Cinnamon can make you smarter!

December 7, 5:07 PMDenver Fitness ExaminerJeremy Green

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Cinnamon Quillings, photo courtesy of alibaba.com

Although its name gets plastered on everything from candies and gum to packaged fat pills (cakes, donuts etc), quality amounts of real cinnamon in food products doesn't show up as much as you would think. Cinnamon has proven itself as a world class antibiotic, brain booster, blood sugar regulator and more. You just have to look beyond atomic fireballs to reap the benefits.

Here is a top five list highlighting why you should boost your favorite holiday treats with cinnamon.

5) Natural antibiotic: Bacteria and fungi are weary of flavor country if cinnamon resides there. In some studies this powerful spice proved even more powerful than chemically derived preservatives and in all studies it made the food more tasteful.

4) Blood sugar control: The rate at which food leaves your stomach is a big determinant as to how fast the calories enter your blood stream. Studies have shown that even when added to a high sugar meal, cinnamon significantly decreases the rise in blood sugar - but that's not the only trick up its sleeve.

3) Energy: Cinnamon has also been shown to help the body's cells absorb and utilize glucose. It does this by increasing the sensitivity of insulin receptors so the cells use the glucose in the blood for energy instead of storing it as fat. The studies also confirmed that this beneficial action of blood sugar control also led to a decrease in cholesterol and triglycerides.

2) Vital Minerals: Calcium and Manganese are abundant in fresh cinnamon. Manganese is a trace mineral that is essential to proper nerve and thyroid function and helps the body utilize B and C vitamins.

1) Brain booster: You don't have to lie to kick it. Even fake cinnamon products can get in on this one. Researchers found that just the scent of cinnamon, whether it was real or candy, lead to increase brain function on tasks related to memory and concentration.

 So break out the cinnamon and make this year’s Christmas card epic!