For such a delicate seasoning, cinnamon certainly packs a nutritional punch. It is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese. Just one teaspoon has 28 mg of calcium, 1 mg of iron and 1 g of fiber. This consortium of nutrients may account for cinnamon's cholesterol-lowering properties. Cinnamon's calcium and fiber can bind together to remove compounds known as bile salts. When this occurs, the body breaks down cholesterol to produce new bile, thereby decreasing cholesterol levels in the body. Bile salts can also damage colon cells, so cinnamon may provide increased protection against colon cancer. Its compounds have potent antioxidant effects, too. A recent USDA study found that cinnamon stemmed the growth of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
As if its benefits for your body weren't enough incentive to start sprinkling more cinnamon into your meals, studies suggest that it's good for your mind, too. Simply chewing cinnamon-flavored gum or smelling cinnamon boosts brain activity. In one study, smelling or tasting cinnamon increased participants’ scores on a variety of cognitive processing tasks. Such lab findings square with the wisdom of ancient Chinese medicine, which recommends cinnamon to improve energy, vitality and circulation (not to mention cold feet).
Though Americans typically use cinnamon as an accompaniment to sweet tastes of the holiday season like apple pie and mulled red wine, cuisine in cultures the world over makes use of cinnamon year round in savory dishes. To add more of the spice to your diet, simply follow the spice trail to Middle Eastern lamb and chicken dishes or Indian curries. We promise it will spice up your life (and health), too.
Posted by Joanne Vanderhoef
Marketing and Media Specialist
Bone's Steakhouse
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