The Brain-Boosting Benefits of Cinnamon

From mulled wine to gingerbread cookies, cinnamon is a star spice at this time of year. Not only does it help give holiday treats that rich flavour we love but it’s actually good for brain health, too. Just a whiff of cinnamon can enhance cognitive processing, while consuming the spice ramps up brain function, say researchers at Wheeling Jesuit University. This aromatic spice may help with healing, too, by preventing brain cells from swelling after a stroke or head injury. Animal research from the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. also found that cinnamon (once metabolized by the body) has a neuro-protective effect on Parkinson’s disease, normalizing neurotransmitter levels and improving motor function.

Try adding ground cinnamon to your coffee, latte or hot chocolate. It also makes for a good smoothie add-in. Here are some more ideas to help you incorporate cinnamon into your diet:

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Banana Cinnamon Muffins
Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Apple-Cinnamon Porridge
Apple-Cinnamon Smoothie

Healthy Snack Recipes

Maple Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

Healthy Dessert Recipes

Cinnamon Star Cookies
Crispy Cinnamon Cookies
Cinnamon Banana Caramels
Baked Cinnamon-Honey Plantains