Cinnamon: A Fat-Burning Super Spice

Cinnamon is a great spice that is a known fat-burner. This aromatic delight also prevents diabetes and is so potent that when taken in capsule form on a daily basis, it can help lower your blood sugar. However, cinnamon is so delicious it seems a waste to take it in a capsule when there are so other ways to enjoy its healing components.

The Benefits of Eating Cinnamon

The Cinnamon Plant

There are actually two types of cinnamon: true (or Sri Lankan) cinnamon and cassia cinnamon. Both come from the bark of an evergreen tree and both can help you to lose weight because they are in the same plant family. They do differ slightly in taste because cassia is slightly sweeter but hotter than true cinnamon. It is also easier to find cassia unless you visit specialty shops that sell spices from India.

As a potent antioxidant, eating cinnamon reduces your risk for developing cancer. In fact, some people have been able to give up smoking by placing a stick of cinnamon in their mouths instead of a cigarette.

Cinnamon contains 11 vitamins and minerals. One teaspoon is a significant source of manganese and calcium. It can decrease the amount of LDL and triglycerides in the blood stream, which leads to a reduction in the overall blood stream cholesterol levels. Cinnamon will also help lower your blood pressure and decrease your risk heart problems.

This tasty gift from nature also has constituents in it that help you increase muscle mass. Cinnamon’s ability to regulate blood sugar is not just good for diabetics, it is also good for those who want to lose weight and for athletes. It has a great deal of chromium in it that helps to prevent cravings and decrease feelings of hunger.

Never try to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon (or any spice for that matter) by itself. Spices are ground finely and can cause serious lung irritations and infections if inhaled. Eating a spoonful of cinnamon will cause you to cough and inhale these fine particles. In addition, you can end up choking to death from it.  So use the spice with moderation and do not overdo it when preparing food.

Adding More Cinnamon To Your Diet

In the morning, prepare your plain oatmeal and add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to it. Chop an apple or a banana and stir into the pieces into the yogurt. Or add cinnamon and a sprinkle of sugar on top of your waffles or toast instead of syrup.

For a snack, consider adding 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 2 tablespoons honey to 1 cup of yogurt. Or add a little cinnamon to some hot tea or coffee. 

Cinnamon can also make just about any non-dairy beverage taste better. Add it to coconut milk or almond milk to give it a bit more of a punch.

Cinnamon can also be used to season your treats, like popcorn, kale chips and dry toasts. It is also great mixed with cream cheese.

You can also incorporate more cinnamon into your diet by adding it quite liberally to spicy Indian or Chinese style dishes. It can add a bit of a sweet bite to curry and other sauces.

For more information about the Healthy & Active Program please visit our website at www.healthy-active.com. You may also call us in Toronto at (41) 440-2217 and ask for Adrienne Wright Bulow or Dr. Michael Rahman or email us at adrienne@healthy-active.com.

Dragon Fruit – The Fierce Free Radical Fighter and Metabolic Bargain Food

Dragon fruit is the fruit of a Cactus that is grown in in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Israel. It is also known as the Pitaya or Pitahaya, Dragon Pearl Fruit, Fire Dragon Fruit, Green Dragon, Dragon Fruit and Strawberry Pear.  It is packed with vitamins, minerals and even the healthy omega acids, which makes this food a metabolic bargain with a high payoff of nutrition for your body.

The best place to find Dragon Fruit is in Asian and Far Eastern markets although some high-end supermarkets are starting to offer it. 

One of the Prettiest Superfruits

Dragon Fruit is large, round and rose hip shaped with pink, greensand yellow tendrils on its side.  The interior flesh is studded with hundreds of tiny seeds that make it look like a polka-dot fruit.  Most weigh in between three and four pounds.

This fruit is available in three colors. Two varieties have pink skin but one with white and the other with red skin. The third type is yellow with white flesh. The type most commonly found in Canadian markets usually has pink skin.

Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit also has a lovely fresh taste. It is sweet and crunchy with taste that is like a cross between a pear and a kiwi.  The ripe fruit should have a bit of give when you press it with your finger, but not be too mushy.

A Nutritional Powerhouse

Dragon fruit is packed with nutrition. One fruit is only 60 calories with 8 percent of the calories coming from protein. It contains Vitamin C and is a vegan source of many minerals including phosphorus, calcium, iron and antioxidants.  The pretty fruit is also an excellent source of fibre, which is helpful for the digestive tract.

As the fruit has a texture similar to watermelon, it is an excellent source of water.  It is a superb diet food as it contains 15 grams of protein and 1 gram of fat. This makes it a sustainable choice for people following low calorie diets. It also has traces of Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Riboflavin and Niacin.  It is also one of the few fruits that is high in polyunsaturated Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

This fruit is also super high in cancer, anti-inflammatory and disease fighting properties called phytoalbumins. These agents help your body excrete heavy metal toxins. Furthermore it is a highly alkaline fruit, which makes it a very suitable choice for most people adhering to the Healthy and Active Diet program.

The Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit

Aside from being a known weight loss aid because it is low in calories and high in fibre and protein, this exotic fruit can also help lower blood sugar, manage cholesterol and control your blood pressure. Special nutritional constituents in the seeds help improve the way you metabolize carbohydrates.  The flesh of the fruit itself is very easy to digest because it is a simple carbohydrate. It is an ideal food for individuals in convalescence to eat.

How to Eat Dragon Fruit

Wash the Dragon Fruit and then cut it in half. You should be able to slide a spoon or knife around the edge of the flesh and simply unearth it from the shell.  The fruit can then be easily sliced into cubes.  The white flesh of the Dragon Fruit is quite attractive cut up in cubes because it almost looks like dice.  The red variety is very exotic looking and looks almost like a raspberry crossed with a watermelon.

For more information about the Healthy & Active Program please visit our website at www.healthy-active.com. You may also call us in Toronto at (41) 440-2217 and ask for Adrienne Wright Bulow or Dr. Michael Rahman or email us at adrienne@healthy-active.com.