“You can lose muscle, particularly in the heart, so you’re more prone to heart problems. And you can lose bone mass, which causes osteoporosis. You’ve also got mental health issues that go with it. You’re more likely to suffer things such as depression if you’re very underweight.”He added that the Northern Irish actress could also be damaging her immune system and putting herself at increased risk of breast cancer.Antonia, who starred in Slim Xtreme Weight Loss Pills sitcom Lead Balloon with Jack Dee, 51, has admitted she is deliberately starving herself for the role.She said: “It happened very easily. I am working 24/7, and I sort of replicated the way Natascha ate – not very much, not very often.There was an understanding from the beginning that I would suffer as much as she did.”She insisted her health has been carefully monitored for the film 3096, in which she plays the victim of evil Wolfgang Priklopil.In 1998 the pervert snatched 10-year-old Natascha in Vienna, then tortured and starved her in a cellar for the next eight years.Antonia added: “It’s not a case study. But playing someone real, you feel you have to give a bit more.And I’ve been naked for the last two months, pretty much.”The actress has also suffered cuts, bruises, a torn Achilles tendon, a broken toe and a fractured rib during the making of the film.Due out in February, it is based on Natascha’s harrowing autobiography and features scenes of extreme violence and rape.Cinnaldehyde, 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 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 Pai You Guo 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.