Cinnamon Roasted Acorn Squash


 

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What is your favorite part of autumn?We’re starting to really get into the best parts of the season, before it gets too cold, and I’m loving it. Sweaters, lots of tea & hot drinks, cozying up with a blanket. Then, the food: squash, apples, cinnamon, apples, cinnamon, (acorn) squash, (butternut) squash, (allthe) squash!

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If you couldn’t tell, I love cinnamon year round, but I love that there’s soo many fall foods it goes with. Now I usually roast cubes cubes of acorn squash with simple salt and pepper, or by adding some some cumin, chili powder, and paprika. So while I roast sweet potatoes all the time with cinnamon, I thought I’d try it with acorn squash too!

Now, I’ve actually done two presentations + papers on the benefits of cinnamon & it’s active compound, trans-cinnamaldehyde, so lets take a look at it.

The Benefits of Cinnamon

– has been shown to aid in insulin resistance, elevated glucose levels, weight gain, and blood sugar levels

– is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, cholesterol lowering properties and is an antioxidant,

trans-cinnamaldehyde has antimicrobial effects against pathogens, food poisoning, spoilage bacteria and fungi

So basically, eat a lot of cinnamon. One study said a recommendation could be 1-4g daily, and that’s a little under a tablespoon. You really can’t overdose.

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Onto the squash!

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references:
(1) Charles, Denys J. (2013). Antioxidant Properties of Spices, Herbs and Other Sources: Chapter 19 Cinnamon. 231-238. Retrieved from: http://www//books.google.com
(2) “Herbs and Supplements.” (2012). Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Harvard Medical School.http://www.bidmc.org/YourHealth/HolisticHealth/HerbsandSupplements.aspx?ChunkID=21672#P4
(3) Skulas-Ray, Ann C., Penny M. Kris-Etherton, Danette L. Teeter, C-Y Oliver Chen, John P. Vanden Heuvel, and Sheila G. West. (2011, Aug 1). A High Antioxidant Spice Blend Attenuates Postprandial Insulin and Triglyceride Responses and Increases Some Plasma Measures of Antioxidant Activity in Healthy, Overweight Men1,2,3. The Journal of Nutrition 141.8. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/141/8/1451.full

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