Recent studies have shown that cinnamon, that tasty herb that makes everything delicious, can be an effective treatment for heart disease. It’s not surprising, history has shown cinnamon to be a favorite herbal go-to for years. This flavorful herb has so much going for it: scent enhancer, flavor improver, food preserver and now heart disease preventer. For such an unassuming little herb, cinnamon packs a wallop of goodness.
For many the smell of cinnamon means home. Catching a whiff of the aromatic herb can bring a flash of memories. It’s been shown that simply breathing in the pleasant aroma of cinnamon and one’s anxiety level can be dramatically reduced. And throughout the ages cinnamon has been used as an air freshener for that very reason.
In recent years cinnamon has been shown to do more than just smell good and bring about relaxation. The Chinese have known of cinnamon’s medical prowess for years and have prescribed cinnamon to help alleviate diarrhea, chills and even parasitic worms. Recent research has shown that eating cinnamon can help prevent heart disease one of the major killers in the West.
It’s been shown that eating cinnamon can reduce the blood sugar levels for diabetics and also lower cholesterol levels. As diabetes and high cholesterol are two major risk factors that can lead to heart disease, this finding is key. By keeping cholesterol and blood sugar levels at healthy levels can help prevent disease. Further, it’s known that cinnamon has the ability to fight tooth decay and gum disease, two more major risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
But how much cinnamon is necessary to reap the rewards? And can there be such a thing as too much cinnamon? Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. And it doesn’t take a lot, just 1-gram of cinnamon, to lower blood sugar levels. Studies have also shown that 1-gram a day had the same affect as 6-grams a day. So there’s no need to over do it. But if you do happen to go a little crazy with the cinnamon, no need to worry. There has been no significant research to show that large doses of cinnamon are toxic. But with all things, moderation is key.
Because cinnamon is so tasty, it’s not hard to include it in your daily diet: sprinkle some on your toast, or in your oatmeal or bake up some nice organic cinnamon rolls. Not only will your heart thank you, but also your whole house will smell delightful.