Body Express

Supplement of the week- Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice use in various dishes for flavor.

But did you know that cinnamon aids in losing belly fat? 

Here is a fact : Cinnamon helps to enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar , triglycerides and cholesterol levels. This is important as high blood sugar and insulin    levels promote fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area.

The fat cells in your abdomen are particularly sensitive to high insulin levels, and are very effective at storing energy – far more than the fat cells you’d find in other areas such as the lower body (i.e. hips, rear end, thighs). Because abdominal fat cells are so close to your digestive organs, and there is an extensive network of blood vessels circulating in the abdominal area, it’s even easier for fat cells to store excess glucose there. In short, cinnamon helps with targeting the stubborn fat around your abdominal area.

About ¼ to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon added to your daily meals is enough to produce some results. However, too much of a good thing is never good so it is advisable to keep your intake to 2 teaspoons or lesser.

There are many tasty and simple ways you can enjoy cinnamon, such as:-

• Adding cinnamon to your breakfast cereal or oatmeal
• Sprinkling on roasts or adding into meat marinades
• Adding cinnamon to butter or cream cheese
• Adding cinnamon sticks to your favourite herbal tea for an added taste,

To get the most out of the cinnamon you add to your recipes, make sure it is fresh. The best test is to open the jar in your kitchen and sniff. If the smell is strong and sweet your cinnamon is fresh. If the aroma is weak or non-existent, it’s time to throw it away and restock your spice rack. To keep cinnamon, seal the container tightly and store it away from the light. Alternatively, if the taste of cinnamon doesn’t thrill your senses, you can take a cinnamon supplement to reap the benefits of cinnamon too!