Cinnamon And Weight Loss

Dr. Gott: Hashimoto's disease puzzles reader

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have just been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease. I've been treated for hypothyroidism for three years and also have a calcification in my thyroid gland. What is Hashimoto's, and how is it treated? Please advise.

DEAR READER: Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system incorrectly attacks the thyroid gland at the base of the neck. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) known in the United States and affects middle-aged women more than men and children. Age, heredity and sex may play a role in determining why some people acquire the disorder and others do not.

Symptoms of the disorder vary from person to person, but can include dry skin, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, constipation, changes in menstrual cycle, weight gain, an increased sensitivity to cold, and depression. A diagnosis can be made through blood work and/or antibody testing.

Treatment is often successfully accomplished with synthetic thyroid hormone-replacement therapy. Your physician will likely order repeat blood testing to determine if the level of medication you are taking is appropriate, since excessive drug amounts can cause accelerated bone loss, leading to osteoporosis. When left untreated, an underactive thyroid gland caused by Hashimoto's can lead to an increased risk for heart disease, goiter and exacerbation of depression.

Several over-the-counter remedies - including aluminum hydroxide in antacids, calcium and multivitamins with iron - may affect your ability to absorb some prescribed thyroid medications, so be sure to advise your primary care physician of any supplements you might be taking.

The calcification in your thyroid is a formation of a solid or semi-solid lump within the thyroid gland. The condition is benign in most cases but should be followed closely, since it can occur in malignant forms of thyroid disease.

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have been successful in keeping my glucose levels down to a safe level by using chromium polynicotinate for about three years now, but I wonder if Plavix has any effect on the use of remedies that help reduce blood glucose level. Since being on Plavix, my levels have increased about 25 percent and have been hard to reduce.

I have also been using cinnamon (1,000 mg twice daily) recently, and for the first time, I'm down to 105 today. I enjoy your column.

DEAR READER: Chromium polynicotinate is a combination of chromium and vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid, niacin) that may prevent diabetes or delay the need for insulin. However, additional research is required before a determination can be made for patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Cinnamon And Weight Loss - Does It Really Work?

Here's the break down about cinnamon and weight loss.

The way cinnamon helps with weight loss, is that it helps stabilize your blood sugar. When less sugar is floating in your blood stream, you have better odds of managing your weight. (Chromium supplementation can help with this too.) Keeping your blood sugar level down really can help you manage your weight, and even help you lose weight. Cinnamon is great for this.

How much a day?

It's said that cinnamon helps aid in weight loss just by adding a quarter of a teaspoon to your food daily.. Now this doesn't mean go out and make a bunch of cinnamon muffins loaded with sugar and expect immediate weight loss... wouldn't that be nice?

What it does mean, is that adding cinnamon as a spice to some of your foods can help manage your weight. But you still have to eat healthy!

So what does cinnamon do for you?

Cinnamon helps balance your blood sugar, it helps manage your insulin levels, and even lowers LDL cholesterol.

Cinnamon helps metabolize sugar. High levels of sugar in the blood stream can lead to fat storage over time. Supplementing cinnamon, or even buying it in the powder form and adding some to your food has great benefits!

So let's look at the key points to cinnamon and weight loss:

Cinnamon helps decrease blood sugar levels - This helps with weight loss.

Cinnamon manages insulin levels - This also helps with weight loss.

Cinnamon helps lower LDL cholesterol.

The best cinnamon to purchase is known as Ceylon Cinnamon.

Special note for weight lifters: Weight loss does not mean muscle loss.

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