Cinnamon! -More than just a Fall Flavor in your Pumpkin Spice Latte

 Cinnamon the smell and flavor that just makes you think of fall, kitchen filled with baking, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and apple cider donuts!  

Cinnamon is an ancient spice also used culturally around the world for savory dishes from India, Mexico and many Middle Eastern and Latin Countries.

Oh but Cinnamon is much more than just a spice! Cinnamon has been shown to have multiple health benefits.  Below are 3 benefits that have been shown in multiple studies about cinnamon.

Cinnamon is Anti-Inflammatory

Antioxidants are powerful compounds that help reduce the risk of heart disease. Cinnamon contains the antioxidant cinnamaldehyde.  This antioxidant actually provides the rich aroma and flavor we all know and love about cinnamon and BONUS it can also reduce inflammation. Fun fact: so many herbs and spices contain different antioxidants!  So go ahead and add ground cinnamon to your oatmeal or yogurt in the morning!

Reduced Blood Sugar Levels

Cinnamon and its effect on blood sugar had  been studied for decades!  And what most studies have found, is that if a cinnamon supplement is used daily, it can reduce blood sugar levels. It is not strong enough to replace medication for Type 2 Diabetic or those on insulin therapy, but it is still beneficial for healthy individuals.

Cinnamon May help reduce Cholesterol

One study had people on insulin therapy take a cinnamon supplement for 40 days not only saw an improvement in blood sugar, but they also saw improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels!  A meta-analysis which compared 10 studies against each other further confirmed this by finding a “statistically significant” decrease in total cholesterol and LDL also known as the bad cholesterol.  There is no confirmed amount of dosage or length of time the cinnamon supplement has to be taken, so that still needs to be studied further. 

In America many of our foods are prepared or packaged lacking many fresh herbs and spices but maybe when you make your morning oatmeal or afternoon yogurt parfait you may now think about adding some Cinnamon for its many health benefits!