A 2017 American study presented at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Science Session shows that cinnamon may be the key to shedding those extra pounds around your belly.
In addition to tasting good, cinnamon has a lot of health properties, such as to stabilize blood sugar. But much to their surprise, the American study showed that cinnamon reduced the risk of cardiovascular (heart-vessel) damage in rats that consumed a high-fat diet by activating the body's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory systems while slowing down the fat storage process.
Healthier levels in rats
The experiment was set up by giving a group of rats cinnamon supplements for 12 weeks along with a high-fat diet. The researchers' results showed that the rats that had eaten cinnamon weighed less and had less belly fat than those that had not eaten cinnamon. In addition, their levels of sugar, insulin and fat in the blood were also significantly healthier compared to the other group of rats that had not received the cinnamon supplement along with their high-fat diet.
The researchers' results showed that the rats that had eaten cinnamon weighed less and had less belly fat.
The rats that had been given cinnamon also used fewer molecules in the body's fat-storage process and had more antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules, which protect the body against oxidative stress.
What have other trials shown?
Other experiments with mice have shown that cinnamon may also be used against insulin resistance, as supplementation with cinnamon can re-establish the sensitivity to insulin in the fat cells. This is because cinnamon contains methyl-hydroxy-chalcone polymer (MHCP), which affects the cells' insulin receptors and enhances the effect of insulin, thus increasing the cells' glucose turnover.
Before insulin can be used, it must first be activated. This is what Chrome does. Insulin is used to regulate blood sugar by transporting the sugars into the cells. After consuming sugar, blood sugar rises, and insulin therefore helps to keep our blood sugar stable. If you lack chromium, insulin resistance can be created, as the body's cells react less well to inactivated insulin.
If you want to tighten up, it might be a good idea to take a supplement of both cinnamon and chromium .
THE FACTS
-
What does insulin do?
Insulin is used to regulate blood sugar by transporting the sugars into the cells. -
How is insulin activated?
Insulin is activated by Chromium. With a lack of chromium, insulin resistance can therefore occur, as the body's cells react less well to inactive insulin. When insulin is inactive, sufficient amounts of sugars are not transported into the cells, causing blood sugar to remain high. -
How does cinnamon affect insulin?
Cinnamon contains methyl-hydroxy-chalcone polymer (MHCP), which affects the cells' insulin receptors and enhances the effect of insulin, thus increasing the cells' glucose metabolism. -
What is oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress is an expression that especially the unsaturated fatty acids in the blood react with the oxygen molecules, and the fatty acids thus go rancid. However, oxidative stress can also damage DNA, proteins and oxidize metals, as well as disrupt cellular signaling.
Source: American Heart Association
https://newsarchive.heart.org/cinnamon-may-lessen-damage-of-high-fat-diet-in-rats/