Q: Our family has been adding cinnamon to our coffee for years.  We put a  mixture of cinnamon and cocoa powder (no sugar) into the coffee filter.  Then, we put another filter on top of the cinnamon-cocoa filter in which we put the coffee.  It gives the coffee a slight chocolate-cinnamon flavor.  Are there any health benefits?

A: Cinnamon can help keep post-meal blood sugar from spiking (Lipids in Health and Disease, June 12, 2017).  It also may help control cholesterol levels (Clinical Nutrition, online, March 11, 2018).

Some research indicates that cocoa also might have health benefits, reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications and diabetes (Clinical Nutrition, online, June 1, 2018).  Coffee itself appears to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes (Diabetes Care, February 2014).

• article by Joe and Teresa Graedon
• copyright The Seattle Times