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Healthy and Nutritious Cinnamon

Cinnamon is the perfect way to add scrumptious flavor to many food dishes.

Did you know this spice can actually benefit your health in many ways?

It is well known as a major ingredient in sweets and baked dishes.

It's also excellent in marinades, beverages, dressings, meats, poultry and fish. It's a delicious spice to add to chocolate.

Its oil is compressed and used in make up and drugs.

Health Benefits of Cinnamon

- Old home natural remedies used it in preparations to fight diarrhea and morning sickness. It is a carminative, an agent that breaks up intestinal gas.

- It benefits heart health by improving circulation.

- It improves digestive health and relieves common stomach upsets.

- Recent research shows it improves the ability of insulin to metabolize glucose. This helps to control blood sugar levels.

- It is an excellent source of fiber, manganese, calcium and iron.

- It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.

- It is a natural food preservative.

- It has anti-inflammatory qualities that can lessen joint and muscle pain.

The Sweet Aroma

A study shows that inhaling the sweet aroma makes you more alert and attentive. They claim cinnamon boosts the reticular activating system. This is the part of the brain that controls alertness.

The Color That Calms

The brownish red tones trigger the release of endorphins and serotonin. Studies claim that you will feel as good as if you had just eaten a piece of chocolate.

Compounds That Trim Your Waistline

Scientists have found the spice activates insulin receptors on cells. This increases their ability to absorb and use glucose. Participants used 1/2 teaspoon daily. It reduced their blood sugar levels by 20 percent. This enables your body to burn excess calories instead of storing them as fat.

Baked Apple Treat

Instructions:

Mix 1 tablespoon brown sugar with 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Core an apple and spoon the mixture into the center.
Wrap it in aluminum foil and bake at 350 F in the over for 20 minutes.

Serve warm.

Herb and Spices: The Cook's Reference by Jill Norman is a very interesting book. The information would appeal to professional and home cooks as well as gardeners.

The herbs and spices are broken into flavor categories such as bitter and astringent, oniony, citrus and more.

The book contains a little history, cooking tips and techniques, recipes, where to purchase the herbs and spices, as well as how they relate to food.