Cinnamon + Hot Chocolate (Carob)
Cinnamon.
A powerful and magical little spice that has been used medicinally around the world for thousands of years.
It’s a spice I adore using during the cold Winter months and thankfully, an approved food on the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP). Whoop whoop!
Seriously. What can’t this little gem of spice do!
Did you know there are two main types of cinnamon that we use today?
Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon.
Both kinds contain the health benefits mentioned below, however Ceylon is actually considered to have more health benefits than the other.
So what’s the difference?
They actually come from two different, but related, trees. Ceylon cinnamon (called true cinnamon) comes from trees grown in areas like Sri Lanka and Thailand that are rarer, therefore ceylon cinnamon is more expensive and hard to find in stores. Cassia cinnamon (also called Chinese or Saigon cinnamon) comes from trees grown in China normally, is less expensive, and is more widely available.
Don’t fret if you can’t find Ceylon, as Cassia is still extremely beneficial, and look for organic powder, or sticks which you can grate fresh yourself, and of course pure essential oils. Try and use up your powder stores within a year before replenishing.
So what can this magic spice do?
Just like wonder woman, this magical little spice has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and immunity boosting abilities . . .
Antioxidant | Packed with a variety of protective antioxidants that can help to slow down the aging process.
Anti-Inflammatory | The antioxidants have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower the risk of heart disease and brain function decline, as well as help to lower swelling and inflammation in the body.
Anti-Diabetic | By blocking certain enzymes called alanines (which allow glucose to be absorbed into our blood), cinnamon can help lower our blood sugar levels and also improve our sensitivity to the hormone insulin (a vital hormone needed for keeping blood sugar levels balanced). This is especially important for those with diabetes.
Immune Boosting | Found in cinnamon’s essential oils, it’s immune boosting . . Cinnamon is so powerful at boosting immunity that some studies even show that it may be able to reduce the virus.
During these cold Winter months, I've been enjoying cinnamon in the occasional warming cup of hot chocolate using my homemade coconut milk (see recipe here!)
VEGAN: Swap out the raw honey for maple syrup or rice malt syrup.
Note - A little bit of cinnamon goes a long way – and as little as 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon daily can have positive effects on our blood sugar levels, digestion, immunity, and so much more.