Honey and Cinnamon for Weight Loss - Does it Really Work?

All through the internet and media, there is a huge hype about the magic new weight loss cure, "honey and cinnamon for weight loss". But, does it really work? Or is it just another fad?

Being a nutrition and diet consultant for many years now, I decided to get to the bottom of this! What I found may surprise you.

First of all, lets look at what is suggested. The recipe is simple. You have to combine one tea-spoon of honey to one tea spoon of cinnamon and boil it in one cup of water.

It is suggested that you consume half of this cup, half an hour before breakfast. And you consume half of this cup, half an hour before going to sleep at night. That's it!

The claims are, that by just doing this much, and not making ANY other changes in your routine and your diet, you can expect to lose 3 to 5 pounds within a week. It is said that the honey and cinnamon, actually prevent your body from storing fat!



Unfortunately, the practitioners of this "honey and cinnamon for weight loss" idea, do not offer any clear scientific explanation for why this should work.

Here is the scientific analysis...

Cinnamon: Actually, cinnamon does have weight loss benefits. It has already been proved in scientific studies that cinnamon helps to reduce bad cholesterol & blood sugar.

A reduction in blood sugar helps in increasing insulin levels and which in turn prevents the body from storing fats. So, we know that cinnamon defiantly helps to lose weight.

Honey: There is no doubt that honey is good for health. In fact, people who have tried this "honey and cinnamon" idea, do report that they feel more energetic.

This fits in perfectly with the fact that honey is a "simple sugar" that is very easy for the body to process and release energy. But, honey has the opposite effect that cinnamon has. It increases the blood sugar levels.

So, its not very clear from the scientific point of view, how this "honey and cinnamon for weight loss" idea could really work. But, there are still people out there that claim it has helped them.

Unless a proper scientific study is done on the subject, making any conclusions would be pointless. So, if you want to try it, go ahead! If it does not help, it surely will not hurt! But, there are better and faster ways to lose weight out there.



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Cinnamon and Weight Loss - How Cinnamon Can Help You Lose Weight

Cinnamon and weight loss have been shown to go together. Cinnamon is a very well-know herb that offers many health benefits and one of its properties is to reduce the weight. Benefits of cinnamon for weight loss are here:

How cinnamon works on weight loss?

1. Help to control blood sugar level. To understand this benefit, it is needed to look overall effect first. When your blood sugar rises rapidly from the food you eat, insulin is released by your body to neutralize the effects of the sugar. Actually, primary role of insulin is to carry glucose into the cells stored for future use. Therefore when blood sugar spikes, much insulin will be thrown which result in excess fat storage and inefficient use of nutrients.

As one property of cinnamon to regulate blood sugar level, then this can lead to lower amounts of insulin in the body. Food you intake thus has been less stored as fat and been used more efficiently by metabolic processes. Result from a study shows that by taking only 1-6 grams of cinnamon a day for 40 days, blood glucose level is reduced by 18-29%.

2. Cinnamon causes "thermogenic burns". Many warming spices including cinnamon are believed to be thermogenic making body temperature is elevated temporarily. Your metabolic rate is thus raised slightly. Around 50-60 calories can be additionally burnt.

3. Lowering cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol. Cinnamon also works on reducing blood clotting since it is an anti-coagulant.

How to use cinnamon for weight loss?

The recommended dosage of cinnamon is a half teaspoon of real cinnamon per day. The most common way of consuming cinnamon is by adding it to the cup of tea. Many flavored teas blend well with a tinge of cinnamon such as apple and berry flavored teas.

Another way is to mix half teaspoon of cinnamon with 1 teaspoon of honey in a cup of boiling water. Leave this concoction with the cover for 30 minutes before serving. Divide a half of this for drinking before breakfast and drinking the rest before going to bed.

Someone might concern with the high calories of honey. Anyway, taking honey alone may not help you lose weight but mixing it with lemon or with cinnamon can result to a weight loss miracle. Also with its health benefit in helping better digestion can lead to faster metabolism.


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Using Cinnamon for Weight Loss

Cinnamon is normally used to add delicious flavor to baked goodies, but many are finding that this spice also can provide important health benefits such as lowering bad cholesterol levels, regulating blood sugar levels and helping to lose weight fast.

Cinnamon is produced by a native evergreen tree of South Asia. It has been used for centuries and was once regarded as a highly valued spice due to its medicinal properties. It has been and continues to be used to improve many ailments as well as to boost physical and mental well being. Today it has become popular in helping to lose weight as well as helping to prevent weight from returning.

When consuming cinnamon, it causes the body heat to increase. This speeds up the metabolism and helps burn calories as well as fat deposits within the body. With this process, weight is reduced and other conditions that can be caused from being overweight such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes are improved. Because cinnamon has been shown in studies to reduce LDL cholesterol and reduce blood sugar levels while raising insulin levels, conditions associated with obesity are improved while weight is reduced.

Cinnamon also provides antioxidant benefits, which also help in weight reduction. This provides a cleansing action to the body, helping to eliminate harmful toxins and fats. For maximum benefits, cinnamon should be combined with honey for weight loss. It can also be helpful with improving conditions such as headaches, colds, urinary and bladder infections, arthritis, heart conditions, migraines and diarrhea as well as prevent hair loss, bad breath and digestive problems.

For maximum weight loss benefits, drinking tea with cinnamon and honey can promote rapid weight loss. Tea is prepared by adding one teaspoon each of cinnamon powder and honey to boiled water. If using cinnamon sticks, one to two sticks should be used. Boiled water should be allowed to brew for a few minutes before straining through a filter or strainer.

Using cinnamon to lose weight fast should be combined with proper diet and exercise. Diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, less fried foods and fewer sugars. Cinnamon can interact with some medications as it does contain anti-clotting factors as well as blood thinning substances. When using cinnamon for weight loss, avoid using large amounts as certain types of cinnamon such as cassia cinnamon can cause liver and kidney damage. Always consult with a physician before starting any new diet plan.


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Honey and Cinnamon For Weight Loss

Many claims have been made that there are plenty of health benefits for using the honey and cinnamon diet for weight loss.

Firstly let's look at the health benefits of honey:

Honey is natural, made by bees, and can provide a quick boost of energy as it is a simple sugar. But unlike sugar it has antibacterial properties and is an antioxidant with antiseptic qualities.

It is made of fructose and glucose (unlike sugar) as the bees add a special enzyme which means our bodies absorb these two simple sugars quicker. Honey is processed in your body the same way as sugar, by releasing insulin which in turn controls your blood sugars. Honey can also be used for medicinal purposes to aid with sore throats and can be rubbed into minor burns and cuts. It is safe on sensitive skin.

One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories whereas one tablespoon of sugar contains 46 calories. However you need much less honey if used as a sweetener therefore using fewer calories. Honey also has a lower GI rating meaning that the sugars are released slower into the bloodstream which can aid a healthier digestive system.

Honey (unlike sugar) contains nutrients and minerals and has a unique flavour. It is far superior to sugar in many foods and drinks. After people have over-eaten and feel bloated a small amount of honey with warm water will aid digestion naturally and is classed as one of the complex carbohydrates rather than an "empty" carbohydrate or calorie like sugar.

Now let's look at the health benefits of cinnamon:

Cinnamon has been used for centuries to cure many illnesses - Egyptians used it for embalming 4 or 5 thousand years ago. Cinnamon can suppress bacteria in the urinary tract and digestive system and can actually lower cholesterol as well as combating insulin resistance.

Cinnamon is a good source of manganese, fibre, iron, and calcium and also contains antioxidants which again can regulate blood sugars. Therefore it is claimed that benefits of a honey and cinnamon for weight loss will help cleanse parasites, fungus and bacteria in your digestive system and could lead to an increase in energy thus burning more calories. Taking cinnamon regularly, i.e. mixed with low-fat spread on toast, sprinkled on your favourite cereals or porridge could help you to lose weight by regulating insulin levels. High insulin levels mean that your body stores fat-especially on hips and stomach.

Honey and cinnamon for weight loss can be used as one part honey to two parts cinnamon. After drinking a mixture of cinnamon and honey claims have been made that inches have been lost as this formula blocks your body from gaining excess fat if taken as part of a healthy diet. The mixture of honey and cinnamon for weight loss can also be added to fruit juice, sauces e.g. apple sauce. It is also claimed that this mixture, taken before a meal as a drink or with your meal as a spread or on cereals, can suppress the appetite-which can only be a good thing!


This article was written by Alex Boylin, who lives in the UK. If you found this article helpful, you might like to read Alex's other articles here at Ezine and his eBook "The Truth About Weight Loss" which can be found here [http://www.quickandeasyweightlossme.com]

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