1 reason to choose expensive cinnamon

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Do I hear sleigh bells, or is that just my teeth chattering?

Winter brings warm, comforting drinks like spiced tea and hot cocoa. You might enjoy apples with cinnamon or baked treats. Even mulled wine filled with spices, especially cinnamon, creates a cozy feeling. Spices can warm your soul, but what else can they do?

Cinnamon is a spice typically used to add flavor to food. Traditionally, people have used it to treat many health conditions, from digestive problems to parasitic infections.

Two main types of cinnamon exist in cooking and supplements:

1. Cassia Cinnamon - Found in China (Cinnamomum cassia or aromaticum), Indonesia (Cinnamomum burmannii), and Vietnam (Cinnamomum loureirii).

2. Ceylon Cinnamon - More expensive and less common, also called "true" cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum zeylanicum).

Some research shows that cinnamon can lower blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin, even for people with poorly managed diabetes. However, these studies are limited and sometimes conflicting. Most show therapeutic effects only at high doses, which can be dangerous.

What are the potential dangers?

The main concern is the high level of coumarin in Cassia Cinnamon! Coumarin has a sweet-bitter smell but can cause toxic effects on the liver. Animal studies have shown it might cause tumors.

Despite this, Cassia Cinnamon is generally considered safe.

However, high doses taken over a long time might cause side effects, such as:

• Digestive discomfort

• Stomach pain

• Nausea

• Constipation

• Heartburn

• Headaches

• Skin reactions like hives and rash

Experts recommend avoiding long-term daily intake of cinnamon with high coumarin content due to potential liver toxicity and cancer risks.

A dose of up to 1 gram (about half a teaspoon) of ground cinnamon daily probably won't exceed the acceptable limit for adults (7 mg of coumarin). However, some people are more sensitive and might experience elevated liver enzyme levels even at lower coumarin amounts (5 mg or more).

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Effect of high amounts of coumarin from cassia on the body.

Daily intake of 25 to 30 mg of coumarin is associated with liver damage, liver failure, and, in some cases, death. Genetic variations of the CYP2а6 protein, previous liver damage associated with alcohol, or viral hepatitis can worsen the situation.

Cinnamon and statins.

Taking cinnamon supplements with other medications can increase the risk of liver damage. For example, in a 71-year-old woman taking a daily dose (40 mg) of statins - rosuvastatin - (Crestor), hepatitis developed a week after she started taking cinnamon supplements (dose and form unknown). The hepatitis passed after she stopped taking rosuvastatin and the cinnamon supplement, after which she was able to take statins again without any liver problems.

Cinnamon and blood sugar medications.

Since cassia cinnamon can potentially lower blood sugar levels, it should be used cautiously by people taking sugar-regulating medications (insulin, metformin, glibencide, etc.). It should not be taken at least two weeks before surgery.

Cinnamon and rosacea.

An acute rosacea exacerbation was reported in a 68-year-old woman with rosacea and type 2 diabetes after taking a supplement with cinnamon oil for two weeks.

Conclusions: 

A small amount of cinnamon, up to 1 gram per day, will not cause problems. If you take cinnamon to regulate sugar, pay attention to the composition and the presence of Ceylon cinnamon with low coumarin content. To prescribe cinnamon in large doses, additional research on liver markers and a deep medical history of the patient are necessary.

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Warm regards,
Kos and Helen.