Move Over Sugar, Make Room For Cinnamon!

Senior Living Residences, a Leader in Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Care, Recognizes the Health Benefits of Cinnamon in Recognition of Herbs and Spice Day, June 10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Boston, MA (June 10, 2012) – It’s “Herbs and Spice Day”. Which spices will you be celebrating? Senior Living Residences (SLR), a company in Boston that specializes in Alzheimer’s care, is recommending cinnamon.

Cinnamon, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, is full of health benefits for the body and brain. It’s so good for us, in fact, that scientists actually recommend a daily dose of cinnamon – from ½ to 1 teaspoon a day! This recommendation is based on various studies that have been conducted over the last decade. (As a cautionary note: Do not exceed 3 teaspoons of cinnamon a day. In small amounts cinnamon is a healing agent; in excessive amounts it can stress the liver.)

The Science Behind SLR’s Cinnamon Recommendation

A recent preliminary study published in early 2011 is the first to actually test cinnamon’s direct effect on the brain. Researchers concluded that cinnamon could yield potential benefits against Alzheimer’s disease because of its impact on significantly decreasing the accumulation and toxic “clumping” of amyloid beta protein, the substance associated with the plaque formation and nerve destruction in Alzheimer’s disease.

Other studies, including one conducted in 2010, concluded that cinnamon has a proven positive impact on heart health and diabetes. Scientists now know that what’s good for the heart and effective at combatting diabetes is also good for the brain. This is because of the mounting evidence that heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol are all risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

To celebrate Herbs and Spice Day, SLR is sharing delicious cinnamon-inspired recipes created by its executive chefs, tips on how to get cinnamon into your everyday diet, and a free spice jar of SLR’s private label Saigon Cinnamon, a potent and flavorful type of cinnamon from Asia. Consumers can visit SLR’s “Brain Healthy Cooking Guide” on its web site, www.SeniorLivingResidences.com for all of this information.

Robert Larkin, president of SLR said, “When asked, Americans rate Alzheimer’s disease as their second most-feared illness, following cancer. We understand that fear but want to convey a message of hope – you can take practical steps to protect your brain health through nutrition at any age.”

SLR puts the latest research to practice every day with its brain healthy cooking program based on the Mediterranean Diet. SLR was the first senior living company in the nation to offer a cognitively-protective nutrition program in its independent living, assisted living and Alzheimer’s care “Compass Memory Support Neighborhood®” communities.