Christmas spice with a twist. Unveiling the hidden health benefits of cinnamon

The culinary associations with Christmas are rather obvious. There's vegetable salad, fried carp, herring in sour cream, kutia, Greek-style fish... and the list goes on. Of course, apart from full dishes, our taste buds also remember holiday spices. Notably, the first one that comes to mind is often cinnamon. Is it the same for you?

While cinnamon may not be the most heavily used spice during the holidays (we, Polish people, love salt — and that probably won't change), it is probably the most characteristic one. It gives a unique taste to many dishes, including those prepared for Christmas Eve.

This spice pairs incredibly well with sweetness — apple pie, jams, and marmalade are a given, but of course, cinnamon cookies are also baked for the holidays. Additionally, cinnamon blends wonderfully with hot drinks, such as chocolate, cocoa, and tea (a winter variant of this drink with cinnamon is a comforting mix for the entire winter), as well as with roasted meat — ranging from beef, through pork neck, to delicate veal.

The benefits of using cinnamon, from a culinary perspective, are quite clear. However, not everyone realizes that this fascinating spice also comes with a plethora of health benefits that, incidentally, will come in handy during the holiday season.

First and foremost is cinnamon's impact on reducing blood sugar levels. This benefit proves to be lifesaving, especially since this Indian spice often finds itself added to various sweets and cakes. But the advantages don't end there. Cinnamon can also help us counteract Christmas Eve overeating. This spice accelerates metabolism and improves digestion, and as various studies have shown, it also positively affects fat cells in the human body.