{"id":10919,"date":"2021-12-20T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fxnutrition.com\/?p=10919"},"modified":"2022-11-30T12:54:05","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T12:54:05","slug":"the-comforting-spice-that-makes-everything-nice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fxnutrition.com\/blog\/the-comforting-spice-that-makes-everything-nice","title":{"rendered":"the comforting spice that makes everything nice"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cSome foods are so comforting, so nourishing of body and soul, that to eat them is to be home again after a long journey. To eat such a meal is to remember that, though the world is full of knives and storms, the body is built for kindness. The angels, who know no hunger, have never been as satisfied.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u2014Eli Brown, <\/span>Cinnamon and Gunpowder<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Comfort.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take a moment to consider the word.<\/span><\/p>\n

Go ahead, close your eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you think of comfort, what food comes to mind?<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s odd to me that the phrase \u2018comfort food\u2019 is now associated with the sticky, sickly sweet, gooey or cheesy. All things that defy comfort to me (and my body).<\/span><\/p>\n

When I close my eyes and think of the foods that connote comfort, they\u2019re the foods I grew up with, the foods that were familiar in my childhood\u2014foods like stuffed cabbage, chicken soup, mandelbrot (the Yiddish name for a biscotti-like delight), and cinnamon toast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did any of your comfort foods have a hint of cinnamon?<\/span><\/p>\n

Nearly all of mine did.<\/span><\/p>\n

As we move into the holidays, let\u2019s uncover the culinary and medicinal uses of this colorful spice. Honestly, it\u2019s a perfect time to think about comfort in relation to the beneficial sprinkles that adorn and flavor our holiday foods!.<\/span><\/p>\n

And even if you no longer eat the dishes you associate with comfort, please don\u2019t let that stop you from \u201creturning home\u201d this holiday season. The spices of your all-time favorites may just help conjure up all the nourishing comfort you\u2019re seeking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get creative and spice it up!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re a seasoned spice user or rarely venture beyond basic salt and pepper, there\u2019s so much to explore in the world of spice. (They really do make everything nice!)<\/span><\/p>\n

And during this season you\u2019ll notice, the spicy recipes I like to share have a theme…<\/span><\/p>\n

One of my favorite ways to include spices and other superfoods are in warming elixirs. If you\u2019re wondering what an elixir is, it\u2019s a cozy, magical, and medicinal (non alcoholic!) drink.Whether they\u2019re part of my morning ritual, an afternoon pick-me-up, or a sleepy-time treat, elixirs are always a hit in my house and I aim to share my cinnamon-infused secrets with you and add a little zest to your day (in the form of a fragrant and warming cuppa).<\/span><\/p>\n

Cinnamon is likely not new to you.<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

In fact, if you have one spice in your spice rack (besides salt and pepper), it\u2019s likely cinnamon!Even if this spice easily makes its way off the rack into your food, you might not know that it goes well beyond just making baked goods more tasty and toast a pure delicacy. This super-powered spice actually helps to balance your blood sugar, reduce inflammation and help fight infections. (Give me a sprinkle now please!)<\/span><\/p>\n

We can find mentions of cinnamon being used as food and medicine in the Bible and ancient Egypt. It\u2019s rumored to be more precious than gold in ancient times and was often a gift for the kings!<\/span><\/p>\n

This now common spice comes from the reddish-brown inner bark of the cinnamon tree called Cinnamomum. The bark is dried and rolled into a tube called a quill (or stick) and then ground into powder for the form that\u2019s most common on grocery store shelves.<\/span><\/p>\n

The scent and flavor that\u2019s so specific to cinnamon (and might have your family coming to the kitchen when you\u2019re baking cinnamon-spiced treats), comes from the plant oils that are rich in the compound cinnamaldehyde.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those compounds not only tickle your tastebuds but are also behind cinnamon\u2019s powerful effects on your health and metabolism.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps ironically, this spice that\u2019s such a common addition to sweet desserts can also help balance your blood sugar, reduce insulin resistance and decrease the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

One study on cinnamon (among many!), showed that adding 1 gram of cinnamon to your diet per day for three months helped reduce Hemoglobin A1C levels. (That\u2019s the long term measure of blood sugar that\u2019s considered in the diagnosis of diabetes.) Be sure to note the comments at the bottom of this post before trying this at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s thought that cinnamon mimics the action of insulin and may stimulate the insulin receptors on fat and muscle cells the same way insulin does, allowing excess sugar to move out of the blood and into the cells.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body making a cinnamon-spiced smoothie super for sipping after a hard workout or long day.<\/span><\/p>\n

This super spice comes to the rescue to help decrease the risk of heart disease by reducing levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and also lower blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to a happy heart, cinnamon can also boost brain health. Two compounds found in cinnamon appear to inhibit the buildup of the protein that is a hallmark of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

And cinnamaldehyde, the active compound in cinnamon, can fight bacteria like Listeria and Salmonella and helps treat fungal infections like Candida. It\u2019s anti-microbrial effects can even help keep your pearly whites free from decay and your breath smelling fresh.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ready to sign up for more cinnamon? I sure am!<\/span><\/p>\n

Apple Cinnamon Elixir\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

You can use cinnamon throughout the year but it\u2019s sweet and spicy taste and warming nature is especially nice to chase the chill during these colder months.<\/span><\/p>\n

Try this elixir that pairs a winter favorite (apples!) with cinnamon and other superfoods. Make yourself a mug, curl up in a cozy blanket by the fire, and keep warm from the inside out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n