Cinnamon Lifts

A whiff of cinnamon can enhance motivation and alertness, researchers at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia have found. Its aroma boosts blood flow, which may stimulate the brain. And once you eat it, cinnamon improves sugar metabolism and helps keep blood fats in check, according to research by the US Dept. of Agriculture. One half teaspoon daily can reduce your risk of developing diabetes, says Richard Anderson, Ph.D. of the USDA. Try a cinnamon stick in your tea or coffee!