Can Ceylon Cinnamon Help You Shed Those Extra Pounds?
When it comes to weight loss, everyone needs a quick fix. Be it having a Magic potion or being taken over by a Silver bullet, we all need that one wonder that can burn down that stubborn visceral fat and make you go on a weight-loss spree. But going to the grocery store and buying some random weight-loss gimmick you just read online may do more harm than good. Trusting weight-loss components that are backed by science is the solution, and Ceylon Cinnamon is one such wonder spice used since ancient times for many health benefits, including for weight-loss!
Be it in the form of quills, sticks, or ground, Ceylon Cinnamon is used in a multitude of ways for effective weight loss. Over the decades, cinnamon has been used for medicinal purposes, as a preservative by the Europeans in the Middle age times. The Greeks in the 6th-century accepted cinnamon as a laxative to tackle indigestion issues and other ailments. The antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties of cinnamon help in lowering blood sugar levels. The natural sweet zest obtained by sprinkling over ground cinnamon to your healthy meal gives you a sweeter taste which means no extra sugar needs to be added. A teaspoon of ground cinnamon contains just 6 calories and makes you feel fuller as it contains 1.6 grams of fiber, further aiding you in your weight-loss nirvana!
Ceylon Cinnamon To Cassia Cinnamon- What’s On Your Table?
While topping your favorite breakfast meal with ground cinnamon, you need to know what type of cinnamon you consume. Ceylon Cinnamon is made from the bark of the Cinnamomum Verum tree and is native to SriLanka, and is also known as true cinnamon. It is tan-brown in color and is of a highly desirable quality. This wonder spice has been prized as a cooking spice, has a mildly sweet savor, and 50 to 63% of its essential oil is cinnamaldehyde, which is responsible for its mild flavor and aroma.
Cassia Cinnamon, on the other hand, is obtained from the barks of the Cinnamomum Cassia tree and is native to China, and also known as Chinese Cinnamon. The cassia barks are dark brown-red in color with a rougher texture as compared to the superior Ceylon Cinnamon. It is of inferior quality, and 95% of its essential oil is cinnamaldehyde, responsible for its strong flavor and aroma.
Cassia Cinnamon contains a rich source of Coumarin, which is a plant compound and is dangerous in large doses. So, if you are on a weight-loss regime, and taking cinnamon supplements, it must be Ceylon Cinnamon and not Cassia. This is because Cassia cinnamon contains 1% of coumarin while Ceylon Cinnamon contains 0.25% of coumarin, which is 250 times lower than that contained in Cassia Cinnamon. Just 1-2 teaspoons will be over your daily limit, and Cassia Cinnamon is definitely not your healthy option!
Flavor, Zest, And A Weight-Loss Spice – Having Ceylon Cinnamon Will Suffice!
It will be very enticing to know that Ceylon Cinnamon can be also used as a weight-loss mantra and for shedding that stubborn belly fat. Let us see how Ceylon Cinnamon can be useful for weight loss.
Ceylon Cinnamon Induces Good Fat
Good fat, also known as brown fat, is used up the energy to keep your body warm in cold environments. Consuming cinnamon helps in converting white fat into brown fat. Belly fat is termed white fat and by consuming cinnamon, it induces brown fat in the subcutaneous or the fat layer under the skin. This brown fat thus induced contains lipid droplets, as well as iron-containing mitochondria, that helps in converting food into usable energy.
Ceylon Cinnamon Reduces Fasting Blood Sugar And Improves Insulin Sensitivity
According to a study conducted by California-Davis University, Ceylon cinnamon could reduce fasting blood sugar levels in Type-2 diabetes patients. Also, the polyphenols present in cinnamon improve insulin sensitivity, Insulin is the hormone responsible for the regulation of glucose levels in the bloodstream. Blood glucose levels build-up when the body does not produce enough amounts of insulin. This could lead to fat accumulation, obesity, diabetes, and so on. Ceylon cinnamon can be used to improve insulin sensitivity. Additionally, it is also found to be useful for alleviating insulin resistance in women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian disease for weight loss.
Ceylon Cinnamon Reduces Triglycerides And LDL Cholesterol Levels
LDL is that bad cholesterol that clings onto your artery walls and causes blocks, leading further to cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Cinnamon is backed by scientific studies and researches and shows its ability to reduce the number of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
Ceylon Cinnamon Improves Gut Health
The antibacterial properties in cinnamon get rid of the bad bacteria in your stomach. According to an NIH study, cinnamon can reintroduce some good bacteria with non-dairy probiotics or healthy gut bacteria with the trans-Cinnamaldehyde component present in the cinnamon bark oil.
With Ceylon Cinnamon, Lesser Fatty Acids Get Stored
The excess sugar present in your body can make your liver convert this sugar into fatty acids or fat deposits. Cinnamon consumption may increase the metabolism, breaking down the sugar into energy for absorption. This means that lesser fatty acids are produced in your body, and hence aids in weight-loss effectively.
Practical Ways To Consume Ceylon Cinnamon For Effective Weight Loss
Cinnamon and Honey tea
Combining a half teaspoon of ground Ceylon cinnamon into a cup of water and letting it boil, and mixing it with a tablespoon each of lime juice and honey is antioxidant-rich and will boost your immune system.
Ceylon Cinnamon Fat Burner Drink
Soak an inch of a Ceylon cinnamon stick overnight. Add a few lime wedges, and some mint leaves, to this water after removing the stick. This mixture is a fat-burner and is also used for solving gut problems and proper digestion.
Ceylon Cinnamon With Apple Cider Vinegar
Adding half a teaspoon of ground Ceylon cinnamon powder to a cup of hot water, and adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar will reduce the risk of diabetes, and also aids in weight loss.
Sprinkled Cinnamon Over Oatmeal
Add half a cup of chopped bananas and a quarter cup of oatmeal into a cup of milk. Sprinkle some ground Ceylon cinnamon over the oatmeal-banana mixture. Avoid sugar and enjoy the zest of natural cinnamon sweetness. Rich in dietary fiber and potassium, this breakfast will boost your energy levels and reduce abdominal fat.
Bedtime Cinnamon And Turmeric Milk
Add half a teaspoon each of ground cinnamon powder and turmeric powder to a cup of fat-free milk, and consume it before bedtime. This prevents osteoporosis, reduced blood pressure levels, and aids in weight-loss, as well.
The key takeaway tips of including Ceylon cinnamon are numerous, but it is also important to know that going overboard with anything is dangerous. Regular exercises and a healthy diet are keys for effective weight loss, along with following a weight-loss remedy with pure Ceylon cinnamon. What will you choose as your weight-loss recipe with Ceylon cinnamon to stay in shape?
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