Cinnamon

The spice that we know as cinnamon is actually Cinnamomum cassia, a darker, spicier, less-expensive cousin of true Ceylon cinnamon. Just 1/2 teaspoon a day of cassia has been found to regulate blood sugar levels, according to a study at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Md. The results may mean that cassia can be helpful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Cassia is also prized for its potential antifungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic qualities, which may make it effective against yeast infections and the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.