About two months ago I read that about 1/2 teaspoon of regular, ground cinnamon can help control blood sugar. Since I had gestational diabetes during my pregnancy I thought I'd try it to help keep real diabetes away.
The effects were almost instant (possibly instant, since I wasn't expecting any changes, so I wasn't paying attention). It was like taking medication. All of a sudden I had very little appetite and lots of energy. That's the exact opposite of the way I normally feel.
The weird thing is, that at first I didn't want to tell anyone about because I selfishly wanted to lose weight and make it look easy. Then I got mad at myself for that attitude and started sharing it with everyone who would listen. Guess what? No one cared. Not even friends who've been on diets their entire life. I've told at least a dozen people and I don't think even one has tried it.
Anyway, cinnamon will probably only work for you if you have blood sugar problems, but it's cheap and worth a try. The only thing to consider is that it's also a blood thinner so if you're already taking blood thinners or have naturally thin blood you may want to talk to a doctor.
I've lost 17 pounds in two months and I feel great so I hope it works for someone else out there. Sorry for the long post.
I'm diabetic and have been doing this since I heard about several months ago. I like it in coffee, but I REALLY love it in my daily fat-free, sugar-free vanilla yogurt. It tastes like a cinnamon roll!
Occasionally I will get an uncontrolable hunger even tho I eat extremely healthy. I try to do all the recommened things at those times, (water, fruit, etc) but will add cinnamon to my cure.
Let's all (new cinnamon users) come back in a couple of weeks and tell our stories, if it helped.
cc: good call on the vanilla yogurt! i've been kinda avoiding the big tub in my fridge, but now i can't wait to try it!
i'm going to serve it to my husband tonight for dessert and call it Cinnabon Pudding.
mommy2cyrus: since you're husband doesn't like cinnamon, maybe you could try slipping it in savory dishes. add a bit to chilli (emeril just did that on his show last week!) or stew, or taco meat. i find it works well with tomato-y bases, and great with spicy dishes. i did braised cabbage w/ cinnamon the other night.
cc, how has it been working for you?
Ohio, Great idea about coming back. I'm dying to hear how it works for people.
Now I'm sprinkling it on everything sweet, even my apple and pineapple. I read that it's also supposed to help with blood pressure, so we'll see!
Thanks for the tips!
Tanyamoniq, just be a little bit careful about the volume of cinnamon you eat. How you spread it out probably doesn't matter.
As I mentioned earlier, it is a blood-thinner. I would stick to a teaspoon a day or less (unless you've talked to a doctor, then ignore me). The study I read said that 1/2 a teaspoon was as effective as those taking several teaspoons.
Not only does it stop my cravings- and this may sound gross- but your after-taste of taking it kinda tastes like rice pudding without having to eat the actiual pudding. I know it's weird- but much better than the fishy taste you get when you take fish oils.
I'm sold. I got the cinnamon at duane reade (generic) for a few bucks and has worked better then anything I have ever taken that has cost a lot more.
another plus is that the bottle smells REALLY yummy!
