Season for Cinnamon

I love the holiday season.  I love the aroma of cinnamon filling the home while homemade cookies are baking in the oven.  But even more, I love to eat cinnamon cookies!  Cinnamon is my favorite spice - which adds to my enjoyment of the holidays.  And even better... cinnamon is considered a powerful food.

Cinnamon is known to have five times as many antioxidants as 1/2 cup of blueberries or a cup of pomegranate juice.  Only one other herb or spice has more antioxidants - the clove.  But let's face it, do you want clove cookies, clove flavored breakfast rolls, or even clove tea?  I didn't think so.  We all know that antioxidants are good for you, but do you know why?  I didn't really understand what an antioxidant was until recently.  Let me try and explain to you in a way that isn't so scientific.

Have you ever cut up an apple or banana or avocado and let it sit on the counter for a few hours?   When you came back, it was starting to turn brown, right?  That is what happens when air (oxygen) comes in contact with the fruit.  We all know that putting lemon juice on the fruit will prevent it from turning brown.  The lemon juice is protecting the fruit from oxygen.  This is the same thing that happens with our cells.  Oxygen can damage our cells, so we need something to protect them and this is where antioxidants from different foods come in.  Thank you cinnamon!  

Cinnamon is also known to help control blood sugar levels.  It will help slow down the rise of blood sugar after meals which helps reduce the severe sugar low afterwards.  So add some cinnamon to your favorite holiday dishes like: butternut squash, pumpkin pie, or even meat.  (I tried cinnamon on ground beef, and LOVED it... so did my family!)

As little as 1/2  teaspoon of cinnamon a day may help lower high blood pressure and LDL cholesterol. 
It also has anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties, which help prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets.

So enjoy your holiday season filled with lots of yummy cinnamon dishes and treats!

My favorite foods to add cinnamon:
butternut squash
hot tea
oatmeal
some meats
applesauce
cookies and doughnuts
pumpkin pie


Share your favorites!