Spice Up Your Holiday's with Cinnamon!
The strong smell of cinnamon is distinctive and has the power to take you right back to a Holiday memory or reminder of a favorite food. It once held such significance that wars were fought over it, it determined social and economic class and was also used as currency. It has even been said to have healing powers. So what is it about this Holiday spice that is so special?
What exactly is Cinnamon?
Cinnamon actually comes from a small evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka. True Cinnamon, or “Ceylon” Cinnamon is tough to find and most Cinnamon sold here in the United States is actually Cassia, a related spice. Cassia is also from a small evergreen tree but is native to China and Vietnam, and is obviously very similar to Ceylon Cinnamon. The powdered spice we recognize comes from the bark of those evergreen trees which provides us with a wonderful aromatic holiday flavor.
What are these “healing powers?”
The oils present in the bark are what hold the healing powers - cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, and cinnamyl alcohol. Cinnamaldehyde, helps prevent over-clotting of our blood platelets. Too much clotting of the platelets can lead to inefficient blood flow in the body. It also helps to release arachadonic acid (a fatty acid in our bodies) which has an anti-inflammatory effect. Other components of the oil have been shown to stop bacterial growth, boost cognitive processing and have been used for warming effects in the body. Perhaps one of the greatest discoveries is cinnamon’s effect on blood sugar levels. Cinnamon actually slows the rate at which your stomach empties after meals, which in turn decreases or slows the rise of blood sugar levels. Recent studies, including US Agricultural Service and Journal of Clinical Nutrition, are showing that cinnamon helps to stimulate insulin receptors, helping to increase the cell’s ability to use glucose. This is particularly important in those with Type 2 Diabetes (23.6 Million Americans). Less than ½ teaspoon per day will reduce blood sugar levels in those with Type 2 Diabetes. Because of this effect on blood sugar levels, most people will find that cinnamon also cuts their cravings for sugar!
Cinnamon is also a very strong antioxidant. When measured against anise, ginger, licorice, mint, nutmeg and vanilla (all spices said to be strong antioxidants), cinnamon actually prevented oxidation more effectively than any of them! Mint was the 1st runner up.
Does Cinnamon have any calories?
Yes it does. Cinnamon contains about 6 calories per teaspoon. It has some fiber, iron and calcium and 2 teaspoons holds about 40% of the daily recommended intake of manganese!
So try starting your day off with some cinnamon tomorrow. Sprinkle a teaspoon or two in your oatmeal, breakfast shake or even in your cottage cheese!
Or you could try some Cinnamon Pumpkin Waffles!!
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 egg white
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
1. Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. Combine flour, wheat germ, sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Beat together milk, pumpkin puree, butter, oil, applesauce, whole egg, and egg white. Stir flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture along with the pecans.
3. Ladle the batter onto the preheated waffle iron. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Makes 4 Servings.
Nutrition: 480 calories per serving
Now, dont you dare go and tell people that I told you cinnamon rolls and snickerdoodles and Churros were healthy! Its the spice thats healthy not the rest of the stuff underneath it!
Blessings,
Ashley
The strong smell of cinnamon is distinctive and has the power to take you right back to a Holiday memory or reminder of a favorite food. It once held such significance that wars were fought over it, it determined social and economic class and was also used as currency. It has even been said to have healing powers. So what is it about this Holiday spice that is so special?
What exactly is Cinnamon?
Cinnamon actually comes from a small evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka. True Cinnamon, or “Ceylon” Cinnamon is tough to find and most Cinnamon sold here in the United States is actually Cassia, a related spice. Cassia is also from a small evergreen tree but is native to China and Vietnam, and is obviously very similar to Ceylon Cinnamon. The powdered spice we recognize comes from the bark of those evergreen trees which provides us with a wonderful aromatic holiday flavor.
What are these “healing powers?”
The oils present in the bark are what hold the healing powers - cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, and cinnamyl alcohol. Cinnamaldehyde, helps prevent over-clotting of our blood platelets. Too much clotting of the platelets can lead to inefficient blood flow in the body. It also helps to release arachadonic acid (a fatty acid in our bodies) which has an anti-inflammatory effect. Other components of the oil have been shown to stop bacterial growth, boost cognitive processing and have been used for warming effects in the body. Perhaps one of the greatest discoveries is cinnamon’s effect on blood sugar levels. Cinnamon actually slows the rate at which your stomach empties after meals, which in turn decreases or slows the rise of blood sugar levels. Recent studies, including US Agricultural Service and Journal of Clinical Nutrition, are showing that cinnamon helps to stimulate insulin receptors, helping to increase the cell’s ability to use glucose. This is particularly important in those with Type 2 Diabetes (23.6 Million Americans). Less than ½ teaspoon per day will reduce blood sugar levels in those with Type 2 Diabetes. Because of this effect on blood sugar levels, most people will find that cinnamon also cuts their cravings for sugar!
Cinnamon is also a very strong antioxidant. When measured against anise, ginger, licorice, mint, nutmeg and vanilla (all spices said to be strong antioxidants), cinnamon actually prevented oxidation more effectively than any of them! Mint was the 1st runner up.
Does Cinnamon have any calories?
Yes it does. Cinnamon contains about 6 calories per teaspoon. It has some fiber, iron and calcium and 2 teaspoons holds about 40% of the daily recommended intake of manganese!
So try starting your day off with some cinnamon tomorrow. Sprinkle a teaspoon or two in your oatmeal, breakfast shake or even in your cottage cheese!
Or you could try some Cinnamon Pumpkin Waffles!!
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 egg white
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
1. Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. Combine flour, wheat germ, sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Beat together milk, pumpkin puree, butter, oil, applesauce, whole egg, and egg white. Stir flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture along with the pecans.
3. Ladle the batter onto the preheated waffle iron. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Makes 4 Servings.
Nutrition: 480 calories per serving
Now, dont you dare go and tell people that I told you cinnamon rolls and snickerdoodles and Churros were healthy! Its the spice thats healthy not the rest of the stuff underneath it!
Blessings,
Ashley
