Cinnamon Cinnamon has been used to flavor foods and beverages for thousands of years. There are many types of cinnamon, but the most common varieties are Ceylon or "true" cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), grown primarily in Sri Lanka, and cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum), which is grown throughout southeast Asia. The bark is stripped and peeled to harvest spice-grade cinnamon, while the leaves, flowers and fruits of the plant are used in cooking as well as traditional herbal remedies. The type of cinnamon plant as well as the method of harvest are important factors in both taste and health effects. Rich in antioxidants, Cassia cinnamon has been used topically as an insect repellent, while Ceylon cinnamon is promoted as a dietary supplement for GI upset. While most people are unlikely to overconsume cinnamon, when taking supplemental quantities, it's important to ingest only the Ceylon variety, preferably organically grown. Cassia cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin, which can be harmful to the liver. One of the most studied health conditions for which cinnamon has shown promise is Type 2 diabetes mellitus. A 2011 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Medicinal Food determined that cinnamon intake results in a statistically significant lowering of fasting blood glucose levels for people with Type 2 diabetes and/or prediabetes. Another benefit of cinnamon for diabetics and prediabetics is cinnamon's ability to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Cinnamon also has clinically demonstrated antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. Nutmeg Used in sweet and savory dishes around the world, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is a spice that has been valued for centuries. Closely related to mace, nutmeg is the seed of the plant and mace, the dried covering around the seed. Native to Indonesia and a fundamental commodity on the Silk Road spice trade, nutmeg is now widely grown across the tropics. Nutmeg has a unique flavor profile, mixing warm, exotic notes with an aromatic pungency; it's so potent, nutmeg was once thought to ward off the plague. Other purported health benefits have been substantiated in modern times, making this spice a truly valuable component of both your spice cabinet and your herbal apothecary. Some benefits of nutmeg that are backed by science include:

You can completely heal yourself, no matter the issue. The ancients all knew this. But modern medicine convinced us that we are broken and need their pills to fix us. However, if a fish is sick, you don't blame the fish; you clean the tank. And then you give the fish what it needs to thrive. The same goes for humans. We're all sick today because we're living in toxic environments and deficient in the nutrients needed to repair. Seed oils, artificial lights, air pollution, toxic fragrances, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, overstimulated nervous systems...we are swimming in the most toxic soup in history. We are all basically walking dumpsters. And then deficient in the nutrients critical for detox, repair, and regeneration. That is why I do what I do. To put together the ancient traditions that we've all lost access to. To remind people that we can heal and that you are not the problem (well, unless you're vegan and guzzling seed oils). And to give them the foods and nutrients they need to repair and regenerate.