Superfood: Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a superfood with superflavor
Although available throughout the year, the fragrant, sweet and warm taste of cinnamon is a perfect spice to use during the winter months. Cinnamon has a long history both as a spice and as a medicine. It is the brown bark of the cinnamon tree, which is available in its dried tubular form known as a quill, or more commonly as ground powder.
Cinnamon is believed to have unique healing abilities, including:
- Helps prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets, acting as an "anti-inflammatory" food.
- Considered an "anti-microbial" food studied for its ability to help stop the growth of bacteria and fungi.
- Reduces the rise in blood sugar after eating, helping normalize blood sugar levels. Less than half a teaspoon per day of cinnamon reduces blood sugar levels in persons with type-2 diabetes, as well as reducing cholesterol levels.
- It is a powerful anti-oxidant.
- Just smelling cinnamon boosts brain activity and can help improve memory.
- It is a very good source of manganese, dietary fiber, iron, and calcium.
Just like with other dried spices, try to select organically grown cinnamon since this will give you more assurance that it has not been irradiated (among other potential adverse effects, irradiation may lead to a significant decrease in its vitamin content). Find out more at www.whfoods.com
