The health benefits of cinnamon have been studied for several years. This simple spice is an easy way to make foods healthier and tastier without spending a lot of money.
How Much Cinnamon is Recommended for Better Health?
Dr. Ann Kulze, board member of the Medical Advisory Board for the Wellness Councils of America, is a big advocate of eating cinnamon to promote good health. She says that simply adding at least ½ tsp to 1 tsp of cinnamon a day to everyday foods can enhance both the body’s metabolism of glucose and cholesterol. This can provide protection from type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
How Can Cinnamon Prevent Type II Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease?
According to a study published in the June 2007 edition of the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, subjects that used more than a teaspoon of cinnamon in foods lowered their normal elevations of blood sugar. Cinnamon stimulates the release of insulin, and basically mimics insulin’s biological activity and functions as a powerful antioxidant, which not only lowers blood sugar, but also decreases the build-up of artery-clogging plague in the heart.
Other Health Benefits of Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a couple of other health benefits, as well.
According to Toni Branner, M.A., exercise physiologist and wellness consultant, eating antioxidants such as cinnamon can prevent long-term cellular damage, muscle fatigue, injury and vulnerability to chronic disease. This is because antioxidants stabilize and stop free radical damage.
Cinnamon can help reduce hunger because cinnamon makes food hang around in the stomach longer. This makes the stomach feel full for a longer period of time, says Dr. Kulze. This can help cinnamon eaters lose weight as well.
How to Eat More Cinnamon
Here are some of Dr. Kulze’s favorite ways to get a dosage of cinnamon:
- Sprinkle cinnamon in a bowl of cereal (Dr. Kulze says she does this every morning) or oatmeal.
- Sprinkle it in coffee, tea, or hot cocoa.
- Add it to yogurt.
- Top whole grain toast, bagel or waffles with it.
- Sprinkle it on cut up fresh fruit – “It’s especially delicious on apples and pears,” says Dr. Kulze.
- Add to rice and bean dishes, especially when making Indian cuisine. This adds a spicy zest to the dish.
- Add cinnamon to marinades for chicken and fish.
- Sprinkle cinnamon on ice cream.
- Use in other desserts like pumpkin pie and custard or oatmeal and apple cookies.
- Coat raw nuts with a cinnamon and honey mixture and roast.
Eating cinnamon is a simple, inexpensive way to make the body healthier. “I am very enthusiastic about the beneficial effects of cinnamon for the general public and know they are going to be much more compliant with regular use if they can simply sprinkle it on straight from the bottle.”
(Facts in this article were gathered by interview with the experts of this article.)
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