Cinnamon and Honey: Does It Work for Weight Loss?
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When it comes to weight loss, many long for the quick fix. We’re all aware that exercise and a healthy diet are our best bets, but are there any silver bullets?
People mix this combo into their tea, eat it straight, or use it as a topping for cereal and other foods. But can you really lose weight just by eating cinnamon and honey?
Aromatic and flavorful cinnamon is at least as old as recorded history. Ancient Egyptians used it for embalming, and by the time of the Roman Empire, it was over 15 times more expensive than silver.
A number of medicinal properties are associated with cinnamon. Researchshows that it has antimicrobial — as well as antiparasitic — effects.
It also contains antioxidants, can aid wound healing, and may even lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
TRUE CINNAMONCeylon cinnamon is also known as true cinnamon, Sri Lankan cinnamon, and Mexican cinnamon. It’s taken from the inner bark of an evergreen tree commonly grown in Sri Lanka. The country was known as Ceylon when it was under colonial control.
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The very word “honey” is associated with love, vitality, and health. In fact, honey does have many healthful properties. Most of these health benefits are specific to raw, or unpasteurized, honey. For optimal health benefits, it’s best to keep raw honey in its most raw form. Heating will change the nature it.
For starters, honey is an antimicrobial agent when applied topically. Because of its thickness, low pH, and the hydrogen peroxide produced by its enzymes, it can prevent bacterial infection ,
In fact, research shows that it’s highly effective at treating wound infections. It’s good for treating burns.
It’s also as effective a cough suppressant as some over-the-counter medications, including diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and dextromethorphan (Vicks DayQuil Cough).
However, like cinnamon, there’s little research to support taking it for weight loss.
NOT ALL HONEY IS EQUALTualang, Manuka, Ulmo, and Slovenian honeys may have health benefits superior to those of other kinds of honey. Most can be purchased at health food stores or online.
While claims abound about the pound-shedding properties of cinnamon and honey, research on this combination is slim. Some studies show promise.
For example, a 2017 study found that the compound cinnamaldehyde may activate thermogenesis. During thermogenesis, your body creates heat — and burns calories in the process.
A 2011 study found that replacing sucrose with honey can help prevent weight gain. Another study from 2010 showed that honey can activate hormones that suppress the appetite.
However, no studies prove conclusively that cinnamon and honey can help you lose weight.
One common type of cinnamon, Cassia cinnamon, contains significant amounts of coumarin. Found in many plants, coumarin can be used to treat edema, or water retention.
Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment reports that even small doses of coumarin, taken for more than two weeks, can cause liver damage. People who already have liver disease are at an even higher risk of liver damage.
Does this mean you should avoid cinnamon? No, it doesn’t.
However, if you’re taking cinnamon with honey daily, make sure you’re using Ceylon cinnamon. It contains far lower concentrations of coumarin.
In powdered form, it’s impossible to tell the two spices apart. To ensure you’re using Ceylon cinnamon, you may need to purchase it from a specialty spice purveyor, natural foods store, or Mexican market.
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