Last week I shared the inspiration behind each of the Big Brain Butter flavors; Cinnamon Swirl and Chocolaty Goodness.
I described Cinnamon Swirl as my favorite of the two, as cinnamon is one of my most favorite ingredients. I was talking to a girlfriend about this yesterday and we were both remarking on how vital it is to keep our internal organs, especially our digestive organs and our wombs, warm for optimal health and functionality. Consuming warming herbs like cinnamon as part of a daily ritual is a simple form of self-love and self-care especially for someone like me who tends to run cold.
According to the Ayurvedic medicine system, there are three main dosha types or constitutions that we all embody to varying degrees. Vata (air), Kapha (earth), and Pita (fire) are the three major dosha types according to ayurvedic medicine. Those of us who are more vata type, or who have a vata imbalance, tend to have poor blood circulation and may become cold very easily which can set off a whole chain reaction of ailments and discomforts. When my body is cold, nothing functions well. My belly even starts to hurt and becomes bloated if I've been standing in the cold for too long.
Omar has pointed out that many of the products that I use regularly contain cinnamon as a key ingredient. One of the reasons I am so drawn to cinnamon is because it possesses a warming quality that I crave to bring balance to my internal operating system. Today I thought it would be fun to share a list of a few of my favorite cinnamon things.
1.) Red Ape Cassia Ground Cinnamon - At the top of the list is the ground cinnamon that we use in our products at Ohms Collective. We source our cinnamon from Red Ape due to its superior taste and quality. Red Ape is a company dedicated to sustainability and since it's inception Red Ape has been making efforts to contribute to habitat preservation, particularly for the orangutan population in Indonesia (hence the name, Red Ape).
This premium Cassia Cinnamon is sustainability sourced from organically cultivated cassia cinnamon trees (Cinnamomum cassia) from the island of Sumatra, Indonisia. Red Ape is committed to quality every step of the way, just like we strive to be. Many of the brands that we love and trust such as Gaia Herbs and Go Raw also trust Red Ape cinnamon for their products.
At Ohms Collective we use Red Ape Cassia Ground Cinnamon in our original Big Brain Bars, Cinnamon Swirl Big Brain Butter, Chocolaty Goodness Big Brain Butter, and Cocoa de Myco.
At home I also mix a teaspoon of Red Ape Cassia Ground Cinnamon into my morning bowl of oatmeal. It is aromatic and enliving, a real treat for all the senses at the start of the day.
2.) XyliChew Natural Cinnamon Xylitol Gum - I had never been much of a gum chewer until I discovered XyliChew last year. I have since been obsessed.
XyliChew is a soft chewing gum made in the USA with naturally derived birch xylitol. What is xylitol? Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is naturally occuring in some fruits and vegetables as well as hardwoods like beech and birch.
Xylitol is sometimes referred to as "tree sugar" as it is a derivative of tree sap. Naturally sweet with 40% fewer calories than sugar, xylitol has a low glycemic index and will not cause spikes in blood sugar. And, xylitol is also recommended by dentists as it has shown to be helpful in boosting oral hygiene and preventing tooth decay due to its effectiveness at killing the oral bacteria responsible for plaque buildup.
I started chewing XyliChew last spring and immediately gravitated toward the cinnamon flavor, never having a been a big fan of strong mint flavors. I love that this gum is soft to chew so I don't feel like any strain on my jaw. And I love how long lasting the flavor is. I have tried other brands of xylitol gum and none compare to XyliChew. The cinnamon flavor provides a nice balance of spicy sweetness and I really feel like it does help to clean my teeth and freshen my breath after a meal. I've been finding that chewing on a piece of cinnamon gum has also been supportive of soothing oral fixation managing some anxious eating tendencies.
You can purchase XyliChew in little paper packs which fit easily into a purse or fanny pack for on the go chewing. XyliChew also sells gum in small plastic jars which are perfect for keeping in the center console of the car. Rattling a jar full of XyliChew reminds me a little bit of the excitement I used to feel when my mom would shake out a couple or orange tic-tacs from the container to give to me and my older brother as a treat for good behavior on trips to the grocery store.
3.) Dr. Bronner's Cinnamon All-One Toothpaste- I have been a fan of Dr. Bronner's castile soaps since I was a sophomore in college when all my friends and I started buying the Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap from Trader Joes. Dr. Bronner's products are fair trade and organic and the company holds very high standards when it comes to caring for people and the planet. I recommend reading more about their commitments here. Throughout my adulthood I have used Dr. Bronner's castile soaps for my bathing needs and recently I discovered Dr. Bronner's Cinnamon flavored All-One Toothpaste.
Let me say it has been such a delight! I love the spicy cinnamon flavor and actually find myself looking forward to brushing my teeth with this toothpaste which isn't something that I could say about other mint flavored toothpastes.
4.) Happy Healing Oil- Omar and I picked up a bottle of this body oil from cute hippy couple we met at a reggae festival in Santa Barbara a couple of years ago but this stuff is legit. It's made with a base of avocado oil which feels silky smooth and on its own provides hydrating nourishment for the skin. Happy Healing Oil is an infusion containing several different herbal medicinals that promote healing for muscle injuries and topical wounds.
Comfrey leaf is included to stimulate cell growth and reduce scarring, cayenne pepper to increase blood flow, and ginger which has anti-inflammatory properties, jus to name a few.
But the the standout ingredient is the cinnamon essential oil wich gives Happy Healing Oil it's incredible spicy cinnamon aroma. Seriously this stuff smells SO GOOD! Cinnamon is helpful for stimulating blood flow and reducing inflammation for faster healing and it has a warming quality that I love. I also love that the combination of herbs used to make this Happy Healing Oil come together and give the oil a deep orange color. When I apply it to my skin I find that it provides me with a warm and healthy glow. I scanned the Happy Healing website and learned that Happy Healing Oil is made by a husband and wife here in California. It appears however that you'll need to contact the team directly if you want to purchase a bottle of this oil as it is not listed for sale on their website.
5.) Moon Valley Organics Zingy Cinnamon Beeswax Lip Balm- I love an all natural beeswax lip balm. Moon Valley Organics makes a beeswax lip balm with cinnamon essential oils that smells, tastes, and feels so wonderful.
Moon Valley infuses a whole number of healing herbs into their lip balms including comfrey and calendula. And they add vitamin E oil as well for ultra moisturising properties. Moon Valley has high standards for quality and sustainability. They are a mission driven company that does work to create and protect pollinator habitats. All of their products are all USDA organic, animal friendly, and made in Washington State.
6.) Cinnamon Stick Tea- This isn't a product recommendation so much as a good idea. Have you ever just brewed a cup of cinnamon tea using a cinnamon stick? If you're in the mood for a gentle warm beverage with a deeply aromatic flavor, boiling a cinnamon stick or two in a pot of water can be a great choice anytime of day.
I enjoyed sipping on cups of cinnamon tea, or te de canela, with breakfast during our stay in the mountains of San Jose Del Pacifico in Oaxaca last summer. At home I like to add a cinnamon stick to a cup of ginger tea for its spicy sweet taste and warming quality in addition to benefiting from it's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blood sugar regulating properties.
I hope you enjoyed learning about some of my favorite cinnamon products.
Do you have a favorite cinnamon thing that you would recommend?
Or do you have another favorite herb or spice that you love to incorporate in your daily routine?
Drop a comment bellow.
Until next time,
Be well and stay curious,
With lots of love and gratitude from,
Chrissy Dasco-Uribe
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