Food as Medicine: Why Cinnamon is Beneficial for Women with PCOS

If you exercise regularly, but feel frustrated by slow weight loss or are shocked that you’re even gaining weight, you may be thinking “why bother”.

Why bother getting up early to hit the gym before work if you’re not losing weight and your clothes are actually tighter than before. It just doesn’t seem worth it to be putting in the work and not getting the results you want, does it? I know because I’ve been there.

I am one of the 5 million American women who has suffered with PCOS-related symptoms and found myself gaining weight even though I was exercising regularly and eating what I considered to be a healthy diet.

When I started learning more about PCOS-friendly foods, I realized that it’s more than just about eating well. It’s about incorporating specific foods into our diet that help relieve PCOS-symptoms so that we can feel good again—and we all want that, don’t we!

As a Health Coach working exclusively with women just like you who are suffering with PCOS, I often recommend adding cinnamon to my clients’ diets when they are struggling to lose weight despite already healthy eating habits and regular exercise.

Just a small amount of cinnamon a day helps reduce insulin resistance in women with PCOS, according to a study by Fertility and Sterility. I know what you’re thinking: “Insulin resistance. Everyone is talking about it, but I don’t really understand what it means or how it affects me.”

Let me explain:

• Insulin is a hormone that breaks down glucose (sugar) during digestion.
• If your body does not have enough insulin (insulin resistance), sugar levels increases.
• If there is more sugar in the body than is needed, the sugar is stored as fat.

So, if you’re insulin resistant, it may explain why you’re not losing weight or even gaining weight despite your best efforts. In the study, researchers found that women who consumed cinnamon daily for eight weeks had lower levels of insulin resistance than the placebo group. This simple addition of cinnamon means that the hormone insulin was able to work more effectively in breaking down sugars, resulting in increased weight loss.

The easiest way to add cinnamon to your diet is sprinkling one small teaspoon on your morning fruit and yogurt or blending it in your favorite smoothie recipe. You can also take cinnamon bark capsules or liquid extracts, both found in your favorite health food store, if you prefer.

While living with PCOS can be hard at times, making changes to your diet doesn’t have to be.

I hope this post has inspired you to start seeking freedom from your PCOS symptoms. For more of my PCOS tips, sign up below. And, if you know someone with PCOS who could benefit from this post, please share it with them.