Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Just a whiff of cinnamon can conjure up great memories, get our taste buds salivating, and cause us to crave the comfort of a favorite food or beverage. Why is cinnamon so powerful? Commonly associated with the winter season, this spice has cornered the market of scenery overload by engaging our sense of sight, smell and taste with it's beautiful color, aromatic allure and a sweet and spicy flavor that warms us from the inside out! Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices, widely used not only for it's wonderful aroma and flavor, but it's medicinal properties as well. Readily available in stick or powder form it is highly versatile and when stored properly, incredibly long lasting.

Health benefits of cinnamon:

• Antioxidant

• Blood clotting properties

• Helps regulate blood sugar

• Effective management tool for individuals with type 2 diabetes

• It's scent boosts brain function and cognitive thinking abilities

• Relieves cold and flu symptoms

• Fights bacterial and fungal infections

• Warming properties enhance healthy circulation

• Has been shown to help protect against certain types of cancer

Simple ways to incorporate cinnamon:

• Add cinnamon to your oatmeal, couscous or rice

• Sprinkle on sweet potatoes

• Stir some into pureed fruits or vegetables

• Bake into your next batch of bread, muffins and cookies

• Add a bit to your favorite Mexican dish to bring out additional flavor

• Stir some into your warm milk, tea, coffee or other hot beverage

• Bake into your favorite fruit (baked apples, yum!)

Eating better doesn't have to mean spending hours planning meals or preparing complicated recipes.

For more practical meal ideas, protein-packed recipes, and simple nutrition tips for busy days, explore the Mind + Body Elite Blog.