(Article ID: 37579) A Toast to Cinnamon Cinnamon is a Double Winner Pat Crocker Susan Eagles Special from Bottom Line's Daily Health News Nothing smells better and is more memory-provoking than the aroma of apple pie with cinnamon. During the holidays, one of my family's favorite treats is hot apple cider topped off with an aromatic stick of cinnamon. But cinnamon doesn't just taste good -- scientists are discovering that more and more spices have healing abilities, and they are especially excited about cinnamon's potential in controlling glucose and cholesterol levels, among its other benefits.

Date:   7/29/2007 6:41:56 AM ( 17 y ago)

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Sugar and Spice

I spoke with Pat Crocker, culinary herbalist, and Susan Eagles, medical herbalist and coauthors of The Juicing Bible (Robert Rose) to learn more about a broader perspective on cinnamon's many benefits. According to them, what I think of as yummy cinnamon actually can help with an array of big health challenges...

* Diabetes. This spice can help control sugar -- that is, blood sugar or glucose levels. In the December 2003 issue of Diabetes Care, Pakistani researchers reported that diabetics who took cinnamon lowered glucose by 18% to 29%. In the study, diabetics took up to 6 g daily (a medicinal dose) in capsule form. Diabetics should not try this on their own. The key: Active ingredients in cinnamon known as proanthocyanidins sensitize cells to insulin. As these chemicals enter cells, they activate insulin receptors and enable the cells to manufacture energy from glucose.
* Elevated cholesterol. In the same study, participants who took cinnamon lowered their total cholesterol by 12% to 26%, and "bad" LDL cholesterol by 10% to 24%. Elevated triglycerides, associated with many diseases, also dropped, with substantial reductions ranging from 23% to 30%. Those who took the most cinnamon (the equivalent of nearly one teaspoon to about one-and-three-quarters teaspoons daily) experienced the greatest reductions.
* Circulation. A traditional use of cinnamon is to stimulate circulation, notes Susan Eagles. This includes circulation to the internal organs for digestive and menstrual problems, to peripheral parts of the body (as in diabetes), and to the head in dementia. Cinnamon would likely be combined with other stimulants such as ginger and rosemary for circulation improvement, adds Eagles.
* Digestive problems. Cinnamon is also a traditional remedy for ailments such as nausea, gas and diarrhea, and recent studies have underlined this spice's antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal abilities. A Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry report indicated that cinnamon kills salmonella, a bacterium that causes dangerous cases of food poisoning. Daily Health News contributing editor, Andrew L. Rubman, ND, adds cinnamon to his dish soap to improve its effectiveness in the kitchen.
* Colds and congestion. Cinnamon has a naturally warming effect, says Eagles. In addition to its antiseptic and antibiotic qualities, this makes it a soothing remedy for colds, coughs, fever, congestion, bronchitis and sore throats. Eagles points out that herbalists usually combine cinnamon with other warming herbs, such as ginger, black pepper and cloves, into a tea.

Best Ways to Get Your Cinnamon

Cinnamon supplements are commercially available as tea bags (drink up to three cups daily) or in tablet form (an average dose consists of one to two 200-mg cinnamon extract tablets daily), though the tea is vastly superior. Do not use it if you are pregnant because it has not been specifically tested for safety during pregnancy, although it does not appear to be harmful. Be sure to talk to a trained professional before using cinnamon to treat such challenging health issues as circulation, cholesterol or diabetes. Eagles cautions that this is especially important for people with diabetes, who may need to adjust insulin doses.

Of course, this fragrant spice also can be a healthful addition to your diet. For example, sprinkle one teaspoon of cinnamon on your toast or oatmeal or in your cookies. Or add it to sparkling apple cider or apple tea.

Cinnamon as Main Dish Seasoning

Culinary herbalist Pat Crocker shared one of her favorite cinnamon recipes with me -- it appears in her book, The Healing Herbs Cookbook (Robert Rose). It is actually used as a main dish seasoning.

She told me that in India, every family has its own spice blend, or "masala." Garam masala is a blend of hot spices such as...

* 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
* 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
* 2 teaspoons ground cumin
* 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, crushed
* 1 teaspoon cardamom seeds, crushed
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.

In a small bowl, combine spices and stir well. This recipe makes 3 1/2 tablespoons, and you may use it all or as little as 1 tablespoon in vegetable, rice or chicken dishes. Save leftover garam masala in a clean, airtight jar.

As time goes on, cinnamon may prove to have even more medical applications. For now, enjoy this savory and healthful spice. I will stop telling my daughters "that's enough" when they sprinkle cinnamon on their oatmeal.

Sources

* Pat Crocker, culinary herbalist, Neustadt, Ontario, Canada, author of The Healing Herbs Cookbook (Robert Rose) and coauthor of The Juicing Bible (Robert Rose).
* Susan Eagles, medical herbalist, Dunsford, Ontario, Canada, coauthor of The Juicing Bible (Robert Rose).

First Printed: January 5, 2006


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