Friday Night Spice
Bite This: What we know in America as cinnamon is actually Indonesian cassia which is a close relative to the true cinnamon tree and has a slightly different flavor. It's also fun to say "cinnamon".
Cinnamon is a popular spice that is used all over the world as flavoring, as well as treatment for certain ailments. Cinnamon is used as flavoring for most anything from bitter wine to meat to baked goods, and used in certain cultures to help treat GI distress, hyperglycemia, urinary tract infections and more.
While research has shown many mixed results for use of cinnamon for GI distress, urinary tract infections and other bacterial/yeast infections, the consumption of cinnamon certainly does not hurt. Animal and laboratory studies have shown some evidence that cinnamon may be beneficial for the treatment of fungal, bacterial and parasitic infections, therefore potentially helping cure UTIs. However, without any human studies done, it cannot be recommended by professionals as treatment. (Go to a Chinese herbalist though and you'll get the cinnamon that you seek.) Come to think of it, I have never had a urinary tract infection and I am the WORST when it comes to drinking water and staying hydrated. I am pretty sure all of the cinnamon in my diet has prevented one!
Cinnamon has been in the spotlight more recently for some evidence that it may help lower blood sugars in type II diabetics by decreasing insulin resistance. A 2012 review of several studies showed that cinnamon had a potentially beneficial effect on glycemic control and improved hemoglobin A1c in study participants. However, like most clinical trials, there have been mixed results regarding the effects of cinnamon on blood sugar so The American Diabetes Association does not promote the use of cinnamon for the treatment or replacement of diabetic medications. BUT, the use of cinnamon in addition to diabetes treatment may be beneficial, so you might as well add some cinnamon spice to your life.
So there's your Friday night spice. I may just make this a blog special.
While you may assume that this post is random, I was actually inspired to write this post this morning as I doused my protein shake with cinnamon. (In fact, it was actually cinnamon with a little protein shake.) If I were a fairy, my dust would be cinnamon. I add cinnamon to pretty much anything, and I use it every day. Protein shakes, oatmeal, toast, coffee, yogurt, apples, pork chops, nuts/seeds, popcorn, sweet potatoes, and even salads - all of these foods, and more, get a cinnamon dusting from the fairy.
How do you incorporate cinnamon into your diet?
Sound Bite: Try 1/2 tsp of cinnamon on anything every day this week. Why? Because it's fun to say "cinnamon".
Cinnamon is a popular spice that is used all over the world as flavoring, as well as treatment for certain ailments. Cinnamon is used as flavoring for most anything from bitter wine to meat to baked goods, and used in certain cultures to help treat GI distress, hyperglycemia, urinary tract infections and more.
While research has shown many mixed results for use of cinnamon for GI distress, urinary tract infections and other bacterial/yeast infections, the consumption of cinnamon certainly does not hurt. Animal and laboratory studies have shown some evidence that cinnamon may be beneficial for the treatment of fungal, bacterial and parasitic infections, therefore potentially helping cure UTIs. However, without any human studies done, it cannot be recommended by professionals as treatment. (Go to a Chinese herbalist though and you'll get the cinnamon that you seek.) Come to think of it, I have never had a urinary tract infection and I am the WORST when it comes to drinking water and staying hydrated. I am pretty sure all of the cinnamon in my diet has prevented one!
Cinnamon has been in the spotlight more recently for some evidence that it may help lower blood sugars in type II diabetics by decreasing insulin resistance. A 2012 review of several studies showed that cinnamon had a potentially beneficial effect on glycemic control and improved hemoglobin A1c in study participants. However, like most clinical trials, there have been mixed results regarding the effects of cinnamon on blood sugar so The American Diabetes Association does not promote the use of cinnamon for the treatment or replacement of diabetic medications. BUT, the use of cinnamon in addition to diabetes treatment may be beneficial, so you might as well add some cinnamon spice to your life.
So there's your Friday night spice. I may just make this a blog special.
While you may assume that this post is random, I was actually inspired to write this post this morning as I doused my protein shake with cinnamon. (In fact, it was actually cinnamon with a little protein shake.) If I were a fairy, my dust would be cinnamon. I add cinnamon to pretty much anything, and I use it every day. Protein shakes, oatmeal, toast, coffee, yogurt, apples, pork chops, nuts/seeds, popcorn, sweet potatoes, and even salads - all of these foods, and more, get a cinnamon dusting from the fairy.
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| source. "Here, let me add a little cinnamon dusting to your pancake." |
How do you incorporate cinnamon into your diet?
Sound Bite: Try 1/2 tsp of cinnamon on anything every day this week. Why? Because it's fun to say "cinnamon".
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