A cup of black coffee contains cell-protecting antioxidants and just enough caffeine to get your metabolism moving on sluggish mornings. But what you put inside of your coffee can make or break it.
Filling a cup of plain coffee with heaping tablespoons of sugar only slows down your metabolism and spikes blood sugar levels. Cream and non-dairy creamers also contain sugar and saturated or trans fats that aren’t healthy.
But there’s one sugar substitute you can use that has fat-fighting benefits.
Cinnamon
There is some evidence from studies performed on mice and people who had recently undergone liposuction that a chemical compound called cinnamaldehyde, which is found in cinnamon, can help burn fat cells.
According to Forbes: “After treating these cells with cinnamaldehyde, the researchers noticed some interesting changes. There was greater expression of genes and production of proteins that assist with lipid metabolism and fat burning.”
There’s even more evidence that cinnamon can be helpful if you’re looking for ways to boost your metabolism and make your coffee healthier. According to a study published in the Annals of Family Medicine, “cinnamon was associated with significantly lower fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and higher HDL cholesterol levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes,” reports Forbes.
This simple cinnamon coffee recipe breaks down the steps to making delicious cinnamon coffee (without dealing with cinnamon spice floating at the top of your cup). You’ll need just two ingredients: your favorite ground coffee — and cinnamon sticks.