Does Cinnamon Break Intermittent Fasting?

While intermittent fasting, it can be tempting to find some way around the “water only” requirement. Adding a bit of flavor to get you through the fast is what we’re all looking for. Luckily, drinks like coffee and tea are perfectly acceptable to have as neither has the necessary nutrients to trigger your insulin production and break your intermittent fast.

However, plain black coffee can be quite difficult to swallow. It will curb your hunger and distract you from any cravings for sure, but only if you can get it down. For those of us who detest plain black coffee but are still seeking its benefits, there’s always that spoonful of cinnamon. But won’t cinnamon break your fast? It’s a spice, after all, and many spices can break fasts.

Let’s take a closer look at cinnamon to see whether or not a little bit of it will be enough to break your body’s intermittent fast.

Key Takeaways

• Adding a bit of flavor to your drinks during intermittent fasting can be tempting, but it’s important to be cautious and make sure that the flavors don’t break your fast.
• Cinnamon can be a good option for adding flavor to drinks during fasting, but it’s important to use pure, ground cinnamon and be mindful of the amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and sugars in it.
• Keeping protein and carbohydrate intake as close to zero as possible is key to avoiding triggering insulin production during fasting.
• One teaspoon of pure, ground cinnamon is okay to have during intermittent fasting, but it’s important to be mindful of what else you’re ingesting that might break your fast.
• Intermittent fasting apps can be helpful for anyone looking for extra support and guidance on their fasting journey.

Breaking Down Cinnamon

We’ll start by looking at a teaspoon of cinnamon to see what exactly you’re putting in your body. One teaspoon of pure, ground cinnamon contains 0.8 grams of carbohydrates and 0.1 grams of proteins. Those numbers might not sound like a lot, but when compounded or mixed with other spices, they’ll be enough to break a fast’s threshold.

A teaspoon of cinnamon also contains 6 calories – well below the ketosis threshold of 50 – and 0.1 grams of sugar. You’ll need to be very careful when having cinnamon as the sugar count can easily stack up and trigger an insulin production response which breaks your fast. When your insulin production is inactive, your body is burning fat for fuel so you want to stay in this state for your fast to continue.

One teaspoon of cinnamon shouldn’t break your fast as long as it’s pure, ground cinnamon. Some variants can have over 2.1 grams of carbohydrates which will certainly break your fast. As long as the amount of protein, sugars, and carbohydrates are below the insulin response threshold, you should be fine to have cinnamon in your coffee.

How Cinnamon Affects Your Fast?

You’ll really be pushing it with cinnamon and you should be careful when having it during an intermittent fast. Some experts have pinned 1 gram of protein and carbohydrates as the body’s breaking point for fasting. If you go above 1 gram of each, your insulin production response will be triggered and you’ll have broken your fast. As we saw when breaking down cinnamon, the levels of protein and carbohydrates are just barely below that threshold.

So, with one teaspoon of ground cinnamon, you will still technically be below the insulin response threshold. However, if the teaspoon of ground cinnamon is mixed with other spices, you could be pushing past that maximum amount. Make sure to keep your protein and carbohydrate intake as close to zero as possible, otherwise your fast may break and ruin your progress.

All in All

Just be cautious when eating cinnamon during an intermittent fast. It might not be enough to break the fast on its own, but you never know what else might be mixed in with your coffee. One teaspoon of cinnamon is okay to have while intermittent fasting but make sure that it’s pure and that it doesn’t break the insulin production threshold.

Once your insulin production is triggered, your body will no longer be burning fat for fuel and you’ll find the effects of intermittent fasting to be much less potent. Just be aware of how much cinnamon you’re having and if anything else you’re ingesting while intermittent fasting breaks the fast.

Don’t forget to check our top intermittent fasting apps to make your intermittent fasting journey easier.

FAQ

• Does consuming cinnamon break your fast?

Consuming a small amount of cinnamon is unlikely to break your fast. However, consuming cinnamon in large amounts or with other foods or beverages that contain calories may break your fast.

• How much cinnamon can you consume while fasting?

There is no specific limit on how much cinnamon you can consume while fasting, as long as it is consumed alone or with other non-caloric beverages like water or tea.

• What are the benefits of consuming cinnamon during intermittent fasting?

Cinnamon has been shown to have several health benefits, including improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation. However, more research is needed to determine whether consuming cinnamon during fasting has additional benefits.

• Can cinnamon help with weight loss during intermittent fasting?

Some evidence suggests that cinnamon may help with weight loss, but it is unclear whether consuming cinnamon during fasting specifically contributes to this effect.

• What are some other spices that are safe to consume during intermittent fasting?

Other safe spices to consume during intermittent fasting include turmeric, ginger, and black pepper.

• Can consuming cinnamon supplements break your fast?

Cinnamon supplements typically contain calories, so consuming them during fasting will likely break your fast. It’s always best to check the label and consult a healthcare provider if unsure.

• How can you incorporate cinnamon into your diet while fasting?

You can incorporate cinnamon into your fasting diet by adding it to black coffee or tea or sprinkling it on top of plain yogurt or oatmeal. Avoid adding cinnamon to any sugary or calorie-laden foods or drinks.