Cinnamon harms: do the benefits outweigh the benefits?
Cinnamon has been used in folk medicine to treat many diseases, but because it contains active ingredients, it may have undesirable side effects, so what are the potential harms of cinnamon?
Learn about cinnamon potential harms, recommended dosages, drug interactions and benefits in the following article:
Damage to cinnamon
Here are the most important damages resulting from using cinnamon in large quantities or taking its supplements, as follows:
1. Damage to the liver
Coumarin in cinnamon causes damage to the health of the liver, especially for those who suffer from liver diseases, and although some types of cinnamon contain a greater concentration of coumarin, it is not recommended to eat any of the types in large quantities.
2. Sensitivity and mouth irritation
Cinnamon may cause sensitization in some bodies, whether when consumed or applied to the skin, as it may irritate the lips and mouth, or in severe cases, painful sores.
But it is rare for this to happen.
3. The risk of lowering blood sugar
Cinnamon may cause severe hypoglycemia when consumed in conjunction with diabetes treatments, so the patient must adjust drug doses under the supervision of a doctor in case he wants to enter it into his treatment plan.
Warnings about eating cinnamon
Be careful when consuming cinnamon in some cases:
Pregnant and breastfeeding women
There is no evidence that cinnamon supplements are safe to take in children younger than 13 or pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is best to avoid them.
Undergo surgeries
Consuming cinnamon may cause difficulty in controlling blood sugar during or after surgery, so it is advised to stop consuming it at least two weeks before the date of surgery.
Take some medications
Among the harms of cinnamon also is the occurrence of many drug interactions, here are the most important of these when consuming cinnamon in large quantities or taking one of its nutritional supplements:
Medicines that are metabolized by the liver
Taking cinnamon along with medications that are metabolized by the liver might cause a burden that is harmful to liver health, including:
- Paracetamol.
- Methotrexate.
- Simvastatin.
- Carbamazepine.
Diabetes medications
Taking it with cinnamon may cause a decrease in sugar, including:
- Insulin.
- Glimepiride.
- Metformin.
- Pioglitazone.
The recommended dose of cinnamon
Here's the average safe to use dose of ground cinnamon extract, according to age:
- Adults: 1 to 3 grams daily for the treatment of diabetes, pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
- Children: A dose of 1 gram daily for a maximum of 3 months can be used for children over 13 years of age.
Cinnamon benefits
Many studies have been conducted on cinnamon, and it is believed that cinnamon has benefits in treating many health problems, such as:
Pain relief
It may help relieve dysmenorrhea as well as relieve pain and speed up wound healing in women who have had a cut in the vulva during childbirth.
Anti-inflammatory effect
It may help inhibit some substances that play a role in the inflammatory process, such as: prostaglandin (Prostaglandin E2) and nitric oxide.
Antimicrobial effect: Cinnamon may have a positive effect in treating H. pylori and intestinal candidiasis.
Diabetes treatment
Cinnamon may have a role in controlling blood sugar and improving glucose metabolism, but there isn't even enough evidence to prove this.
Metabolic syndrome treatment
Cinnamon may have a role in improving metabolic indicators, such as: triglycerides, blood pressure, and others, but there is not enough evidence to prove this.