I don't know about you, but just the smell of cinnamon makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over. My favorite cookies to make are Snicker doodles because I just LOVE the smell of them baking. There's just something warm and delicious about it.

The sense of smell is powerful - and when my kids smell Cinnamon, they are going to feel warm and fuzzy all over because of the fun we've had in the kitchen. But, you might be surprised to know that the history of Cinnamon goes weary back - it was one of the first trade spices.

Moreover the Lord speak unto Moses saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calms two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive and him:
And thou salt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be holy anointing oil.

Exodus 30:22-25 NKJV
The ointment or oil was used to anoint the tabernacle of the congregation, the ark of the testimony, the table and all the vessels, the candlestick, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt-offering, etc.

That cinnamon was an ingredient in this holy anointing oil
That is called "an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary. Does cinnamon have health benefits as well?

There are cinnamon pills for diabetes; cinnamon bark used medicinally by the Chinese for calming stomach acids, cinnamon bark is used in India for childbirth labor, and cinnamon increasing blood circulation and creating a warm feeling.

The Diabetes Cinnamon Cholesterol Connection
If you or a loved one has diabetes, or high cholesterol, then the diabetes cinnamon cholesterol link is likely to be of interest. Since early times, cinnamon has been one of the most loved of all spices. Whilst cinnamon I readily available in most grocery stores and health stores today, it still remains a valuable aid to improving health.

Traditionally cinnamon was used not only as an ingredient in native dishes, but also as a medicine. In studies cinnamon has shown great potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Recently, a study in the Diabetes Care journal indicated that eating just half a teaspoon of cinnamon daily can significantly reduce the level of blood sugar.

Also, this same study identified that cinnamon is able to reduce triglycerides, LDL cholesterol (which is the bad cholesterol) and overall cholesterol levels in study participants.

Here are some of the other health benefits that come from including cinnamon in a healthy diet:
Improved digestion – Cinnamon, along with other related spices have been used as an aid to digestion for a long time. People that suffer from conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease and other stomach and digestion disorders can often find that including cinnamon in their food helps with digestion.

Better circulation and thinning of the blood. Just like garlic, cinnamon can act as a blood-thinning agent. Although it may not be as powerful as garlic in acting as a blood thinner, it does thin the blood and increase circulation.

• Toning of tissue in the body – There has been some studies that seem to indicate cinnamon has the ability to tone the tissues in the body.
• Pain relief and muscle stiffness – Many people who have cinnamon in their diet report that they often have reduced pain and lessened swelling in the joints.
• Menstrual pain – Cinnamon, has been used by women to reduce the level of menstrual pain and cramps they suffer with.
• Cinnamon is a strong anti-microbial agent and as such has the ability to kill common germs as E. coli and other bacteria.
• Arthritis pain relief – Research carried out recently has shown that cinnamon contains anti-inflammatory properties, which may be useful in reducing the pain associated with arthritis.
• Congestion relief – Cinnamon and other spices have been used for many years to reduce congestion.
• Improved urinary tract health - Those who have cinnamon in their diet have reduced problems and infections.
• Helps prevent gum disease and tooth decay – Again, there is evidence to suggest that cinnamon can help in the fight against tooth decay and gum disease.

We started out this article by looking at the diabetes cinnamon cholesterol connection, but with all the benefits that cinnamon supplies is would be beneficial to include it as part of most peoples health diet.