Ceylon Cinnamon for Weight Loss

A variety of supplements on the market today claim to be able to aid dieters in the often difficult process of weight loss. Some are completely synthesized, inorganic materials; others are naturally occurring plants and their derivatives. One such substance falling under the latter category is Ceylon cinnamon, a spice made from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree. Besides its use as a flavor additive in numerous recipes for food and beverages, Ceylon cinnamon added to these same recipes also may serve the function of speeding the process of losing weight.

The Real Thing

• Much of what is sold in U.S. grocery stores under the generic name of "cinnamon" are less expensive varieties of the plant: either Chinese cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum) or Indonesian cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii). The "true" cinnamon is Ceylon cinnamon, the majority of which is grown in the western and southwestern regions of Sri Lanka, the country formerly known as Ceylon. Some studies suggest that cinnamon may improve blood glucose and cholesterol levels in people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Moreover, ceylon cinnamon may lower triglyceride and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, thus improving and regulating one's cholesterol levels.

Weight Loss

• More applicable to those seeking weight loss assistance, however, is the fact that Ceylon cinnamon has been shown to increase one's metabolism level and thus help shed pounds more effectively. Similar to its ability to help regulate blood sugars, cinnamon improves the body's response to insulin. According to World's Healthiest Foods, adding cinnamon to a high-carbohydrate meal can help lessen the negative effects on blood glucose levels. Cinnamon achieves this by slowing the rate at which the stomach empties after a meal, thus preventing a sharp increase in blood glucose levels, and preventing the immediate storage of glucose in the body that later may convert to fat cells. Conversely, a sharp rise in blood glucose contributes to insulin resistance in the body, which can cause diabetes.

How to Use

• Cinnamon can be purchased in stick or ground form. If you choose to purchase cinnamon in stick form, use a coffee, spice grinder, or grater to create cinnamon powder. The spice may be used as an ingredient in many different recipes, and serves as an excellent flavor additive. Sprinkle it on whole wheat toast with fresh preserves, on sweet potatoes with maple sugar, or on fruit such as chopped apples, capitalizing on its ability to combat high-carbohydrate foods. Also add cinnamon to warm beverages. For example, add a tsp. or two into warm milk, coffee, tea, hot chocolate or cappuccino. Combine cinnamon with other natural foods like honey or ginger to improve its flavor and perhaps improve its dietary functioning. Once ground, however, cinnamon's taste and beneficial properties begin to reduce after six months. Therefore, it is best not to buy in large quantities. See the links in Resources for more information on how cinnamon may help serve your dietary needs.