Powers of Herbs and Spices: Cinnamon

Ahh, blessed cinnamon. How I would fight for the good name of cinnamon against even the biggest bully, should it come to that. I’m not the only cinnamon ‘aficionada‘, most of the United States seem to be obsessed with the Christmassy smell and taste of this spice from India and China.

Cinnamon is, for many raw foodists, a very reliable friend. You want something sweet and comforting? Apple sauce, cinnamon and honey equals happy days.

Fortunately, cinnamon has many health benefits. In fact, the more you eat, the better.

Cinnamon is the inner bark of  a small tree, the Cinnamon Tree. There are two types of cinnamon, Chinese and Ceylon, of which Ceylon is generally more difficult to come by.

For all those cinnamon lovers, read on, as here I shall present to you the many benefits of the delicious spice.

 Studies have been made, which concluded in the suggestion that cinnamon oil and cinnamon extract have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-parasitic properties. The dreaded and common yeast infection, caused by Candida Albicans, has been shown to be severely inhibited by cinnamon. 

     Good news for new raw foodists who are experiencing temporary gassiness (it will pass), cinnamon helps ease the discomfort of excess gas. 

      Cinnamon can help sufferers of Type II Diabetes normalize their blood sugar level. "One-eighth of a teaspoon of cinnamon triples insulin efficiency," say James A. Duke, Ph.D., a botanist retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and author of The CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs.

        Cinnamon has a warming effect on the body and so can be used to solve cold related discomforts. This includes colds and flu, and circulatory problems.

      For those ladies that are prone to urinary tract infections, cinnamon has been shown to suppress completely the bacteria which causes this discomfort.

     In 2004, a study was performed, in which four groups were exposed to; no odor, the odor of cinnamon, the odor of peppermint and the odor of jasmine. Cinnamon came out way on top, having dramatically increased the cognitive processing.
It has been suggested that including a mere half teaspoon of cinnamon in ones diet can allow the previous benefits to be reaped. Cinnamon can be used also in savory dishes, though a simpler way of incorporating it into your diet is to simply boil up some cinnamon sticks, strain, mix with honey and drink throughout the day

Buying

When buying cinnamon, be sure to smell it. Cinnamon should have a sweet smell, an indication that it is fresh.

Storing

Cinnamon should be kept in a sealed container in a cool, dark place. Ground cinnamon, like other powdered spices loses its flavor quickly. Ground cinnamon should keep for 6 months. Cinnamon sticks are able to retain their flavor for longer periods of time and should last for a year or more.

Preparing

If you are going to grind your own cinnamon, be sure to use Ceylon. Grinding the cinnamon quills in a coffee or spice grinder will result in a ground cinnamon with a pungent taste.