3 Ways To Use Cinnamon in Treating Acne

It can be very difficult to get rid of acne. There are many simple home remedies that can be tried. Some will work more effectively for particular people than others. It can be a matter of experimentation to find the solution that will suit you.

There are several spices that can be applied to the skin to help deal with acne. One of these is cinnamon. The fact that cinnamon has both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties could explain why it has been found to be so helpful in treating acne.

Try these suggestions for applying cinnamon to the skin:

• Mix equal parts of lemon juice and ground cinnamon and apply frequently to the acne.
• Using unheated (raw) honey, mix 3 teaspoons honey to 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Apply to the acne and leave on overnight. Cover if necessary.
• Mix milk and ground cinnamon together and apply to the acne.

For other hints on curing acne with home remedies visit health-home-remedies.com.

Jocelyn

Weight Loss?

Did you find that you needed to lose weight?

Have you tried and tried before with little or no success?
The last thing you want to do is lose some weight only to put it back on plus more. This is exactly what happens to most people when they diet. That is because after they have done the work they reward themselves by going back to how they ate before. The problem with that is if you do what you did before you will get the same results you got before. If we want different results we have to continue doing what gives us the results we want.

Whatever It Takes

It is very discouraging when we try to do something and never get there.
We can end up feeling as though it is no use trying again.
However when your health is at stake, giving up is not an option.
In my family we have a saying "whatever it takes".
When something is important the motto is to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes.
The secret to success with this is to have people around you who are supportive of what you are doing and will encourage you.

Steps To Take

• Make a strong determination in your own mind that you are going to lose weight. If it is going to be it is up to me.
  
• Assess your past attempts. Did you do anything to sabotage your success? If so find out why and sort out those issues. Ask for help. Sometimes we need to talk it out to work out what is going on.
• Determine to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes. Hint: If one thing doesn't work find something that does.
• Keep a food journal for a week or two (or longer if it works for you). This will identify exactly what you are eating. It puts you in the driver's seat. You are in control. You can then decide which of the things you are eating are beneficial to you and if there are other things you would rather eat than some of what you did eat.
• Decide what method or steps you are going to take to achieve your goal. Write them down. Tell your support people all about it.
• If you have a lot of weight to lose or other health issues talk to your health professional about what you want to do. Get their advise but in the end it is you who is in control and makes the decisions.
• Plan. What type of exercise? How much? When? What will I eat? How much? When? Note: you do not have to starve yourself or do excessive exercise. Be kind to yourself

Other Ideas

There has been some research that indicates that Vitamin D can assist obese people who are deficient in vitamin D to lose weight. If you live in a sunny climate it is easy to get vitamin D by exposing your skin to the sun for 15-30 minutes each day. In tropical areas be sure to do this in the early morning before the sun is hot enough to make you burn. The studies also found that it is common for obese people to be low in vitamin D.

In my post about cinnamon, I noted that one of the uses for cinnamon was to use with honey for weight loss. I was just looking around and people have had mixed results with this. Some people report great results and some don't. Some like the taste and some don't.

Here is the recipe in case you would like to try it.

Pour 1 cup of boiling water on to 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Leave it to steep for about 15 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon raw honey and stir. Drink one cup on an empty stomach about 30 minutes before breakfast and another cup in the evening before bed.

This article is not intended to be a complete resource of everything you need to know. If it can inspire you to begin to take control of your own health, or if it can give you an idea or two that helps you to achieve your goal, then it will have served its purpose.

You are in control of your destiny. Take steps today to achieve your health goals. Only you can set it in motion. Others can help but you are in charge. What questions do you have regarding losing weight? Leave a comment to let me know.

Good health and success

Jocelyn

The Many Health Uses of Cinnamon

There are many foods, herbs, spices and common kitchen items that have other uses besides the common ones that we keep them in our kitchens for. Cinnamon is one of these. I have known for a long time of its usefulness in diabetes and thought it would be interesting to see how many other uses have been found for it.

I was very surprised at how large the list was.

Cinnamon and Diabetes

Regarding the use of cinnamon with diabetes the story goes that it was noticed that eating apple pie caused significant improvements in blood glucose levels. Eventually the scientists found that the magic ingredient was cinnamon. Subsequent studies have found that using between 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon each day can help to reduce the blood glucose levels. It seems that the cinnamon helps the receptors in the cells to respond more efficiently to insulin which helps to process glucose in the blood more efficiently. Some of the studies looking at how cinnamon helps diabetes found that it also helps in the control of cholesterol and that triglyceride levels can be reduced by as much as 20% .

The List

• insulin control - check levels often to guard against hypoglycemia
  
• cholesterol control
  
• cough - chew and swallow a pinch of powdered cinnamon
• dyspepsia
• digestive problems
• relieves nausea and vomiting
• diarrhoea
• antibacterial
• anti fungal
• antiviral
• suppresses E. coli, staphylococcus and candida albicans
  
• uterine stimulant - in pregnancy use only in normal food quantities in breastfeeding also as it can decrease the secretion of milk
  
• anti-clotting action protects against heart disease
• boost brain function and alertness
• strong antioxidant activity - ground cinnamon had the 2nd highest antioxidant capacity out of 16 tested seasonings, beaten only by cloves.
• reduced blood pressure in rats
  
• organic bug repellent on plants - put liquid soap and cinnamon in a spray bottle
  
  Cinnamon combined with honey has been used for the following things:
  
  
• arthritis - morning and night 1 cup of hot water with 2 spoons of honey and 1 small teaspoon cinnamon powder
  
• colds - 1 tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder for 3 days
• upset stomach
• heart disease - reduction of cholesterol in the arteries
  
• immune system
• indigestion
• influenza
• pimples - mix 3 tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder into a paste. Apply at night and wash off in morning.
• skin infections - apply paste of equal parts honey and cinnamon powder - eczema, ringworm other skin infections
• weight loss 1/2 hour before breakfast, on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in 1 cup of water.
• fatigue
• bad breath - gargle with one teaspoon honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water
• insect bites - 1 part honey to 2 parts lukewarm water add a teaspoon cinnamon powder to make a paste and massage on the itching bite
  
• hair loss - apply paste of hot olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder leave for 15 minutes then wash hair.
  
  I must say that I have not personally tried all of these but it is interesting to see how many different uses have been attributed to cinnamon.
  
  
  Two Types of Cinnamon
  
  
  There are two types of cinnamon and it is important to know the difference. Most cinnamon sold in USA and Canada is cassia otherwise known as Chinese cinnamon. This is different, but regarded as a substitute, to true cinnamon which is cinnarmomum zeylanicum of Ceylon. Cassia contains coumarin which is a blood thinner and can be dangerous if used to excess. Therefore it is important to know exactly which cinnamon is available to you before using in in larger than normal quantities.
  Ceylon cinnamon, if tested with a drop of tincture of iodine, is little affected but if put on cassia powder a deep blue black colour is produced. The one I tested in Australia was Ceylon cinnamon.
  
  If you know of any other uses of cinnamon please share them by leaving a comment.
  If you would like some tips or information on a particular topic or on anything about this article please let me know by leaving a comment and I will see what I can find for you.
  
  Keep in good health
  
  Jocelyn