Superfoods Part 2: Cinnamon

 

Cinnamon was valued in ancient times as currency and once considered more precious than gold, it  became so sought after in Europe in the 15th century that the search for this superfood prompted the explorations that led to the discovery of America.

It has an array of health benefits, most notably the impact on blood sugar control, cholesterol and certain cancers.

Test participants with Type 2 diabetes who consumed less that half a teaspoon of cinnamon daily for 40 days reduced their blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels by 20 percent. The blood sugar benefits likely resulted from cinnamon’s ability to mimic the activity of insulin due to the insulin-like effects of its polyphenols (natural substances found in plants).

Nutrition wise, Cinnamon is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese and  one teaspoon has 28 mg of calcium, 1 mg of iron and 1 g of fibre.

And if these benefits weren’t enough incentive to start adding cinnamon into your meals and shakes, it has benefits for your mind too Simply smelling cinnamon boosts brain activity. In one study, smelling or tasting cinnamon increased participants’ scores on a variety of cognitive processing tasks. These  lab findings back up the ideas of ancient Chinese medicine, which recommended cinnamon to improve energy, vitality and circulation. In addition it has an anti clotting effect on the blood making it a great anti inflammatory and had been proven to be a great food preservative.

So what are you waiting for… add it to your superfood arsenal now!

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *