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Morning means coffee. This is not an option; coffee is required to function properly. And everyone has her own unique recipe for the perfect cup. Getting overzealous with the cream and sugar makes coffee more of a fattening dessert than a part of breakfast. But there is one ingredient that could make your coffee a weight loss ally: cinnamon. We know an anti-inflammatory diet is a great way to jumpstart your metabolism because it stabilizes blood sugar levels. “Chronic inflammation can negatively affect the hormones that regulate your hunger and metabolism,” says nutritionist Alex Caspero of Delish Knowledge. Internal inflammation is directly linked to insulin resistance and weight gain. That means anti-inflammatory cinnamon is the perfect coffee ad-in.
We are cinnamon devotees. It’s sweet and spicy at the same time and we loathe drinking a cup of coffee that’s devoid of cinnamon. Studies show that the antioxidants in cinnamon have potent anti-inflammatory activity. Eating spicy foods like cinnamon can reduce inflammation and kick start your metabolism because it causes a rise in your body’s temperature. It’s formally called thermogenesis – the way your body’s cells convert the energy from the foods you eat into heat.
Researchers at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute conducted a study on the effects of cinnamon on human fat cells. They used cinnamaldehyde, the compound that gives cinnamon its flavor and smell. When it came in contact with the cells, cells began creating more metabolism-boosting genes and enzymes, which caused them to burn instead of store extra fat. That’s thermogenesis! “Cinnamon also slows the rate at which the stomach empties after meals, reducing the rise in blood sugar after eating,” says Caspero.
Caspero adds cinnamon to her coffee grounds in the morning before brewing for a healthy burst of flavor. The freshest flavor will come from a cinnamon stick. Run one along a fine grater or zester and add the powder to coffee grounds (better: add it to whole beans before grinding). You can do the same with plain water (it’s yum!). Add a cinnamon stick to a bottle of water and you’ll instantly find it more appealing to drink.
Double up on your morning cinnamon intake by adding some to anti-inflammatory packed quinoa porridge. Research suggests that quinoa helps suppress the release of cytokines, which could be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of inflammation. Cook up 2 cups and add unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, raw honey, walnuts, chia seeds and tart cherries. Walnuts are chock full of omega-3 fatty acids, as is chia. In addition, the seeds have protein and fiber. And don’t forget tart cherries: they have the highest anti-inflammatory content of any food.
[Photos: Shutterstock]
