If you love cinnamon, add an extra shake to your next meal: new research shows that the popular spice boosts metabolism in mouse and human fat cells.

In the new study, published in the journal Metabolism, researchers from the University of Michigan tested the effect of cinnamaldehyde—the essential oil that gives cinnamon its flavor—on fat cells taken from mice, as well as fat cells from four humans.

They found that exposure to cinnamon oil triggered both the mouse and the human cells to start burning calories through a process known as thermogenesis. A closer look showed that the oil increased the activity of several genes, enzymes and proteins that are known to enhance fat metabolism.

Fat cells, also called adipocytes, normally store energy in the form of lipids. From an evolutionary standpoint, that stored energy can be used by the body during periods of food shortage, or converted to heat during colder months.

But in a society where food and heat are relatively plentiful, stored energy often has nowhere to go and can contribute to unwanted weight gain. Study author Jun Wu, research assistant professor at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute, says that consuming cinnamon on a regular basis may be one way to make fat cells burn some of that energy, rather than storing all of it.

The study looked at cinnamon’s effects on adipocytes directly—not on an actual human bodies—so much more research is needed to know if cinnamon has the same effect in real people and what the implications of increased thermogenesis really are. And while cinnamon is considered safe in quantities normally used in food, Wu says it’s still too early to determine an effective dose.

MORE: Why Cinnamon Is Insanely Good For You

Wu says that a sprinkle of cinnamon here or there may not be enough to show immediate, measurable effects on metabolism. However, “we speculate that you don’t have to eat a large amount of cinnamon all at once,” she says. “If you eat it every day, we suspect there will be a cumulative effect, and that over time you will achieve these benefits.”

This isn’t the first study to suggest that cinnamon may have beneficial effects on the body’s metabolic processes. Other research has found that the spice appears to protect mice against obesity and hyperglycemia, and that it’s associated with lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Wu says that her team’s research is another piece of evidence in cinnamon’s favor. “After this, I would recommend eating a little more than you do already,” she says. “If you already eat a lot of it, carry on—and if it’s not something you use regularly, it’s a great time to start.”

Alternative Names

Abilde, Almindelig Aeble, Apfel, Apfelbaum, Äppel, Äppelträd, Apple Tree, Eble, Echter Apfelbaum, Iabloko, Iablonia, Jablon Domáca, Kultur-Apfel, Maça, Maçanzeira, Maceira, Macieira, Manzana, Manzano, Mela, Melo, Paratiisiomena, Ping Guo, Pomme, Pommier, Pomo, Pommier Commun, Ringo, Seiyou Ringo, Tarhaomenapuu, Tuffahh, Žlahtna jablana. CAUTION: Please refer to separate listing for Apple Cider Vinegar, Apple Pectin

Scientific Name

Malus Pumila

Why Do People Use Apple?

Oral preparations  (Apple), like apple powder, are used for the treatment of constipation or diarrhea, for softening of gallstones. It is also used for treating cancer, scurvy, dysentery, diabetes, heart ailments, fever, warts and for cleaning teeth.

Is It Safe To Use?

Likely Safe – Oral consumption of apple is safe to use when taken in amounts found in foods. However, some patients are advised to avoid its seeds because there are toxic in nature. Avoid in Pregnancy and Lactation – Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should be careful and use apple with caution because there is limited and unreliable information available about its safety in these conditions.

How Effective Is Apple?

There is limited and scarce information available to rate the effectiveness of apple in following conditions or diseases: • Gallbladder Disease • Lung Cancer • Weight Loss

How Apple Works?

The most effective part  is the fruit, which can be utilized as apple powder extract and apple fruit powder. Apple polyphenols can have various health advantages. Polyphenols are antioxidant which can lessen cell-damaging molecules and free radicals, which are typical reason for cancer. Polyphenols may also improve the immune response of the body and better the effectiveness of cell repair. The pectin in the extract of apple powder and apple fruit product powder presumably represents its impact on diarrhea and constipation. Pectin assimilates water in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and swells to a sticky mass. The mass gives bulk which has a tendency to standardize bowel capacity. Apple skin also consist of ursolic acid, which is a triterpenoid, that adds to the waxy coat on skin of apple. Studies recommend that ursolic acid may have an impact on muscle mass. In animals fed with ursolic acid, exercise capacity, muscle mass and grip strength increased. Ursolic acid may also expand brown fat amount. Furthermore, animals fed with ursolic acid had enhanced calorie consumption, enhanced glucose resistance and decreased weight. In light of this data, there is interest for utilizing apple extract of ursolic acid as an apple powder in supplements promoted for weight reduction.

Each year, U.S. News & World Report releases a ranking of popular diets—assessed by a panel of health experts based on seven categories, including weight loss, nutrition, safety, and ease of compliance.

Topping 2018’s list of “best diets overall” is a tie between the Mediterranean and DASH Diets, which received high marks for being healthy and easy to follow, and potentially effective for weight loss in both the short- and long-term.

“No single diet works for everybody, but the DASH and the Mediterranean diets have the strongest biological underpinning, and also have been tested in the largest and longest studies,” says Dr. Eric Rimm, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, who served as one of 25 panelists for the 2018 ranking. “I’m glad the other panelists agreed with me since it is not always the case that nutrition experts agree!”

Other popular diets—such as those that involve fasting or severe dietary restrictions—fell lower on the list, with the Ketogenic Diet ranking last. Although these and other diets may result in short-term weight loss, many were rated as difficult to follow, which factored into lower scores for weight loss in the long term.

“Some diets that fell further down the list have only been tested short term, and should really be considered prescriptions—not long-term lifestyle solutions” says Rimm. “Choosing a diet that is both healthy and easy for you to follow is crucial for lasting results.”

Remember that even if a particular diet may result in weight loss for one person, it may not be effective for another due to individual differences in genes and lifestyle. And while research shows that calories matter, focusing on food quality is an equally important part of the equation for preventing weight gain and promoting weight loss.