Cinnamon and metabolism

Cinnamon, a spice once traded as currency has been used for centuries in both sweet and savoury dishes.  It has been linked in previous studies with having a beneficial effect on insulin levels, even helping to lower blood sugar levels.  Now new research from the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute, published in the journal Metabolism found that it may also help in the fight against obesity.

Cinnamaldehyde, an essential oil that gives cinnamon its flavour was found to improve metabolic health by acting directly on adipocytes (fat cells) helping to activate the process of thermogenesis (burning energy).

The researchers caution that “further study is needed to determine how best to harness cinnamaldehyde’s metabolic benefits without causing adverse side effects”. 

NOTE:  Metabolism publishes original research papers and articles related to all aspects of human metabolism.