Afternoon Slump? Cinnamon & Mint Kickstart Brain

Does your brain sag after lunch? Here's good news. Recent research shows both cinnamon and pepperment work as a pick-me-up and stimulant for the brain. In fact, one enterprising Maryland Principal gives "mint candies to middle school students with the expectation that it might improve test scores." Think you'll give it a try at work?

Here's a look at the research...

"Peppermint stimulates the area of the brain responsible for alertness," according to Bryan Raudenbush, lead researcher. "And cinnamon increases blood flow to the muscles and brain; with increased blood flow comes increased arousal and attention."

Raudenbush and his team examined the effects of several odorants and found that cinnamon and peppermint topped others in ability to enhance cognitive processing in humans. And it depends on whether you sniff (orthonasal) or chew (retronasal).

Results reveal a task-dependent relationship between odors and the enhancement of cognitive processing. Specifically, cinnamon, administered retronasally and orthonasally, improved participants' scores on tasks related to attentional processes, virtual recognition memory, working memory, and visual-motor response speed.

What's all this mean to us, anyway? Implications show cinnamon and pepermint provide a non-drug route to "enhance cognition in the elderly, individuals with test-anxiety, and those with symptoms of dementia," according to Raudenbaush. In addition, they both help to put the brakes on driver fatigue and road rage.

Ready to jumpstart your noodle this afternoon? I sure could use a lift...Hmmmmm....I recently discovered a great cinnamon tea... and I suspect my drive home could be a little less stressful with some peppermint gum.... Let me know what works for you!