Mary Poppins claimed that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but clearly she was unaware added sugar makes you sick — so you need even more medicine and medical intervention.
A recent study of postmenopausal women found that those who drink a lot of sweetened beverages have a 78 percent greater risk of estrogen-dependent type I endometrial cancer (the most common form) compared with women who don't consume such liquid sugar bombs.
And we've known for a long time that anyone who drinks a lot of sweetened beverages is at increased risk of obesity, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Drinking one can of sugary soda a day can up your diabetes risk 18 percent, and added sugars fuel the growth and spread of prostate and breast cancers.
So what's our trick for giving beverages a flavor boost and a touch of sweetness, so they're part of your healthy choices for a younger RealAge?
Cinnamon. It tastes and smells great, and one study found taking a 500 mg capsule of cinnamon twice a day for 90 days significantly lowers A1C levels (a measure of your blood sugar levels for the past three months). Cinnamon also lowers lousy LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, increases good HDL cholesterol, and decreases BMI and weight.
Try it in coffee or tea, on cereal and whole-grain toast, and add it to casseroles, stir fries and roasted veggies. For a healthy winter dessert, check out our Cinnamon Apple Saute a la Mode at www.doctoroz.com/videos/cinnamon-apple-la-mode. It's a sweet taste with no downside. Bon appetite!