Sensational Cinnamon

Would you eat something that protected your brain, balance your blood sugar, fought off cancer cells, decreased blood pressure, prevented wrinkles and was full of powerful antioxidants? I hope your answer is YES!

Cinnamon is amazing. I was blessed to speak with Dr. Richard Anderson from the USDA in Beltsville, MD. He has been researching cinnamon for years.  It was inspiring to hear his passion as he shared the most recent discoveries with cinnamon and Alzheimer's. When Alzheimer filaments were removed from a deceased  person with dementia, cinnamon extract broke down those filaments. This showed the possibility of reversing Alzheimer's damage. More research needs to be done to see the full potential. We do know that insulin resistance leads to memory impairment and cinnamon definitely helps with improving insulin sensitivity. Research link.

In order for cancer to spread it must create a blood supply.  Cinnamon was found to hinder new blood vessel formation to the cancer cells.  The high levels of antioxidants appear to protect the body from cancer growth.Research link.

As we age and as we eat refined sugar foods and high fructose corn syrup we see the results in our skin. Wrinkles and sagging all increase due to the reaction of the sugar with proteins in our body, especially collagen. This reaction is called glycation and usually begins to show up on our faces around age 30 or 35. Cinnamon helps improve insulin function which helps balance blood sugar levels, thus decreasing the amount of glycation.  Cut back on your sugary treats and increase your cinnamon to protect your skin.

Diabetics and those with heart disease appear to get the most benefit from cinnamon.  Not only does it help increase insulin sensitivity, balance blood sugar levels, reduce weight gain and triglyceride levels, but it also helps lower blood pressure and inflammation.Research article link.

How much cinnamon do we need to see big changes?  Just 1/2 to 1 1/2 tsp a day has been shown to reduce serum glucose, triglyceride levels, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in studies of people with type 2 Diabetes.Link to this study. Get that cinnamon off the spice rack and keep it by the stove so you can add it to oatmeal, Indian dishes, fresh fruit, smoothies and teas. If you plan to take cinnamon daily for a long time, look into standardized cinnamon extract. Learn to love your cinnamon.

Protecting My Brain!

Sometimes I think there are just too many words in my head that I can't keep them all straight! Well, it's either that, or I have to claim yet another "senior moment"!  I used to think that those moments of forgetfulness were supposed to be just for the over 65 crowd, but then they started happening to ME! YIKES!  This gave me all the motivation I needed to do some research on protecting my brain so I can stay smart, focused and with a strong memory for a LONG time to come! Let me share what I've learned with you.

1. Don't avoid a check-up!  You want to make sure that your blood pressure and blood sugar are at healthy levels because high levels of either of those can impact your brain function.  Ideally you will avoid medication by eating healthy and exercising to get the levels back in place.
2. Don't worry, be happy! - In this hectic fast paced world we live in, it becomes all the more necessary to take time to relax and de-stress.  Find ways to be in the moment and breath slowly and deeply.  Life is too short to let every little thing ruffle your feathers.  High stress impacts the circulation to your brain and  is associated with memory loss.  Whether it's walking with a friend, going to church, taking a yoga class, getting out in nature or finding a quiet spot to pray, do something that will help you release and find peace.
3.Do eat and juice your veggies! In research done with 4000 senior adults, those who ate 2 or more servings of vegetables a day showed a significant decrease in mental decline compared to those who ate less.  Juicing is also a powerful way to get your nutrients. One study found that 3 glasses of fresh vegetable or fruit juice a week provided a 76% lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease.  Leafy greens like Romaine lettuce, spinach and Kale are great to add to green smoothies and to eat in salads.
4. Dance, walk, and just get active!  Exercise is vital for maintaining mental health. Get outside with a friend and walk in the fresh air and sunshine 30 minutes every day.  A Harvard study found, when tracking 469 seniors over the age of 75, that those who danced regularly decreased their risk of dementia by 76%! Dancing involves both physical and mental effort.  Martial arts such as Qiqong also so great promise.
5. Eat healthy fats! We hear all about inflammation these days, well healthy Omega -3 fats help fight that inflammation. Eating olives, avocados, raw nuts and seeds along with fatty fish like wild caught salmon are not only good for our brains, but our hearts as well.  
6. Chow down on fruit! All fruits are rich in antioxidants - those things than fight off the free radicals that can harm our DNA and brain cells!  But berries are especially good for our brains. Apples, which contain the antioxidant, Quercetin, are also protective.
7. Spice it up! Research has shown that Cinnamon and Rosemary are powerful brain protectors, especially against Alzheimer's disease.  Turmeric and  Paprika are great to use too.