Cinnamon is Good for You

Did you know that cinnamon without the sugar is good for you? Lots of the time when we think of cinnamon, we think of cinnamon sugar that we put on toast, or those delicious cinnamon buns or a piece of cinnamon candy. But without the sugar cinnamon can be good for you. "It's emerging as a true wonder food in terms of health protection," says Ann Kulze, M.D., a physician in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and author of Dr. Ann's 10-Step Diet.

Cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices. To prepare it, the bark of the cinnamon tree is dried and rolled into cinnamon sticks, also called quills. Cinnamon can also be dried and ground into a powder.

Research has linked this flavorful spice with reduced blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes. In people without diabetes, a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that by adding a little more than a teaspoon of cinnamon to rice pudding helped the blood sugar. Dr. Kulze says cinnamon also contains polyphenols, antioxidants that create healthier arteries and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The spice's energizing aroma has also been found to help increase alertness.

Cinnamon can also be found in a concentrated oil form that comes from cinnamon bark. Some of these products are not intended for consumption, but instead are used for aromatherapy essential oils. Also, the oil is highly potent and an overdose can depress the central nervous system. People should not take the oil to treat a condition unless under the close supervision of a qualified health professional.

Preliminary lab and animal studies have found that cinnamon may have antibacterial and antifungal properties. It's active against Candida albicans, the fungus that causes yeast infections and thrush, and Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for stomach ulcers.

It's easy to add cinnamon into the foods you already eat. One of the most common ways is to add some cinnamon to hot oatmeal. It can be used in cold cereal or mixed in with pancake batter. Try sprinkling some on sweet potatoes or carrots. You will find many ways to use the flavorful and aromatic spice cinnamon.