Cinnamon Health

I can still smell my mother's fresh apple crisp. Made with chunky slices of apples, oatmeal, brown sugar and a liberal dose of cinnamon. I never would have guessed the health benefits I was absorbing at the time. Making its journey to my plate from a small tree that indigenous to Sri Lanka, Vietnam and India, studies have shown 1 gram of cinnamon per day can help control blood glucose levels while it reducing trigylcerides and cholesterol.

In other studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections. In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells. It also has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.

In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.

Cinnamon in its common form can be added to a variety of foods you may eat regularly, such as fruit dishes, breads, pancakes, muffins, pies, and cookies. When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

What medical practitioners are discovering about the spice is that 1 teaspoon of cinnamon contains 1 mg of iron, 1 mg of fiber, 28 mg of calcium, vitamin C, manganese and vitamin K.

Cinnamon can also improve digestive health and relieve common stomach discomforts. Many women use a daily dose of cinnamon to relieve discomforts associated with their menstrual cycle. If you have nasal or sinus congestion, cinnamon may help relieve these conditions. Cinnamon may also help kill and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, which makes this spice useful for preventing urinary tract infections, tooth decay, gum disease, and other bacterial problems.

One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory. Perhaps this is why our Cinnamon swirl soap evokes vivid memories of Apple Crisp whenever I use it? I find it comforting and uplifting at the same time. What has cinnamon done for you lately?