According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over one-third of adults are obese, and over two-thirds are overweight or obese. The obesity rates have increased by about 60% only in the past 20 years, so this health problem has long been one of the most common ones.
In this post, we talk about cinnamon’s weight loss properties, and if they work in the way you think.
Besides its weight loss properties, cinnamon can also help treat metabolic syndrome, diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, insulin sensitivity issues, and other glucose-metabolism-related weight problems. It can as well help with issues like inflammation-induced obesity.
Even though it might not be the miracle cure for obesity, if you happen to have any of the following conditions, it can help you get fit by improving your overall health.
1. Inflammation-Induced Obesity
Cinnamon is similar to turmeric in the ability to modulate inflammatory pathways and fight inflammation-induced obesity. Its active compound cinnamaldehyde improves lipid metabolism. This compound constitutes 90% of the cinnamon bark essential oil.
It can help treat increased levels of lipids, and hyperlipidemia, and improve diabetes related to obesity when taken as a water extract form. Obesity is related to the presence of a substance called TNF-alpha which causes the overproduction of proteins that bind with lipids in the intestine.
But, the water extract form of cinnamon can reverse this effect by controlling gene expression. Moreover, it counters intestinal dyslipidemia associated with inflammation (increased levels of cholesterol/triglycerides).
15 Foods That Will Help You Lose Weight
2. Reduce Total Cholesterol
Cinnamon bark in extract form can help reduce cholesterol levels as well as improve one’s lipid profile. The participants in one study took two 750 mg cinnamon capsules every day for a period of 12 weeks. The outcome was reduced levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides. This might as well be beneficial for people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Top 10 Superfoods to Lower Cholesterol
3. Improve Insulin Sensitivity
Studies have discovered that cinnamon can improve insulin and glucose levels in those with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, or other problems with insulin sensitivity. Human and animal in-vitro studies and tests have shown that cinnamon polyphenols are able to improve insulin sensitivity. Only 1-6 grams daily dose of cinnamon can reduce serum glucose levels by 29% in a period of 40 days.
The water extract, high in anti-inflammatory polyphenols and antioxidants, can also help female patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, and improve insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, and fasting glucose numbers. These factors are very important for the weight-loss process.
Via Cure Joy