By Rebecca Airmet — Last Updated: June 11, 2025

Growing up, my family had 12 apple trees in our backyard. We lived on the outskirts of a small town in southeastern Idaho, and we had a huge garden in addition to our little fruit orchard. Every summer, I spent countless hours planting, weeding, picking, and processing various fruits and vegetables. Every fall, we picked apples to turn into applesauce and apple pie filling. We ate apples fresh off the tree. We made apple cider and apple cake and put apples in our oatmeal.

One of my favorite ways to eat apples was also the simplest: sliced, drizzled with honey, and sprinkled with cinnamon. Ideally eaten while sitting outside in the shade, lazily licking sticky fingers.

It turns out that I share a love for this treat with Green Lotus owner Mary Beth, as well as with members of our Spring Detox. Apple slices with honey and cinnamon were a hands down favorite treat of our program!

I’m not surprised by this. All three elements of this delectable snack have strong nutritional benefits. From heart health to weight loss, you’ll find many reasons to reach for this healthy snack this summer.

Apples

Does an apple a day keep the proverbial doctor away? You might believe so if you look at a list of the health benefits of apples. This sweet fruit, which originated in Central Asia and was domesticated over 10,000 years ago, contains a variety of micronutrients, including fiber, polyphenols, and antioxidants.

The soluble fiber in apples, particularly the pectin, has been linked to improved gut health, reduced cholesterol, and heart health. The abundant antioxidants, including quercetin, protect against cellular damage and help to regulate and reduce inflammation, which has been implicated in a variety of health issues, from auto-immune disease to cancer. Apples are also a water-rich fruit, so they can help keep you hydrated on those hot summer days or after a yoga class.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that is obtained from the inner bark of trees from the genus Cinnamomum. We know that it was being imported into Egypt as early as 2000 BC, but its use is probably even older than that, likely tracing its roots back to China. Cinnamon was highly prized as both a food and a traditional medicine, especially for digestive health, including in Ayurveda.

Modern research has shown that cinnamon can help lower total cholesterol levels and regulate blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. Emerging research has even indicated that cinnamon might support brain function and protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Honey

However, the star of this show is honey. This sweet, sticky, thick liquid made by several species of bees was discovered by humans perhaps 8,000 years ago. Prehistoric cave paintings in Spain show people foraging for honey, and archeologists have discovered ancient jars of still-edible honey, dating to 3,000 years ago!

The extraordinary shelf life of honey hints at one of its many benefits: it has unique antibacterial properties. Consuming raw honey can help to fight various infections and restore balance to your gut microbiome. Honey can also be used to treat burns and wounds, in addition to other skin ailments.

Honey has other benefits as well. Like apples and cinnamon, it is high in antioxidants that can help protect your body against cellular damage and inflammation. Research has shown that consuming honey may help reduce cholesterol, an essential part of heart health, and may help control blood sugar.

Local honey, produced in your region or even your neighborhood by local beekeepers, has another extraordinary benefit: it may help to relieve seasonal allergies. Bees make their honey from the pollen of the plants they find in the wild, and eating honey from local bees might help you build tolerance to local pollens.

A Winning Combination

While apples, cinnamon and honey each offer individual health benefits, combining them might provide even more powerful synergistic effects. You get a broader spectrum of antioxidants together with a variety of blood-sugar regulating effects that support metabolic health. So the next time you’re craving a sweet snack, skip the overly processed junk food, and reach for this naturally sweet and healthy treat. Your body will thank you!

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Rebecca Airmet is a writer, editor, bookkeeper, breathwork facilitator, coach, and staff member at Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center. She is also editor of the monthly newsletter. She is deeply interested in holistic health and has maintained a personal meditation and yoga practice for nearly thirty years. She is looking forward to completing her 200-hour yoga teacher training in the near future.

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