Skip the Sugar, Add This to Your Drink for a Flavor Boost

 

Michael Roizen, MD, and Mehmet Oz, MD

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Mary Poppins claimed a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but clearly she was unaware added sugar makes you sick, so you need even more medicine -- and medical intervention.

Related: How bad is sugar for you...really?

A study of postmenopausal women found those who drink a lot of sweetened beverages have a 78% greater risk of estrogen-dependent type I endometrial cancer (the most common form) compared to women who don’t consume such liquid sugar bombs. And we’ve known for a long time that anyone who drinks a lot of sweetened beverages is at increased risk of obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Drinking one can of sugary soda a day can increase your diabetes risk 18% and added sugars fuel the growth and spread of prostate and breast cancers.
So what’s our trick for giving beverages a flavor boost and a touch of sweetness, so they’re part of your healthy choices for a younger RealAge?

Cinnamon. It tastes and smells great and one study found taking a 500mg capsule of cinnamon twice a day for 90 days significantly lowers A1C levels (a measure of your blood sugar levels for the past 3 months). Cinnamon also lowers lousy LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, increases good HDL cholesterol and decreases BMI and weight.

Try it in coffee or tea, on cereal and whole-grain toast and add it to casseroles, stir fries and roasted veggies. For a healthy winter dessert, check out Dr. Oz's Cinnamon Apple Sauté a la Mode. It's a sweet taste with no downside. Bon appetite!