Mackie: Top 5 foods to fight belly fat
Cinnamon
Several studies have shown that cinnamon can reduce insulin resistance and fasting blood glucose levels, which are associated with abdominal fat. In an eight-week study published in the journal "Fertility and Sterility," cinnamon extract reduced insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Similareffects were not seen in the placebo group. Another study published in a 2009 issue of the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" showed that cinnamon reduced oxidative stress, which correlated with improved fasting blood glucose levels.
According to Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences, the polyphenols in cinnamon enable receptors on cells to become active and accept insulin, thereby allowing sugar to leave the bloodstream, enter cells and produce energy. Increasing the cells' sensitivity to insulin is significant because high levels of insulin and insulin resistance are linked to abdominal fat.
According to the University of Michigan Health Systems, you should take only a few drops of the volatile oil extracted from cinnamon and for no more than a few days at a time. Or, you may take 1/2 tsp. or 2 to 3 ml of cinnamon tincture three times daily. Cinnamon is also available whole in powder form; 4 g, or 1/2 to 3/4 tsp., is the recommended dose.
Sources : Cinnamon extract, cinnamon oil, tincture, powder
