This morning, I cheated on my smoothie bowl infatuation with a bowl of cinnamon oatmeal. Not only did my oats take less than 3 minutes to prepare, they were also incredibly delicious and insanely nutritious, too. Why? How? Cause, cinnamon is a superfood homerun, yo!
Once upon a time, cinnamon was more valuable than gold. Seriously. In medieval times, cinnamon was considered a panacea, used to treat various conditions such as sore throats, indigestion and cramps. It was also believed to help improve energy, vitality and circulation, too.
Turns out modern research agrees:
Cinnamon is a natural food preservative. Because of its anti-fungal properties, it has been said that candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment.
Cinnamon keeps blood sugar steady, making it a suitable choice for diabetics and hypoglycemics alike. More importantly, (just kidding) cinnamon helps reduce wrinkles and blemishes by preventing insulin spikes.
Cinnamon reduces LDL cholesterol levels. LDL is also known as the harmful cholesterol. Reducing it may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Cinnamon reduces pain linked to arthritis. Cinnamon has been shown in studies at the Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Korean Hospital, to reduce cytokines linked to arthritic pain.
Alzheimer’s disease. Tel Aviv University researchers discovered that cinnamon may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. According to Prof. Michael Ovadia, of the Department of Zoology at Tel Aviv University, an extract found in cinnamon bark, called CEppt, contains properties that can inhibit the development of the disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). As a digestive, cinnamon dramatically reduces the uncomfortable feelings associated with IBS especially the bloating. It does this by killing bacteria and healing infections in the GI tract and enabling the gastric juices to work normally. If you’ve been suffering from an upset stomach, a cup of cinnamon tea 2-3 times a day will dramatically reduce your pain.
That said, I am not advocating you start wolfing down the cinnamon – as it has been found to be toxic in large doses. LOL. Instead, I am merely encouraging a little pinch (or stick) here and there in places you might otherwise have overlooked (in your hot bevvy, added to savory dishes, etc.) – if not for the health benefits, for its undeniably lush aroma and high yum-factor.
Cinnamon oatmeal
1 cup quick oats
2 cups almond milk
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp honey
Bring all ingredients to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for a minute or two (all the while, stirring constantly) then serve with your favourite toppings. Recipe makes for 2.
iaccidentlyatethewholething 