When I think of how to use Cinnamon, it usually comes down to not the healthiest foods. Pastries and other deserts, in cream of wheat in the morning, in my Mexican black beans, and these days – on my citrus fruit.

Cut up some fresh citrus fruit, top with powdered cinnamon, and voila!

"Evidence suggests that cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, cardiovascular, cholesterol-lowering, and immunomodulatory effects." (Joerg Gruenwald, Janine Freder & Nicole Armbruester. Cinnamon and Health. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. Volume 50, Issue 9, 2010)

Cinnamon has been studied for it's health benefits, including anti-cancer, anti type II diabetes, and as an anti-oxidant. Here are some excellent references for more information:

• Keith Singletary, PhD. Cinnamon: Overview of Health Benefits. Nutrition Today, November/December 2008. Volume 43:6 – pp 263-266
• Dr. Hyla Cass. Can Cinnamon Fight Cancer? In laboratory study, cinnamon extract halts the proliferation of human cancer cells. 
• Kwon Ho-Keun, Hwang Ji-Sun, So Jae-Seon, Lee Choong-Gu, Sahoo Anupama, Ryu Jae-Ha, Jeon Won, Ko Byoung,  Im Chang-Rok, Lee Sung, Park Zee, Im Sin-Hyeog. Cinnamon extract induces tumor cell death through inhibition of NFκB and AP1. BMC Cancer, Vol. 11:1.

• Alam Khan, MS, PHD, Mahpara Safdar, MS, Mohammad Muzaffar Ali Khan, MS, PHD, Khan Nawaz Khattak, and Richard A. Anderson, PHD. Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 Diabetes. American Diabetes Association, 06/2003.

• S. Shobana, K. Akhilender Naidu. Antioxidant activity of selected Indian spices. 

  Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. Volume 62:2, 02/2000, pp 107–110

"Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity."

- Hippocrates

To Life,

Steven