Cinnamon usually causes no side effects. But heavy use could irritate your mouth and lips, causing sores. Some people are allergic to it. It might cause redness and irritation if you put it on your skin. Eating lots of cassia cinnamon could be toxic, especially if you have liver problems. Coumarin, an ingredient in some cinnamon products, can cause liver problems, but the amount you’d get is so small that it probably won’t be a problem. Given the lack of evidence about its safety, children, pregnant women, and women who are breastfeeding should avoid cinnamon as a treatment. Cinnamon may affect your blood sugar, so if you have diabetes and take cinnamon supplements, you might need to adjust your treatment. If you take any medication regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using cinnamon supplements. They could affect the way antibiotics, diabetes drugs, blood thinners, heart medicines, and others work.
Cinnamon Side Effects For Health
It can cause liver damage
Cassia Cinnamon (or regular) is a rich source of coumarin. The coumarin content of the soil of Cassia cinnamon can range from 7 to 18 milligrams per teaspoon (2.6 grams), while Ceylon cinnamon contains only consecutive amounts of coumarin. The daily tolerable diet of coumarin is approximately 0.05 mg/pound (0.1 mg/kg) of body weight or 5 mg per day for a person weighing 130 pounds (59 kg). This means that just 1 teaspoon of Cassia’s cinnamon can put you above the daily limit. Unfortunately, a few studies have found that eating too much coumarin can cause liver toxicity and damage. For example, a 73-year-old woman developed a sudden liver infection that caused liver damage after taking cinnamon ingredients for just one week. However, the case involved supplements that offered higher doses than you can get from food alone.
May increase the risk of cancer
Animal studies have shown that eating a lot of coumarins, which are high in cassia and cinnamon, can increase the risk of certain foods. For example, studies in mice found that eating too much coumarin could cause cancer in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. However, some scientists believe that coumarin causes DNA damage over time, increasing the risk of cancer. Many studies on the effects of coumarin cancer have been performed on animals. Further human research is needed to determine if the same link between cancer and coumarin works in humans.
It can cause mouth sores
Some people have experienced mouth ulcers from food products that contain cinnamon flavors. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, a substance that can cause excessive reactions when consumed in large quantities. A small amount of spice does not seem to cause this reaction, as saliva prevents chemicals from being in contact with the mouth for too long.
In addition to oral ulcers, other symptoms of allergies to cinnamaldehyde include:
- swelling of the tongue or gums
- a burning or itching sensation
- white spots on the mouth
Although these symptoms may be minor, they can cause discomfort. However, it is important to note that cinnamaldehyde will only cause mouth sores if you have an allergy to it. Do not get this type of allergy and skin test. Also, oral ulcers appear to be more effective in those who use a lot of cinnamon oil and chewing gum gums, as these products can contain a lot of cinnamaldehyde.
It can cause low blood sugar
Having high blood sugar is a health problem. Left untreated, it can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and a host of other health problems. Cinnamon is best known for its ability to lower blood sugar. Studies have shown that spices can mimic the effects of insulin, a hormone that helps lower blood sugar. While eating less cinnamon can help lower your blood sugar, eating too much can cause you to lose a lot of weight. This is called hypoglycemia. It can cause fatigue, dizziness, and possibly even fainting. People most at risk of developing low blood sugar are those who are taking anti-diabetic drugs. This is because cinnamon can enhance the effects of these medications and cause your blood sugar to drop dramatically.
May cause respiratory problems
Eating too much cinnamon at one time can cause respiratory problems.
This is because the spice has a fine texture that makes it easy to smell. Bad breath can cause:
- cough
- closing the mouths
- difficulty when trying to find your breath
Also, cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon is something that irritates the throat. It can cause other respiratory problems. People with asthma or other respiratory medical conditions need to be especially careful about sniffing cinnamon by accident, as they may have difficulty breathing.
May it consults with certain medicines
Cinnamon is safe to eat in small to medium amounts with many medicines. However, taking too much can be a problem if you are taking medication for diabetes, heart disease, or liver disease. This is because cinnamon can interact with those drugs, either enhancing its effects or intensifying their side effects. For example, Cassia cinnamon contains high levels of coumarin, which can cause liver toxicity and damage if consumed in high amounts. If you are taking medications that can affect your liver, such as paracetamol, acetaminophen, and statins, an overdose of cinnamon can increase the risk of liver damage.
Toxicity
Eating too much cinnamon can be dangerous, especially if you have liver problems. Coumarin, an ingredient in certain cinnamon products, can cause liver problems, but the amount you will get is very small and probably not a problem. Given the lack of evidence on its safety, children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women should avoid cinnamon as a treatment. Also, cinnamon can help lower blood sugar, so if you are taking anti-diabetic drugs, the spice can increase its effects and cause your blood sugar to drop dramatically.
Premature labor
Pregnant women should not take Cinnamon. This is because Cinnamon (especially oils) can induce premature labor or uterine contractions. While Cinnamon helps with stomach pains, gas, or indigestion, you should NOT be taking Cinnamon for these purposes while you are pregnant. Better safe than sorry. An occasional cup of Cinnamon is probably safe but why take a chance? Taking Cinnamon tablets or especially smelling Cinnamon Oil should be avoided at all costs.
Blood thinner
Cinnamon apparently thins your blood. These blood-thinning properties are apparently particularly high in Cassia Cinnamon, while Ceylon Cinnamon does not seem to thin your blood. This blood thinning property of Cassia Cinnamon apparently helps it in acting as an anti-clotting agent, especially for those suffering from heart disease. Therefore care must be taken not to take Cinnamon with other blood thinning medication and the reason why Doctors do not recommend taking Cinnamon while taking medication, especially blood-thinning medication.
Skin irritation
If you touch Cinnamon oil without diluting it, it will irritate your skin and create a burning sensation. Kind of like chili powder. This is particularly acute if you touch any genitalia after handling pure Cinnamon oil. So it’s best to wear gloves or be careful not to spill any on your hands.
Increased heart rate
High doses of Cinnamon could be dangerous for those with a heart condition as Cinnamon is known to increase your heart rate. Similarly, undiluted Cinnamon oil can cause rapid heart rates, especially in children. Remember Cinnamon oil is especially powerful and should be diluted to less than 2% before use. At those levels, it is safe for use by most people.
Cinnamon tablets
We do not believe Cinnamon tablets or capsules are safe or even effective to take because of things like Silicon Dioxide which is used in the manufacture of these tablets. Click here to see our in-depth look at the dangers of Cinnamon capsules.
Antibiotic conflict
Because Cinnamon in many ways can act as an antibiotic, albeit an all-natural one. taking commercial antibiotics with cinnamon may create a conflict. It is like taking a double dose of antibiotics. It is best you stop taking Cinnamon when taking prescription antibiotics and consult your Doctor. The FDA says Cinnamon has no proven health properties. If that is the case why prevent it from being marketed as a drug right?
Body heat
Chinese medicine says to avoid anything that increases body heat when necessary. Cinnamon like alcohol, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cauliflower, lobster, coffee, garlic, ginger, glutinous rice, kimchi, onions, and pumpkin may increase body heat. As the body heat or inflammation increases from consuming too much Cinnamon, the body will try to vent this excess heat. This usually takes the form of boils under the tongue, cracked lips, pimples, or thick crusty mucus that seeps from the eye. You may not feel this so much in winter, but during summer it will be felt much more if you take too much Cinnamon. If you are going through menopause for example, then avoid Cinnamon. If you have had a huge dose of lobster, then don’t eat cinnamon.
FAQ
What cinnamon does to the body?
Cinnamon also contains large amounts of polyphenol antioxidants. Antioxidants can help protect the body from disease and are found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. The antioxidants in cinnamon have been found to have anti-inflammatory effects.
Is cinnamon bad for kidneys?
Levels that are too high or too low can cause health problems. Herbs such as garlic, turmeric, and cinnamon are healthy in normal amounts consumed in food. However, in pill form, these herbs can alter liver enzymes, thin the blood, and change kidney functions.
