Did you know that to the ancient Egyptians, cinnamon was worth more than gold? That’s because cinnamon was long believed to have healthful and medicinal properties that made it extremely valuable. Cinnamon is excellent for brain health and some rigorous studies have found a variety of neurological benefits that cinnamon offers. Here are 5 proven brain benefits of cinnamon.
- Cinnamon may delay or reverse cognitive impairment. A study in rats found that cinnamon improved cognition and reduced oxidation in the brain.
- Cinnamon may be beneficial for Parkinson’s patients. A mouse study found that cinnamon protected dopamine production systems and improved motor function in Parkinson’s disease.
- Cinnamon may curb food cravings. By targeting a brain chemical involved in glucose and cholesterol, eating cinnamon may decrease food intake and help you lose weight.
- Cinnamon’s scent can boost memory in a task. A small human study suggests that merely smelling cinnamon can improve performance several types of memory tasks.
- Cinnamon is a good source of the powerful antioxidant manganese. Two teaspoons of cinnamon provides about half the RDA of manganese, a powerful antioxidant that is crucial for brain and body health.
- For some great cinnamon recipes and more information on cinnamon, check out the brain healthy foods section of our website or view all our brain healthy recipes!
To add a daily dose of cinnamon to your diet, you can try:
- sprinkling cinnamon on your toast
- mixing cinnamon into your oatmeal or other hot cereal
- adding a small amount of cinnamon to rubs, marinades, and stews
- infusing your tea or juice with a cinnamon stick
- seasoning carrots, beets, or butternut squash with cinnamon before roasting them
July 28, 2014
