t help lower blood glucose or hemoglobin A1c.
• A metabolism booster?  Some studies have shown that cinnamon can boost metabolism but more studies needed to show how much cinnamon is needed and if there are any long-term effects.
• Healthy skin?  Who doesn’t want healthier looking skin?  Online you can find recipes for a cinnamon facial mask.  But little evidence to back up such claims.  One small study found cinnamon may help promote collagen production.  But, once again, more research is needed.
• Lower Blood pressure?  Eating some cinnamon daily for 3 months has been found to lower blood pressure in study participants.  But more studies needed to show how much cinnamon and how long these benefits last.
• Reduce inflammation – like turmeric, cinnamon may also reduce inflammation which would be beneficial to those with rheumatoid arthritis.

How to add more cinnamon to your day? 

Since scientists aren’t sure how much cinnamon is needed, and high doses can be toxic, try adding cinnamon to every day foods.   My husband sprinkles some cinnamon on his morning oatmeal.  Growing up, my kids enjoyed cinnamon-sugar sprinkled on toast.  Harvard Medical School “suggests that consuming as little as ½ teaspoon of cinnamon each day can reduce your blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels by as much as 12 to 30 percent”.  So, just try to add some cinnamon to your day by sprinkling some on foods you eat like hot cereal such as oatmeal and your morning toast.  Or, sprinkle cinnamon on some apple slices.  I like to make my oatmeal “super healthy” by not only adding cinnamon but also some chopped walnuts and raisins.  My husband puts healthy blueberries and cinnamon on his oatmeal.  Try some cinnamon tea, recipe below.

Sprinkle cinnamon on oatmeal

The Tasty Cinnamon Tea Recipe (from MDhealth.com and The Whole U)

Ingredients

• A few cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Directions

Add a cinnamon stick to a cup of water and boil it for 5 minutes. Then let it steep for 10 minutes. You can also use broken pieces of cinnamon, but let it steep for less time. Sweeten up with honey if desired.

Sources:  time, research, study,  glucose, booster, skin, pressure?, inflammation, toxic, Harvard,  tea, The Whole U   Image sources: Oatmeal,  Cinnamon sticks,      cinnamon