Cinnamon Sticks 6-inch- 1 lb. Bag Can be freshly ground and used for baking and cooking. Great to put in coffee, hot chocolate or hot mulled cider. Potential health benefits: According to the USDA, ARS scientists have isolated cinnamon compounds that could be helpful for lowering blood sugar levels. Learn more: Uses: Cinnamon bark is widely used as a spice. It is principally employed in cookery as a condiment and flavoring material, being largely used in the preparation of some kinds of desserts, chocolate and spicy candies and liqueurs. In the Middle East, it is often used in savoury dishes of chicken and lamb. In the United States, cinnamon and sugar are often used to flavour cereals and fruits, especially apples. It can also be used in pickling. In medicine it acts like other volatile oils and once had a reputation as a cure for colds. It has also been used to treat diarrhea and other problems of the digestive system. Cinnamon is high in antioxidant activity. The essential oil of cinnamon also has antimicrobial properties. This property may allow cinnamon to extend the shelf life of foods. In the media, "cinnamon" has been reported to have remarkable pharmacological effects in the treatment of type II diabetes. However, the plant material used in the study was actually cassia, as opposed to true cinnamon. Please refer to cassia's health issues for more information about its health benefits. Cinnamon is also used as an insect repellent. It is widely used when a manufactured insecticide is not wanted or cannot be used because of possible health side effects or allergies. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2004/040419.htm From Wikipedia