Cinnamon, like other spices such as pepper and ginger, can boost your metabolism about 8 percent for about 20 minutes after consumption. It's a minor improvement, but if you're trying to lose weight, every calorie matters. This effect is called thermogenesis, and includes the energy used to eat, digest and process the foods you consume. Cinnamon doesn't create a permanent increase in metabolism, but it may have other health benefits.
Increasing Metabolism
Your metabolism is the rate your body uses energy for everything from blood circulation to movement and digestion -- every function that keeps your body alive. The faster your metabolism is, the more calories you burn. Your metabolism is regulated by hormones and influenced by your gender, age, fitness level and diet. In general, men, younger people and very active people have higher metabolisms. You can increase your metabolism by changing your ratio of muscle to fat; the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you burn, even at rest. Eating enough calories to keep your metabolism functioning at a minimum of 1,200 calories daily, eating adequate amounts of protein and eating on a regular schedule will all help keep your metabolism high.
Cinnamon and Metabolism
Cinnamon may temporarily raise your metabolism, but it's not as effective as exercise or other dietary changes, such as eating a high-fiber diet, limiting alcohol or consuming caffeine for boosting your metabolic rate. A "New York Times" article from 2006 states that "spicy foods can increase metabolism, though only to a minor extent." But cinnamon may have other important health benefits, including the ability to help you lose weight and prevent or help control type 2 diabetes and fight insulin resistance.
Methylhydroxy Chalcone Polymer
Although cinnamon may not have a big impact on your metabolism, it does has a dramatic impact on insulin sensitivity. Diabetes Health reports that cinnamon can make fat cells more responsive to insulin and improve the way your body uses glucose twentyfold.The chemical responsible is a polyphenol known as methylhydroxy chalcone polymer, or MHCP. MHCP can help control your blood sugar levels and can lower A1C levels in as little as 90 days, according to the Mayo Clinic. Not only can cinnamon help stabilze glucose and insulin levels, it can also help reduce triglyceride levels and lower cholesterol, according to a 2003 study from Diabetes Care.
Caffeine
Both what and when you eat can keep your metabolism high. Eating every four hours will keep your metabolism form slowing down and conserving energy. Other ways you can increase your metabolism include adding caffeine to your day. Just one cup of coffee can increase metabolism by 8 percent, burning approximately 100 calories. You can also add a dash of cinnamon to your morning java for flavor and an extra calorie-burning boost.
References
- Diabetes Health; Cinnamon Increases Metabolism Twenty Fold; December 2000
- Better Health Channel: Metabolism Explained
- MayoClinic.com; Diabetes Treatment: Can Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar?; Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D.; September 2010
- NBC Today Health; Diet Mistakes that Slow Down Your Metabolism; May 2010
- "New York Times"; The Claim: Spicy Foods Increase Metabolism; Anahad O'Connor; November 2006
- "Diabetes Care"; Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People with Type 2 Diabetes; A Khan et. al.; December 2003
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