Healthy Herbs and How to Use Them: Cinnamon

Fresh herbs not only add flavour without calories, they may also serve up health benefits as healing foods.  Here is a healing herb and a recipe to add to your dietary rotation.

Cinnamon warms, stimulates and invigorates our body which is very helpful in the winter months. Cinnamon twig appears to have some antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. This healing food may also help treat gastrointestinal disturbances, including diarrhea and indigestion. Cinnamon seems to have antioxidant effects as well. Cinnamon is excellent for controlling blood sugar levels and has been shown to lower bad cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Incorporating cinnamon can be as simple as sprinkling it on oatmeal or adding to teas with a little honey.  Here is a simple recipe for jazzing up carrots.

Glazed Carrots with Cinnamon and Honey
– 1 pound carrots, sliced on the diagonal 1/4 inch thick
– 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
– 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
– 2 teaspoons honey
– 1 1/2 tablespoons slivered almonds

1. Preheat the oven to 425°. In a medium bowl, toss the carrots with the olive oil and cinnamon and season with salt and pepper. Scrape the carrots onto a large rimmed baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, until tender.
2. Meanwhile, spread the almonds in a pie plate and toast in the oven for about 6 minutes, until fragrant and light golden.
3. Drizzle the carrots with honey.
4. Transfer the carrots to a bowl, toss with the almonds and serve.

Cindy Fleming, B.Sc.