Most of us can’t function before our morning coffee. And fortunately for java junkies, drinking coffee has tons of amazing health benefits, such as improving your memory and helping you live longer. As a matter of fact, this is what happens to your body when you drink coffee every day.
But before you fill your mug with your second (or third!) helping of the day, you should be warned: All that cream and sugar could pose a problem for your waistline. Some of the most popular drinks at Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts could add over 1,000 calories to your daily diet. (You should never, ever order this one drink at Starbucks, in particular.)
This doesn’t mean you should banish your cup of Joe forever; you can always drink your coffee black, of course. But if you don’t want to settle for a boring, bitter brew, research shows that one simple ingredient can boost your metabolism and stave off any dreaded weight gain.
Adding a dash of cinnamon to your coffee can help your body burn fat faster, according to a recent study from the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute. When the researchers treated human fat cell samples with cinnamaldehyde—the compound that gives cinnamon its flavor and smell—the cells began creating more metabolism-boosting genes and enzymes, which caused them to burn instead of store extra fat. Check out even more ways to make your coffee habit healthier.
While only time (and more research) will tell exactly how much weight you could lose thanks to a dose of cinnamon in your coffee, sprinkling on a little extra spice can’t hurt in the meantime. But to avoid damaging your diet, we recommend opting for a dash of cinnamon in your everyday cuppa instead of a sugar-loaded gingerbread latte.
