Cin City

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Cin City
Delicious cinnamon does double duty as a health food

Like Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls, cinnamon is a good kid that got mixed up with a bad crowd. The fatty results: cinnamon buns, cinnamon sugar, cinnamon swirl raisin bread... But without the sugar, cinnamon's effect on your health is better than good: It's fantastic. "It's emerging as a true wonder food in terms of health protection," says Ann Kulze, M.D., a physician in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and author of Dr. Ann's 10-Step Diet.

Research has linked the copper-colored stuff with reduced blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes, and a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adding a little more than a teaspoon to rice pudding even helped tame blood sugar in people without diabetes. Dr. Kulze says cinnamon also contains polyphenols, antioxidants that create healthier arteries and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The spice's energizing scent has also been found to help increase alertness.

Best part: Cinnamon is easy to add to food you already eat and makes everything taste better. Both ground and stick forms are equally healthy, but sticks have a longer shelf life (one year, compared with 6 months for ground). No need to grind your own: Pre-ground store-bought is as good as fresh ground and saves the hassle. Aim for 1/2 to 1 1/2 teaspoons (or one to two sticks) a day, Dr. Kulze recommends. Try these tricks to get more of the nice spice.

Add 1/2 to 1 1/2 teaspoons to hot oatmeal or cold cereal, or a tablespoon to pancake batter.

Mix 1/2 teaspoon into 2 tablespoons peanut butter and spread onto celery sticks.

Microwave 1 cup soy milk and 1 teaspoon honey for 1:30, then add 1/2 teaspoon. Or simmer a stick and honey in soy milk for 5 minutes on stove.

Stir 1/2 teaspoon into plain yogurt.

Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon over sweet potatoes or carrots.

Toss 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon over broiled grapefruit or bananas.

Add 2 teaspoons to a store-bought rub for grilled chicken or pork.

Coat 2 cups of raw nuts with a mix of 1/4 cup honey and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and roast at 350F for 15 minutes.

Shake three dashes into your favorite fruit smoothie.

Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon straight into your coffee, latte, or cappuccino.

icandoit

Cin City
Delicious cinnamon does double duty as a health food

Like Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls, cinnamon is a good kid that got mixed up with a bad crowd. The fatty results: cinnamon buns, cinnamon sugar, cinnamon swirl raisin bread... But without the sugar, cinnamon's effect on your health is better than good: It's fantastic. "It's emerging as a true wonder food in terms of health protection," says Ann Kulze, M.D., a physician in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and author of Dr. Ann's 10-Step Diet.

Research has linked the copper-colored stuff with reduced blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes, and a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adding a little more than a teaspoon to rice pudding even helped tame blood sugar in people without diabetes. Dr. Kulze says cinnamon also contains polyphenols, antioxidants that create healthier arteries and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The spice's energizing scent has also been found to help increase alertness.

Best part: Cinnamon is easy to add to food you already eat and makes everything taste better. Both ground and stick forms are equally healthy, but sticks have a longer shelf life (one year, compared with 6 months for ground). No need to grind your own: Pre-ground store-bought is as good as fresh ground and saves the hassle. Aim for 1/2 to 1 1/2 teaspoons (or one to two sticks) a day, Dr. Kulze recommends. Try these tricks to get more of the nice spice.

Add 1/2 to 1 1/2 teaspoons to hot oatmeal or cold cereal, or a tablespoon to pancake batter.

Mix 1/2 teaspoon into 2 tablespoons peanut butter and spread onto celery sticks.

Microwave 1 cup soy milk and 1 teaspoon honey for 1:30, then add 1/2 teaspoon. Or simmer a stick and honey in soy milk for 5 minutes on stove.

Stir 1/2 teaspoon into plain yogurt.

Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon over sweet potatoes or carrots.

Toss 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon over broiled grapefruit or bananas.

Add 2 teaspoons to a store-bought rub for grilled chicken or pork.

Coat 2 cups of raw nuts with a mix of 1/4 cup honey and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and roast at 350F for 15 minutes.

Shake three dashes into your favorite fruit smoothie.

Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon straight into your coffee, latte, or cappuccino.

bigjug1967

I have allways thought of Cinn as being a bad food too . Wow thanks alot Ill look into this.