CLAIM: An Instagram reel claims that a morning drink of cinnamon, lemon juice, and raw honey mixed in water can lower blood sugar, restore energy, and help “your clothes fit better.” 

FACT: Studies show cinnamon may modestly affect insulin and glucose responses under controlled dosages, not through water infused with a teaspoon of it. Experts say the drink does not significantly lower blood sugar, boost metabolism, or cause weight loss. Honey adds sugar, and daily cinnamon use requires caution for diabetics due to coumarin content, which can affect the liver over time. 

An Instagram reel claims that a morning drink made of cinnamon, lemon juice, and raw honey can have a direct effect on blood sugar levels in the body. “This is what cinnamon does to the sugar in your body,” the reel’s narration claims.

The reel instructs viewers to mix one teaspoon of cinnamon, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and one tablespoon of raw honey into a glass of water, and to drink it every morning on an empty stomach. 

It claims that this routine will cause “energy” to return and will make “clothes fit better,” implying a weight-loss effect. The creator goes on to claim they have a “complete blood sugar and energy morning routine” that they will share directly with people who follow the account, stating, “you have to follow me or I won’t be able to reach out to you.”

The reel has been shared by the account carter.remedies, which has a following of over 5,000. The reel has garnered more than 22,000 likes and over 300 comments.

What have studies found?

A study published in 2021 in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition looked at how cinnamon affects blood sugar and insulin levels right after a meal. The study gave normal weight and overweight or obese participants a breakfast of oatmeal and milk, either with or without six grams of cinnamon, and then tracked their blood readings over the next few hours.

The study found that in overweight or obese participants, cinnamon lowered insulin levels after the meal, without any big change in blood sugar. In participants with a normal weight, cinnamon reduced levels of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar, but did not change blood sugar itself. In fact, blood sugar was found to rise slightly one hour after the meal in the overweight or obese group.

“Cinnamon consumption differentially affected post-prandial hormonal responses in normal and overweight/obese participants,” the study noted.

The study was based on a small sample size and called for larger trials to confirm the findings.

A study published in 2024 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at whether daily cinnamon supplementation could help control blood sugar in adults with obesity and prediabetes. The study gave 18 participants either four grams of cinnamon or a placebo every day for four weeks, then switched the two groups after a break, while tracking their glucose levels continuously using a monitor worn throughout the day. 

The study found that blood sugar levels over 24 hours were significantly lower when participants took cinnamon compared to the placebo. It also found that cinnamon lowered the highest glucose spikes after meals and reduced triglyceride levels, a type of fat in the blood linked to heart disease.

“Cinnamon, a widely available and low-cost supplement, may contribute to better glucose control when added to the diet in people who have obesity-related prediabetes,” the study revealed. 

The study was limited by its small number of participants and short duration, and the study said its findings may not apply to people with milder blood sugar problems.

What are experts saying?

Edwina Raj, head of services, clinical nutrition and dietetics at Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, said the claim that cinnamon water can control blood sugar is misleading. “Studies suggest cinnamon may slightly improve insulin sensitivity or fasting blood glucose, particularly when used regularly alongside a healthy diet and medical treatment. However, simply drinking cinnamon-infused water is unlikely to produce a significant or immediate drop in blood sugar,” she said.

Raj said that honey provides a short-term energy lift, but this is because it is a source of sugar, not because it enhances metabolism. “Calling it a metabolism booster is misleading; there is no strong evidence that honey and lemon water significantly increase metabolic rate,” she said. 

She also dismissed the claim that the drink helps people lose weight. “Claims that the drink will make clothes fit better are therefore not scientifically justified,” she said, adding that any actual weight loss depends on a sustained calorie deficit, not on any single ingredient.

Raj cautioned that people with diabetes should be careful with daily use, since excess cinnamon contains coumarin, which can affect the liver over time, and honey can raise blood glucose levels. “Honey can also raise blood glucose, so adding it may be counterproductive for someone trying to control diabetes,” she added. 

Also read: FACT CHECK: Do clove and cinnamon improve insulin sensitivity?