Cinnamon Water Is an Antioxidant-Rich Beverage That’s Incredibly Easy to Make

When cinnamon and water are put together, they make quite the power duo, like vitamin D and calcium or Martha Stewart and Snoop Dog. Cinnamon water is a tasty, easy way to enjoy a hydrating, antioxidant-rich beverage. "It’s essentially cooled cinnamon tea, and it’s made by simmering water in a pot with a fresh cinnamon stick and then cooling," says celebrity chef and nutritionist Serena Poon, founder of Culinary Alchemy and Just Add Water.

"Something that I talk about in my Culinary Alchemy programs is the intersection of physical, emotional, and spiritual health," she says. "In my experience, true optimal health cannot happen unless it is within this holistic purview." In other words: You cannot simply chug some and expect it to work miracles. Poon recommends integrating it into "a holistic lifestyle that includes eating wholesome foods, getting rest, balancing hormones, exercising, and taking care of your mental and physical health. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of cinnamon water.


Experts In This Article
  • Serena Poon, CN, celebrity chef, certified nutritionist, and Reiki master

What are the benefits?

"Adding cinnamon to your water is not only hydrating and delicious, it can also supply an array of health benefits, such as: delivering antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, supporting heart health, lowering cholesterol, and potentially aiding in weight loss," says Poon. Even though cinnamon could boost your metabolism, she cautions against trying to use cinnamon water as a replacement for proper weight loss or management protocols. On the spiritual side, cinnamon is known for its ability to invite prosperity, for example through performing a cinnamon abundance ritual.

Who shouldn't drink it?

"There are a few contraindications for cinnamon," says Poon. "In high doses cinnamon can be toxic for the liver, so people who have liver disease may want to use caution. Like many things, there is little research on the effects of cinnamon on pregnant women, so that community would also likely want to avoid this beverage." She adds that if you are on medication or living with a diagnosed condition it's a good idea to check with you doctor first.

When is the best time to drink it?

"Many people say that drinking cinnamon water at night can help you lose weight. Others point to the Ayurvedic principle of drinking warming water first thing in the morning to encourage digestion. You could try either," says Poon.

How do you make it?

Thankfully, it's super easy to make. The only ingredients you need are a fresh stick of cinnamon and some H2O. "Boil a bit of water and then cool to a simmer. Drop in the cinnamon stick and let simmer until the water turns a deep brown, up to 10 minutes. Take the liquid off of the stove, remove the cinnamon stick and let cool," says Poon. Then, enjoy!


Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.
  1. Rao, Pasupuleti Visweswara, and Siew Hua Gan. “Cinnamon: a multifaceted medicinal plant.” Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM vol. 2014 (2014): 642942. doi:10.1155/2014/642942
  2. Mousavi, Seyed Mohammad et al. “Cinnamon supplementation positively affects obesity: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) vol. 39,1 (2020): 123-133. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2019.02.017

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