The Power of Cinnamon!

One of my favorite snacks is two Lundberg brown rice cakes topped with peanut butter, apple slices, cinnamon and honey. It tastes like apple pie! It is a great dessert, too. Cinnamon is so nutritious. Read about the health benefits from healthdiaries.com below:

"Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol.

Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes.

In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections.

In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.

In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.

When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory."

Here are some fun things you can do with cinnamon:

1. Add a cinnamon stick to hot cocoa.

2. When making baby-food, add to fruit and veggie purees.

3. Add to oatmeal, applesauce, or plain yogurt.

4. Add flavor to sugar by placing cinnamon sticks in it. You can make cinnamon -flavored sugar by adding 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks to a pound of sugar and storing it for two weeks in a glass jar.

5. Brew a pot of coffee by adding pieces of cinnamon sticks along with ground coffee.

6. Add cinnamon sticks to bread pudding.