Cholesterol And Cinnamon – Lower Cholesterol With Cinnamon

If your goal is to lower cholesterol and cinnamon is a favorite food then you are in luck. Research has shown that cinnamon is effective, and possibly even more effective than the statin drug atorvastatin (Lipitor).

Pfizer, the drug company that markets Lipitor, claims it is the best-selling cholesterol-lowering drug on the market. Many doctors put their patients on this drug if their total blood cholesterol level rises above 200 mg/dL or the amount of LDL “bad” cholesterol in their blood is too high.

Pfizer and Lipitor Drug

However, you may want to look at cholesterol and cinnamon as viable alternatives to atorvastatin to avoid side effects. Pfizer warns that taking Lipitor can increase your risk of developing serious muscle and liver disorders and online patient forums are filled with concerned patients who notice these symptoms. Sometimes the cure can be worse than the disease.

However, the cholesterol and cinnamon connection eliminate these potentially serious complications and side effects.

Cholesterol and Cinnamon – The Study

One study tested the cholesterol-lowering benefits of cinnamon compared to atorvastatin. The study took 48 rats and divided them into two groups. The first group was the control group and was fed normal rat chow. The second group was the experimental group and the researchers feed these rats a diet to intentionally boost their blood cholesterol levels.

The group that ate the high cholesterol diet was once again divided, this time into three sections. For six weeks, researchers gave rats in the three sections either cinnamon extract, atorvastatin, or nothing.

The results of the cholesterol and atorvastatin group showed an improved blood cholesterol profile after the six-week period. These rats had lower triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL “bad” cholesterol levels and elevated HDL “good” cholesterol levels. Researchers expected these results.

Researchers did not expect the cholesterol and cinnamon group to do as well in all cholesterol-lowering categories and even better in elevation of HDL cholesterol. (1) Yet, the rats in the cinnamon group showed these results.

Cholesterol and Cinnamon – How It Lowers Your Cholesterol

Your liver makes cholesterol and you also get cholesterol from the foods that you eat. Atorvastatin lowers the amount of cholesterol your liver makes by inhibiting a liver enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase). Researchers found that cinnamon may also inhibit this enzyme because of a compound found in cinnamon called cinnamate.

Furthermore, researchers found that cinnamon bark given to rats at differing dosages prevents high triglyceride levels and high cholesterol.

Cinnamon helps your body lower cholesterol so sprinkle some on your morning cereal and mix some into your warm beverage. You can also find cinnamon products and other natural herbal remedies for lowering cholesterol online.

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References:
(1) Kamal, A.A. (2009). Oxidative markers, nitric oxide and homocysteine alteration in hypercholesterolimic rats: role of atorvastatine and cinnamon. Retrieved from