What Cinnamon Can Do for You

Who knew that such a great tasting spice could be so good for you?  The health benefits of cinnamon have been known for centuries, some of which are:
•    Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol
•    Increases the body’s resistance to Candida, the genus of yeast that causes infections
•    Helps regulate blood sugar
•    Studies have shown that just smelling cinnamon increases brain function (including memory!)
•    Fights E. coli and other bacterium as a natural food preserver
•    Great source of essential nutrients, such as calcium and iron

With all of these amazing health benefits, a sprinkling of cinnamon is a quick and tasty way of improving overall health.  Here are a few ways to add some cinnamon to your diet:
•    Sprinkle some in your coffee in the morning (or afternoon, or evening).  It reminds me of pumpkin spice coffee year round and perks up an otherwise boring cup of caffeine.
•    Put on sliced apples or cottage cheese for an afternoon blood sugar booster, something I need nearly every day.
•    Dust your morning oatmeal with a teaspoon and squeeze in some honey.  If you’re in a hurry, pour it all into a travel mug and grab a spoon!
•    Add it to your bag of microwave popcorn for a sweet and salty treat.
While cinnamon is obviously a healthy spice to add to your diet, it has also been shown to be toxic in high levels, so please do not pour an entire bottle in your morning coffee and oatmeal.

These websites, from which this list is compiled, show more benefits as well as the sources citing these claims:
http://www.monumentalmassage.com/articles/benefits_of_cinnamon.html
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html
http://www.thehealthysnacksblog.com/10/the-top-5-health-benefits-of-cinnamon/

Enjoy!

Brynne is a senior at the University of Connecticut, a College Lifestyles™ intern, and a Kappa Alpha Theta.  Her interests include reading, identifying nail polish color by name, and trying every Larabar that exists.