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Is Cinnamon good for Weight Loss?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cinnamon has been a popular spice for centuries, but only recently has it been identified as good for weight loss.

 

We delved into how or why cinnamon works for weight loss and gives practical tips on including it in your diet.

 

 

 

 

Here’s a rundown of health claims centred around cinnamon’s role in weight loss:

 

  • Cinnamon is said to increase insulin sensitivity and decrease blood sugar – both key components for losing weight and controlling type 2 diabetes.

 

  • Cinnamon is also thought to boost metabolism because your body uses more energy to process the spice than it does for other foods.

 

  • It’s full of fibre, a nutrient that’s essential for achieving that “full” feeling and signalling to your body that mealtime is over.

 

 

The History of Cinnamon

 

 

Cinnamon has been used by humans for thousands of years.

From being used as a perfuming agent in embalming processes by the Egyptians, to being traded as a luxury spice by the Arabs, cinnamon has seen the world change.

It has been used over the years to treat various illnesses and discomforts, such as nausea, loss of appetite, headache, sore throat, inflammation, wounds, and even diarrhoea.

So cinnamon as a health-centric food ingredient is not a new concept.

 

Role of Cinnamon in Weight Loss

 

 

The role of cinnamon in weight loss is still being studied by researchers, but the preliminary studies have shown some promise.

Here are a few research backed claims which indicate that cinnamon may actually be useful in weight loss...

 

Cinnamon helps in browning of fat

 

 

The fat in our body can be categorised into white fat and brown fat.

 

White fat in excess is not a good thing, as it stores fat in large droplets that accumulate around your body.

 

Brown fat, on the other hand, stores energy in smaller droplets. It has an iron-rich mitochondria that gives it a brown colour.

 

When brown fat burns, it also burns calories in your body. Many scientists consider brown fat as a potential answer to problems like obesity and metabolic disorders.

 

Research has shown that consumption of cinnamon can increase the amount of brown fat cells in the sub-cutaneous fat layer. This could be a great solution to cut belly fat! Belly fat is mostly composed of white fat cells. If these white fat cells can be converted into brown cells, your stubborn belly fat may be reduced for good!

 

Cinnamon can regulate fasting blood sugar...

 

 

According to studies, cinnamon has been found to lower fasting blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

 

Cinnamon has been found to decrease the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream. This is because it slows down the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract by interfering with a number of digestive enzymes.

 

Also, a compound present in cinnamon can mimic insulin and improve the glucose uptake by your cells, although at a much slower rate than actual insulin.

 

By improving the way in which your body metabolises sugar, cinnamon may be adding some more value to your weight loss efforts!

 

Cinnamon can lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides...

 

 

We are all aware that there are two categories of cholesterol, namely LDL and HDL.

 

LDL is considered as the bad cholesterol that has the tendency of clinging to the artery walls and causing blockages, resulting in heart disease and stroke.

Studies have found that cinnamon can reduce the amount of bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood.

 

 

Here is why you should also include cinnamon in your daily life:

1. Is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral

2. Reduces inflammation

3. Reduces bad cholesterol (LDL)

4. Cuts the risk of Type-2 Diabetes

5. Boosts metabolism

6. Boosts immunity

7. Prevents multiple sclerosis

8. Eases clotting of blood

 

 

How To Use Cinnamon to Aid Weight Loss 

 

 

A little cinnamon adds a lot of flavor to food for minimal calories, and that’s always a good thing when it comes to your diet.

 

An entire teaspoon has just six calories and about 2g carbs, plus a little more than a gram of fiber.

 

Cinnamon can also enhance the sweetness in your food, which means less need for sugar or other sweeteners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Add it to: 

 

  • Oatmeal: A sprinkle of cinnamon is a must for oat lovers! Or try cinnamon-spiked quinoa.

 

  • In coffee: Don’t just dump cinnamon into your coffee cup. Add it to your coffee grounds before brewing your java. It’ll flavor up basic beans, saving you money on the flavored kind.

 

  • Over fruit: Cinnamon is delicious over apple and banana slices,  fruit salad, pear slices, and halved peaches. It’s such a simple way to step up your fruit game.

 

  • In creamy treats: Stir some into fat-free Greek yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, or light ricotta cheese. A little no-calorie sweetener is good in there too. 

 

 

 

 

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