Cinnamon is a widely used aromatic spice that can be consumed in the form of tea, water, tincture or to season food.
When cinnamon is associated with healthy eating and regular physical activity, it can promote weight loss, in addition to being useful in preventing metabolic syndrome, as thanks to its active compounds (coumarins and phenolic compounds) it has antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic.
In addition, this spice is an excellent option to replace sugar, as it has a slightly sweet taste and can be used in coffee and in the preparation of pancakes, desserts and healthy vitamins.
This condiment, when combined with a balanced diet and regular physical activity, helps to promote weight loss and can even help to control diabetes.
To enjoy the benefits of cinnamon and promote weight loss, you can use it in several ways:
1. Cinnamon tea
Ingredients
- 4 cinnamon sticks;
- A few drops of lemon;
- 1 liter of water.
Method of preparation
Bring the cinnamon and water to a boil in a pan for 10 minutes. Then remove the cinnamon sticks, let it warm and squeeze a few drops of lemon before drinking. Consume 3 cups of this tea a day, before breakfast, lunch and dinner.
To vary the flavor, you can add ginger to tea, for example. If you are unable to drink the tea without sugar, you can add natural sweeteners such as stevia or honey.
2. Cinnamon water
Cinnamon water can be prepared by placing 2 cinnamon sticks in 1 liter of water, leaving it to rest for a few minutes. You can add lemon, orange, ginger or apple slices and mint leaves, for example, to make it tastier. You can also make cinnamon tea and put it in the fridge or add some ice cubes.
3. Natural supplements
There are even cinnamon supplements that can be purchased at health food stores or online. In these cases, it is advisable to follow the manufacturer’s or herbalist’s instructions, however, the indicated doses usually vary between 1 and 6 grams daily.
4. Cinnamon tincture
Cinnamon tincture is a preparation made with cinnamon and alcohol, which can be purchased in natural food stores or online, and it is recommended to use according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. The tincture can be used by those who do not like the taste of cinnamon, mixing a few drops in a glass of water and drinking it before main meals.
5. Include cinnamon in the diet
It is possible to adopt some strategies to include cinnamon in the diet more often and obtain all its benefits, such as adding 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder to cereals, porridge, pancakes, cakes, yogurt, juices, smoothies, milk, coffee and teas .
In addition, it is also possible to include cinnamon in the preparation of some foods, such as fish, meat, chicken and tofu. To prepare this seasoning, just grind 2 units of star anise, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 1 teaspoon of rock salt and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.
See how to prepare healthy recipes with cinnamon.
Recommended daily amount
To lose weight, it is recommended to consume between 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon daily. In practical measures, 1/2 teaspoon of powdered cinnamon is equivalent to 2 g.
Why does cinnamon get thin?
Cinnamon improves the body’s effectiveness of insulin, a hormone that makes cells use blood sugar efficiently for energy, and therefore helps control blood sugar levels.
In addition, it inhibits some pancreatic enzymes called amylases, causing the degradation of carbohydrates in the digestive tract to happen more slowly, as well as their absorption, avoiding the insulin spikes after a meal. When blood glucose levels are kept constant, hunger decreases, as the occurrence of insulin spikes makes the body need more sugar, favoring food consumption and, consequently, weight gain.
Due to its slightly sweet taste, cinnamon also helps to reduce the calories that are ingested, as it can be used as a substitute for sugar and in the preparation of some foods.
Some scientific studies also indicate that it is possible that cinemaldehyde, one of the active components of cinnamon, induces the thermogenesis process and increases metabolism, causing the body to burn more calories using accumulated fat at the abdominal level, favoring weight loss . However, more studies are needed to prove this effect. Discover other health benefits of cinnamon.
