Cinnamon - The Spice of Autumn

I love cinnamon and the smell of it makes me think of Christmas. Cinnamon buns, spiced cider, and red hot candies are some of my memories from days gone by. I still use cinnamon in my oatmeal, in my "Best Chocolate Shake Ever!" and as a protection against viruses and flu.

Cinnamon is a great example of a spice that has been around for thousands of years, has tremendous health benefits and has been manipulated by the food industry for a profit. Let's examine these statements one at a time.

Cinnamon has been used since 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and was considered the spice of the wealthy. It was used in medieval times by doctors to treat coughs, arthritis and sore throats. Cinnamon oil was in a blend used by a band of thieves during the middle ages to protect themselves as they stole goods from the dead and dying.  Young Living uses this same recipe, with cinnamon oil as a main ingredient, and has named this blend "Thieves".

Currently, cinnamon is used to treat muscle spasms, vomiting, diarrhea, infections, the common cold, loss of appetite and maybe even erectile dysfunction. I would not go a winter without Young Living's Thieves oil as it is documented to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and more. A professor here at the local University has been studying cinnamon oil with his students against MRSA and other forms of bacterial infection and discovered that it was more effective then many of the antibiotics used by hospitals to treat these conditions.

There are two main types of cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia or Chinese cinnamon. Each type has its own advantages, but generally cinnamon has been known to assist in lowering blood sugar in people with type 1 or 2 diabetes by improving glucose and lipids levels. Cinnamon may be instrumental in Alzheimer's prevention, effective against HIV, may stop the destructive process of multiple sclerosis (MS), and can reduce fasting blood sugar levels. It is thought to relieve pain from arthritis, boost the immune system, prevent the formation of blood clots, and relieve indigestion. So what are we waiting for?

Not so fast! There is one little problem with much of the cinnamon on the market today. For example, the New York Board of Health studied 12 ground cinnamon specimens and do you know what they found? Sawdust! That's right. Only three contained any cinnamon at all and the others were almost entirely sawdust, starch and cinnamon flavored oil. Add heavy irradiation to extend shelf life and you have something that is void of any health benefit.

So, with that being said, do your homework. If you buy cinnamon powder, choose a company that you can prove is trustworthy (not just a name you always thought you could trust). If you are using a cinnamon oil, be sure it is processed at low temperatures/low pressure and is void of all chemicals or fillers.

Cinnamon is a smell that speaks of warmth and wealth, and now can also bring better health. Happy Autumn everyone.