As I have guiltily made my way through my fair share of Christmas goodies this year I have been wondering and hoping that I am getting some sort of benefit and nutrition to somewhat counteract all the sugar and butter. I was incredibly surprised to learn that particularly in cinnamon and ginger, the holiday spices we know and love, they have many healthy benefits that are pretty incredible. Now instead of eating the gingerbread cookies, cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin breads, I plan to start incorporating some of these incredible spices into my diet in a more healthy way.

Cinnamon

Reduces Cholesterol:

Consumption of one-quarter teaspoon of cinnamon daily has been scientifically proven to reduce triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

Pain Reliever:

Cinnamon is commonly used to treat pain as it reacts with prostaglandin that contributes to contraction and relaxation of muscle tissues.

Cures Cold:

Cinnamon is a warming herb used to cure cold and the common flu. Cinnamon when added to ginger tea is an excellent cold reliever. Another remedy includes adding quarter-teaspoon if cinnamon powder to a tablespoon of honey. Consume the mixture twice a day for 3 days for best results.

Prevents Arthritis:

Arthritis causes pain and swelling of the joints and cinnamon helps alleviating the symptoms. In a hot cup of water, add two spoons of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Drink the mixture twice a day to alleviate arthritic pain.

Aids Digestion:

Cinnamon helps break down fats and thus aids digestion. Moreover, a combination of honey and cinnamon also helps cure stomach ulcers and relieve gas.

Heart Health:

Mix cinnamon powder and honey and make a thick spread. Replace your regular jam with this and consume it daily. This will reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Promotes Weight Loss:

Cinnamon benefits in reducing insulin resistance and triples the insulin’s capacity to metabolize blood sugar. This spice thus helps reduce hunger and sugar cravings, resulting in weight loss.

Ginger:

Protects Against Alzheimer’s Disease –Research has shown that ginger helps to slow down the loss of brain cells that typically is a precursor to Alzheimer’s. By protecting and preserving these cells you are prolonging the amount of good years you have being alert and coherent and aware of your surroundings.

Stimulates Appetite – If you have a sluggish digestive system and find that you need to get your digestive fires going before a meal, ginger can help. It may be the case that you don’t produce enough stomach acid, and ginger can act as an appetite stimulant, getting your digestive juices revved up so that you are able to digest your meal better.

Provides Pain Relief – Ginger can act as a natural pain reliever. The anti-inflammatory nature means that overall you should have fewer aches and pains. Consider starting your morning with a cup of ginger tea and see if you notice improvements throughout the day.

Clears Sinuses – There is an active ingredient in ginger that has shown to work wonders on the sinuses, helping to unclog them and facilitate drainage. All you need to do is brew a nice cup of hot ginger tea to get the benefits without the use of medications with possible side effects.

Blocks Acid from Heartburn – If you frequently get heartburn, you should consider using ginger as a way to get around it. The excess acid that leads to the condition can be undone by the properties of ginger. Another side benefit is that there are no side effects to taking it, and it can be used for the long term with no worries.

I hope I have convinced you to incorporate ginger and cinnamon into your diet on a more regular basis to reap some of these amazing benefits :)