Did you know that just a dash of cinnamon a day can spice up your health status? Studies of patients with type 2 diabetes found that cinnamon lowers fasting LDL and total-cholesterol concentrations in the bloodstream and may aid in blood sugar control.

A recent study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007; 85 [6], 1552-56) indicates that the spice may also have a positive effect by “significantly” lowering the postmeal glucose response and the gastric emptying rate, the speed at which substances leave the stomach after ingestion. What’s more, just 6 grams (g) a day is enough to reduce blood sugar levels, say the researchers.