Cinnamon & Garlic Benefits

On the surface, cinnamon and garlic may not seem to have a lot in common, but these two frequently used spices both have the potential to pack big health benefits. Cinnamon and garlic both fall under the broad category of spices, or plant-derived aromatics that add flavor to foods.

History

• The use of cinnamon dates to about 2800 B.C., when a Chinese manuscript details the usefulness of cinnamon in treating digestive problems and cold and flu symptoms. The health benefits of cinnamon remained important as civilization advanced, with Greek and Roman physicians, medieval philosophers and Renaissance scientists all touting its effectiveness.

  Garlic, too, has played a significant role in health history. The earliest recorded mention of garlic's health benefits is an Egyptian manuscript from 1500 B.C., which recommends garlic as a cure for more than 20 health conditions, including fatigue and heart disease. Garlic was also a recommended treatment for ailments in the Greek and Roman periods and into the Middle Ages, where people hung it over their front doors in the belief that it could repel the plague from their households.

Benefits

• Cinnamon's health benefits have been supported by modern science. Researchers Richard Anderson and Marilyn Polansky found that consuming cinnamon each day can lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease, and reduce arthritis pain. A 2007 study in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" showed that cinnamon also has the potential to stabilize blood sugar levels.

  Garlic, too, has proven to have positive health benefits. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that garlic stimulates production of hydrogen sulfide production, a natural antioxidant that can protect against cancer and heart disease.

Recommendations

• It's fairly simple to reap the benefits of cinnamon and garlic in your diet.

  Try to get between 1/2 to 1-1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon---that's one to two cinnamon sticks---each day. You can opt for sticks or for cinnamon that's already ground; there's no difference in the potency.

  To get the best benefits from garlic, let it sit for about 15 minutes after you've chopped it before using it to cook, and aim to increase your garlic intake to about five cloves per day.

Side Effects

• There don't appear to be any harmful side effects to cinnamon consumption.

  Eating too much garlic may cause indigestion. Garlic is also associated with bad breath.

Suggestions

• If you want to add cinnamon to your diet, try sprinkling a little on top of yogurt, cereal or sweet potatoes. You can also add a little cinnamon to spice rubs.

  To incorporate more garlic into your diet, try garlic-rich dips such as hummus or baba ganoush for snacking.