Surprising Effects of Eating Cinnamon, Say Dietitians — Eat This Not That

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By Ghuman

Introduction

Cinnamon is a spice that has been used for centuries in both sweet and savory dishes. But did you know that it can also have some surprising health benefits? According to dietitians, eating cinnamon can help regulate blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and even boost your metabolism. In addition, it can help improve digestion, reduce cholesterol levels, and even help with weight loss. So if you’re looking for a way to improve your health, adding a little cinnamon to your diet may be just what you need. Read on to learn more about the surprising effects of eating cinnamon, say dietitians.

Surprising Effects of Eating Cinnamon, Say Dietitians

Cinnamon is a popular spice that has been used for centuries in both sweet and savory dishes. But did you know that it can also have some surprising health benefits? According to dietitians, eating cinnamon can help regulate blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and even boost your mood. Here’s what you need to know about the surprising effects of eating cinnamon.

Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

One of the most impressive benefits of eating cinnamon is its ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that cinnamon can help reduce fasting blood sugar levels, as well as improve insulin sensitivity. This is especially beneficial for people with diabetes, as it can help them better manage their condition.

Reduces Inflammation

Cinnamon is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that it can help reduce inflammation in the body, which can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. It can also help reduce joint pain and stiffness, making it a great choice for those with arthritis.

Boosts Mood

Eating cinnamon can also help boost your mood. Studies have shown that it can help reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve cognitive function. This is likely due to its ability to increase serotonin levels in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood.

Conclusion

Eating cinnamon can have some surprising health benefits. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and even boost your mood. So if you’re looking for a way to improve your health, adding cinnamon to your diet is a great place to start.

We know there isn’t a magical pill to perfect health—it’s a combination of our eating habits, drinking habits, exercise habits, sleep, and even stress levels that make all the difference. However, sometimes the smallest little changes in our diet can make a huge difference when it comes to our overall health—even as simple as sprinkling in some cinnamon.

Eating cinnamon has been advertised as a powerhouse ingredient for health—and the science does back up these claims. One review in Pharmacognosy Research researched different studies on cinnamon and found it to be beneficial due to its “s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antilipemic, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anticancer” effects.

So what exactly does this mean for our health? We asked a few of the registered dietitians from our medical expert board to share the specific ways eating cinnamon can positively impact your body’s health. Here’s what they had to say, and for even more healthy tips, here’s The #1 Best Juice to Drink Every Day.

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“Cinnamon contains antioxidants like polyphenols,” says Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, author of The Sports Nutrition Playbook. “Antioxidants help buffer free radicals (aka bad guys that cause cellular damage in the body) and by default, can help reduce inflammation.”

Reducing inflammation in your body has also been proven to assist with maintaining body composition, with helps warding off certain weight-related diseases.

“Cinnamon [has] been shown to reduce body weight and belly fat, helping to prevent obesity,” say Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFT, and Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFT, also known as The Nutrition Twins. “Research shows it improves insulin resistance, improves A1C (a measure of long-term blood sugar control), decreases triglycerides, and even has improved the regularity of menstrual cycles. Plus, it’s packed with antioxidants that help to prevent cell damage.”

oatmeal with cinnamon and apples
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Because of the polyphenols in cinnamon, Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, author of Finally Full, Finally Slim and The Portion Teller Plan, says these “potent antioxidants contain anti-inflammatory properties [that] can help prevent chronic diseases”

“Cinnamon may help lower blood sugar and reduce insulin sensitivity making it the perfect spice for people with type 2 diabetes,” says Young. “It also may help prevent heart disease by reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels.”

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“It has been shown to decrease the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal by interfering with numerous digestive enzymes, which slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract,” says Goodson. “It can also act on cells by mimicking insulin, which helps improve glucose uptake by your cells. However, it acts much slower than insulin itself.”

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“Naturally sweet cinnamon saves calories and prevents blood sugar swings and energy highs and lows that result from eating too much sugar,” say The Nutrition Twins. “It’s the perfect calorie-free, sugar replacement because it adds sweetness without creating the inflammation that sugar does that is linked to making weight loss more difficult and weight gain easier.”

oatmeal with cinnamon, bananas, and blueberries
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In order to reap the powerful benefits of cinnamon, it’s important to find other ways to sprinkle it into your food—not just into your morning cup of java.

“In order to reap the benefits of cinnamon, you likely have to do more than sprinkle it in your coffee,” says Goodson. “It’s important to note that the effective dose is 1 to 6 grams or around 1/2 to 2 teaspoons per day, which is a lot of cinnamon.”

Not sure where to start? The Nutrition Twins list out quite a few recommendations.

“Replace sugar with cinnamon in pancakes, French toast, smoothies, coffee, muffins, cereal, oatmeal, on grains, yogurt, milk, hot chocolate, tea, toast, fruit, and more,” say The Nutrition Twins. They even recommend baking into their Cinnamon Belly-Fat Burning Oatmeal.

Kiersten Hickman

Kiersten Hickman is a Deputy Editor at Eat This, Not That!, with a main focus on food coverage, nutrition, and recipe development. Read more

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