An active component in cinnamon, has been to shown to prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets, which has given cinnamon its anti-inflammatory reputation. While studies are not conclusive, cinnamon has been shown to lower blood sugar levels by decreasing insulin resistance, a possible big thumbs up for all of us, especially those with diabetes. So enjoy your cinnamon, but be careful. While sprinkling a little 2 Day Diet Original Version cinnamon here and there on your food or in your coffee may provide these perks, if ingested in excess, cinnamon can actually be toxic. People with liver damage, in particular, should be careful, as large amounts of cinnamon may actually increase liver problems.Eating cinnamon isn't the only way to experience its benefits. Ever notice the abundance of cinnamon scented candles hitting the store aisles during fall? Take advantage! Just the scent of cinnamon is enough to curb fatigue, ease frustration, and increase alertness. Cinnamon has been shown to decrease stress and enhance cognitive processing. For a bit of aromatherapy, try placing a cinnamon stick in a pot of boiling water on a low heat.So, while studies may not be entirely conclusive when it comes to the benefits associated with cinnamon, the potential perks are enough to say shake away, though, as with most things, a little goes a long way. A healthy sprinkle of cinnamon in your morning bowl of oatmeal or over some roasted butternut squash can add a nutritious kick, and can be a great way to replace added sugars for flavor. Who needs sugar or cream when you have that burst of cinnamon in your bowl or on your plate? But don't be fooled: choosing a donut with some cinnamon sprinkled on top over the one without doesn't make the donut any more nutritious, and just because that gigantic Cinnabon has a cinnamon coating, doesn't make it healthy!As long as you're consuming cinnamon in small, safe quantities (sprinkled throughout your food), you'll reap some of its benefits, but don't count on it melting away the pounds just because you did.We all know there's no miracle remedy when it comes to weight loss, but that's no reason not to spice up your life.
In the months after Doug Robinson started driving a truck, he noticed his clothes were increasingly more snug-fitting. He was already overweight but soon realized that spending up to 11 hours behind the wheel, frequently eating fast food and not exercising was a poor combination.When his employer, U.S. Xpress, took part in a weight-loss challenge sponsored by the Truckload Carriers Association, the 321-pound, 6-foot-1-inch Robinson signed up.So far, he's about 40 pounds into his goal of dropping 100. His truck's refrigerator is stocked with chicken, tuna and vegetables. And after his day's drive, he walks -- either on trails near imelda perfect slim 5x rest stops or just circling his truck."I have asthma, so with the extra weight on there, it isn't good for me," said Robinson, a 30-year-old from Philadelphia. "When I started losing weight, instantly I was breathing better. I was sleeping better at night."From trucking companies embracing wellness and weight-loss programs to gyms being installed at truck stops, momentum has picked up in recent years to help those who make their living driving big rigs get into shape."I think a lot of trucking companies are coming around to the idea that their drivers are their assets," said Boyd Stephenson of the American Trucking Associations, the industry's largest national trade association. He added that healthier employees help a company's bottom line.There's an additional incentive for truckers to stay in shape -- their job might depend on their health.Every two years, they must pass a physical exam required by U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. They're checked for conditions that might cause them to become incapacitated -- suddenly or gradually -- while driving, including severe heart conditions, high blood pressure and respiratory disorders.