- The Université Joseph Fourier in France performed a study on, among other things, the weight loss effects of cinnamon. The study participants were all overweight, so any unusual weight loss would have been noted. While there was no great weight loss, the study did find that cinnamon reduced the risk of diabetes and high cholesterol in these overweight individuals.
- There hasn't been much published research on the weight loss effects of cinnamon. But there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that cinnamon aids in shedding pounds. Many people claim that adding cinnamon to their diet helped them lose weight. The most common ways that these people upped cinnamon consumption: adding it to cereal in the morning or adding it in coffee, tea or other beverages.
- Although cinnamon has many possible benefits, there is a warning to consider first. Most cinnamon that's available is cassia cinnamon, which has a relatively high level of coumarin. Coumarin has blood-thinning properties and has been linked to liver damage. Instead of cassia cinnamon, use Ceylon cinnamon, which is more expensive but has much less coumarin.
- To safely use cinnamon for weight loss, cholesterol reduction and to aid in preventing diabetes, add 1 teaspoon of Ceylon cinnamon to your daily diet. One teaspoon provides all the benefits mentioned above while avoiding side effects. Check with your doctor, too, to make sure the cinnamon won't interact with (or decrease the effectiveness of) any medication you are taking. Pregnant women, nursing women and children should not ingest excessive amounts of cinnamon.
- Besides weight loss, cholesterol reduction and diabetes prevention, cinnamon offers many other possible health benefits. A Maryland USDA study found that cinnamon reduced cancer cells. A Copenhagen University study found that cinnamon taken daily helped relieve arthritis pain. And just the scent of cinnamon may increase brain function and memory.
