The Health Benefits of Cinnamon

In my spare time, I do a lot of research into different types of foods and the effects (good and bad) that they have on our bodies.

Most of us use cinnamon to sweeten things, such as desserts, teas, oatmeal, and toast.  After learning about what it can do, you might want to put it on more foods!

So, what's so good about cinnamon?

The first study that caught my interest looked at the effect of different foods on cholesterol levels in the blood.  Scientists tested all kinds of foods, and when they tested apple pie, they predicted that it would make blood glucose (sugar) levels rise enormously.

However, when they actually tested it, they found that glucose levels actually dropped.  When they tested each ingredient individually, they found it was the cinnamon that was causing this effect.

But why?

Cinnamon contains a compound that causes the body's fat cells to burn more glucose.  (Up to 20x faster!)  It does this by making the insulin receptors in the cells more responsive, so the cells take up the sugar from the blood and burn it up faster than it normally would.  This means that eating cinnamon actually helps you burn calories faster!  It also has great potential for reducing the symptoms of Type II Diabetes by preventing insulin resistance.

Cinnamon has also been shown, through careful studies, to:

• Act as an anti-clotting agent in blood, and reduce inflammation.  Therefore, it can be used (and has been shown) to relieve the symptoms of arthritis.
• Prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria, meaning it can help conditions such as athlete's foot when applied topically.  A small amount mixed in with soups and stews can also help these foods stay fresh longer in the fridge.
•  Slow the rate at which the stomach empties after a meal, keeping you full longer, and allowing your body time to use up glucose in the blood.
•  Keep blood sugar levels low.
• Act as an antioxidant.  Cinnamon was shown to be a more effective antioxidant than many other natural foods, (ginger, nutmeg, vanilla), as well as a number of antioxidant drugs.

Sweet Potato Fries with Cinnamon

Cinnamon can even be used to boost brain function!  Studies comparing the effect of different scents on thinking and memory tasks, and the scent of cinnamon considerably improved performance on these tasks.


Some fantastic ways to use cinnamon:

• Add to your coffee grounds in the morning for more flavourful coffee
• Add to smoothies
• Mash in with sweet potatoes
• Make baked sweet potato fries sprinkled with cinnamon (These are amazing, as well as healthy!)  (425°F for 20–25 minutes)
• Mix with your breakfast oatmeal or yogurt
• Mix into tea or hot milk, with a bit of honey.
• Sprinkle apple slices with cinnamon, and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes

For more info on cinnamon, try this website:  WH Foods: Cinnamon

So, the next time you're having breakfast, find a way to add cinnamon to gain some of the benefits from this interesting, great-tasting spice!



All the best;
-Tammy Rehbein