Cinnamon for Weight Loss: The Ultimate Winter Spice with Surprising Health Benefits

“If I had to choose the ultimate winter spice, cinnamon would undoubtedly top the list,” writes Einav Burshtein, a nutrition and healthy lifestyle coach. “Not only is it an aromatic spice that blends perfectly into hot tea, oatmeal, or even cooked dishes — it’s also highly recommended for weight loss.”

According to Burshtein, when you enjoy a meal low or high in carbohydrates (but not ketogenic), your body secretes a hormone called insulin. Its role is to transfer sugar (glucose), which breaks down from the carbs, into the cells. “Energy production takes place inside the cells, so insulin, which facilitates this process, is crucial. However, once insulin is in the bloodstream, the body switches into an anabolic (building) state, during which it stores fat.”

Cinnamon, she explains, mimics the function of insulin by helping glucose enter the cells, but it does not trigger the body’s anabolic state, which means the body can continue burning fat simultaneously.

In addition, cinnamon is rich in antioxidants. A study found that taking cinnamon supplements can significantly increase antioxidant levels in the blood while reducing inflammation throughout the body. Cinnamon also helps lower the risk of heart disease.

“Adding cinnamon to your diet seems to significantly reduce triglyceride and cholesterol levels, which are two major risk factors for vascular diseases,” Burshtein adds.

“In short, if you're looking for a great way to start your morning with a warming, nourishing drink that boosts your health and supports weight loss, try adding a cinnamon stick to your tea or mixing it into a cup of hot water with lemon. It’s a simple way to warm up and kickstart fat burning first thing in the morning.”