Welcome to my newest Blog feature: “Health Happy Ingredient of the Week”.

Each week I’ll feature a new spice, food, extract or oil. I’ll share various uses and health benefits of each health happy ingredient and how to EASILY incorporate it into your daily diet!

This Week’s Health Happy Ingredient:

Cinnamon

This magical spice has a long history as an extremely valuable commodity. Around the first century AD, cinnamon was considered 15 times more valuable than silver! This exotic spice was considered so desirable that wars were fought to obtain it. The ancient Egyptians used cinnamon for their embalming process while medieval doctors used cinnamon to treat coughing hoarseness and sour throats. Dating back to 2800 BC, cinnamon has been a cherished and sacred spice for 1,000s of years-and for good reason. Not only is this spice incredibly delicious but it’s been known to have a multitude of health benefits!

What’s So Great about Cinnamon?

The many health benefits include:

• Half a teaspoon a day can lower LDL cholesterol
• Regulates blood sugar levels, making it a great dietary addition for any person suffering from type 2 diabetes
• Natural antifungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties, cinnamon helps rid the body of medication-resistant yeast infections and stomach ulcers
• Great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium
• Anti-inflammatory properties help counteract the effects of inflammation caused by fatty, fried or processed food
• Smelling cinnamon has been shown to boost cognitive function and memory

How do I get more cinnamon in my diet?

Just sprinkle a little onto the following foods and enjoy:

• plain yogurt
• ice cream – yummy on peach, chocolate, vanilla or coconut
• chopped apples and oatmeal
• pancake batter
• tomatillo salsa or pico de gallo
• peanut butter or almond butter sandwich
• sliced apple topped with low-fat cream cheese
• sliced Jicama
• roasted butternut or acorn squash
• risotto, pasta, orzo, quinoa or brown rice – add a little olive oil to toss

The possibilities are endless!

Click on the link for my Creamy Cinnamon Banana Smoothie