With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the holiday season has unofficially begun. And that means half the stores you set foot in from now through Christmas will share something in common.
It’s the often-overwhelming smell of artificial cinnamon. It wallops you at the door and follows you through the store. Not even an N-95 mask could filter that stuff out.
But thankfully, the real-deal cinnamon scent is a horse of a different color. Its warm, sweet smell will soon be gracing your Thanksgiving table when it finds its way into your pies, yams, and maybe even your coffee.
I suggest you look for every opportunity you can find to indulge in a sprinkle or two. Because cinnamon doesn’t just taste good, it’s good for you too.
In fact, pinch for pinch, nothing else in your spice rack can deliver quite the same punch. And if you learn the RIGHT way to use cinnamon, you could get some extra protection against diabetes, heart disease, unhealthy cholesterol, and more.
Bring down blood sugar naturally
It’s more than a little ironic that cinnamon is commonly used in some of the most sugar-filled treats out there. Because one of the spice’s biggest benefits is its ability to help tame blood sugar.
But as potent as it is, cinnamon still has its limits. The spice can’t possibly undo the damage of one of those sugary lattes that pretend to be coffee. And no amount of cinnamon is going to counteract the carbohydrate bomb that is a doughnut.
However, if you have diabetes, prediabetes, or are simply concerned about your glucose levels, cinnamon, as part of a healthy diet, could give you an extra boost of blood sugar control.
In one study, a cinnamon extract cut blood sugar by an impressive 12 percent in the crucial two hours after a meal. In another, in volunteers with diabetes, cinnamon reduced HbA1c, a measure of glucose levels over time, from 8.22 percent to 7.86 percent.
That’s wasn’t quite enough of a drop to bring participants into the diabetes-free zone. But it still is quite an accomplishment for a simple spice and one heck of a start in the right direction.
Combine that with other natural therapies such as berberine and chromium, and you could find your blood sugar right where you want it to be, in the golden zone. That, in turn, could mean you avoid ever being started on certain meds. Or it could even have your doctor cutting back on some existing ones.
Other research has shown cinnamon could also help cut blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive health.
The RIGHT way to get your cinnamon
There are two key things to keep in mind if you want to get the most out of cinnamon.
First, let’s be honest, the only contact most folks have with cinnamon IS through junk foods. But sugar-loaded pumpkin pie and sickly-sweet coffee drinks aren’t doing your health any favors.
So if that’s how you’re getting your cinnamon, you’ll likely end up with worse blood-sugar control despite the spice. Besides, cinnamon doesn’t have to be limited to sweet treats, like desserts. The spice makes a terrific seasoning for meat dishes, and it’s delicious on roasted veggies too.
Second, consistently getting enough cinnamon in your diet to make a true impact on your blood sugar… as well as to reap its other health benefits… can be a challenge. So you might want to consider also taking a supplement.
Look for a high-quality cinnamon supplement from a manufacturer you trust. Choose one that says it has had the fat-soluble compounds, such as coumarin, removed, which could be harmful in higher quantities.
Need a little more convincing? Check out my earlier report Add THIS to your meals to burn off fat in a flash.
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