Naturally sweet cinnamon revives our senses with its wonderful aroma and can enhance health with its medicinal properties.

HISTORY OF NATURE’S SWEET HERB

Cinnamon was first used in China (2700 B.C.) to treat fever, digestive, and menstrual problems.

Indian healers used cinnamon to treat gastrointestinal complaints, as well as sore throat and cough.

SUPPORT HEALTH WITH NATURE’S SWEET HERB

Today, modern herbalists continue to use the herb for digestive issues, chest congestion and colds/flu, but they’ve also discovered it helps ease arthritis pain, as well as manage blood sugar levels.

Because cinnamon reduces the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream, it can help prevent blood sugar spikes. This is hopeful news for some people with Type 2 diabetes. But more studies need to be done around this issue. It appears that cinnamon may work better in people whose diabetes is poorly managed as compared to those who have good management of their condition.

As a medicinal supplement, different people respond to different amounts — it’s not just a matter of sprinkling a teaspoon on your oatmeal. Cinnamon may also change the way some medications work, so it’s important to speak with your physician before adding cinnamon to your supplement regimen.

Naturally sweet cinnamon revives our senses with its wonderful aroma and can enhance health with its medicinal properties. | KalenaSpire

HOW TO SHOP FOR NATURE’S SWEET HERB

Cinnamon is available ground, in capsule form, and as a tea.

There are many species of cinnamon. Be aware that typical grocery store cinnamon (‘the cassia cinnamons’) contains coumarin, which, in high amounts, can be harmful to the liver. Ceylon Cinnamon has lower levels of coumarin, which makes it a better choice for most people.

How do you use nature’s sweet herb, cinnamon? Share in the comments below!

Resources:

Cleveland Clinic: Cinnamon. Accessed 2 Dec 2016: http://www.clevelandclinicwellness.com/Features/Pages/cinnamon-pro-con.aspx

Examine.com: Cinnamon Essential Benefits, Effects & Information. Accessed 2 Dec 2016: https://examine.com/supplements/cinnamon/

World’s Healthiest Foods: Cinnamon (ground) http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=68&tname=foodspice

Johannes, L. Little bit of Spice for Health, but Which One? The Wall Street Journal (online, 2014, Oct.) Accessed 4 Dec 2016: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303376904579135502891970942

Hlebowicz, J. et al., ‘Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects.’ Am J Clin Nutr. (2007 Jun) 85:6,1552-6. Accessed 4 Dec 2016: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/6/1552.long (full text)

Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, et al., ‘Cinnamon extract prevents the insulin resistance induced by a high-fructose diet.’ Horm Metab Res.(2004 Feb), 36:2:119-25.. PMID:15002064. Accessed 4 Dec 2016: http://beauty-review.nl/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Cinnamon-extract-prevents-the-insulin-resistance-induced-by-a-high-fructose-diet.pdf (full text)

Khan A., Safdar M., Ali Khan M., et al., ‘Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. (2003 Dec) 26(12) 3215-8. Accessed 4 Dec 2016: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/12/3215

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About Dr. Christine

Christine Cherpak is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, Wellness Expert, and the founder of KalenaSpire, an integrative nutrition coaching and private yoga practice that specializes in women's wellness, gastrointestinal and immune health, nutritional biochemistry, and nutrigenomics. Christine supports her clients in understanding the root cause of their health issues, creates a custom eating, supplement, and lifestyle protocol to put them on the road to healing, and shows them how to make sustainable lifestyle changes so they can finally enjoy and elevate their lives.

Alexandria Z., M.S.

Christine is my wellness goddess. Her amazing support, extraordinary expertise, and undeniable compassion invited me to a world of freedom from digestive discomfort that I didn’t know was possible. The whirlwind of bloating, constipation, brain fog, and digestive upheaval was consuming my life. Exhaustion and frustration were becoming my very existence. And then I met my health goddess! Christine’s astute listening and meticulously tailored guidance, transformed my thinking and whirlwind of digestive discomfort. She helped me achieve a state of equilibrium. The balance I now experience is the center of my wellness existence—the core of my life with digestive happiness.

Christine instilled in me the power to embrace the grace and strength of my very own body! She has taught me to internalize the boundless evidence of my body’s functionality to heal digestively. While working with Christine, my exhaustion, pain, and bloating were overshadowed with energy, digestive comfort, glowing skin, and knowledge. Her coaching raised my awareness of food sensitivities, and promoted better food choices, which led to better sleep, a stronger link to overall wellness, clarity in my thinking, and ultimately, more joy in my life. Christine’s remarkable spirit of wellness will forever echo in my digestive wellness journey. I bestow upon Christine the well-deserved exceptional title, “my wellness goddess.”