Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices around the world that has many use cases from drinks to cookies and cakes. Even in medieval times, doctors have been using cinnamon to treat some health conditions. But like many other foods around us, cinnamon has its limitations and, of course, health benefits to enjoy. However, as you may realize throughout this article, this question remains unanswered that is it safe to eat cinnamon during pregnancy or not?
In this article on Hipregnancy, first, we’ll see what cinnamon and its nutritional value are. After that, we get into its consumption during pregnancy and explore some of its most important health benefits for pregnant women.
Having established the benefits, we provided some vital health risk factors that anyone should take into consideration before eating cinnamon while pregnant.
Is It Safe to Consume Cinnamon During Pregnancy?
Is cinnamon safe during pregnancy? We are going to answer this important question. Cinnamon, as we know it today, is a spice that comes from the inner layers of an evergreen tree known as Cinnamomum.
This tree is categorized in the laurel family, and the most popular types of it are native to Sri Lanka and China. Asia, Europe, and North America are the second most popular places where these trees are grown.
Overall, cinnamon is considered a safe and healthy food. However, you should be very cautious about its amount of consumption and take other risk factors seriously.
A general conclusion about eating cinnamon during pregnancy is to avoid it because of a lack of sufficient data. But that is up to you to decide. [1: medicalnewstoday],[2: everydayhealth]
Also Read: cake during pregnancy
Benefits of Consuming Cinnamon During Pregnancy
Eating cinnamon during pregnancy has fantastic benefits for both the fetus and the mother. Some most significant health benefits of cinnamon include:
- It is Antibacterial
According to webmd.com, in a review of 45 studies, it is found that cinnamon can help in controlling bacteria. Therefore, it can prevent some diseases and spoilage of some foods. Phytochemicals like cinnamaldehyde and eugenol are essential oils that cause this antibacterial effect.
- It Can Lower Cholesterol
In another study, it’s been found that eating cinnamon can lower glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and limit them to a moderate amount. This is especially critical for pregnant women who are predisposed to cholesterol-related problems and are looking for natural remedies instead of pharmaceutical medicine.
- It Acts as a Natural Antioxidant
Cinnamon herb has good antioxidant content such as polyphenols 3, 4, and 5, which together can promote a healthy body. Cinnamon can fight fungus, bacteria, and parasites too.
- Lowers Risk of Infection and Inflammation
As the body weakens during pregnancy, the body’s immune system may react poorly to some infectious diseases like flu or cold. Cinnamon can help strengthen your immune system. Also, cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory agent which can reduce swelling and joint pain you may have because of physical conditions with carrying your baby. [3: webmd]
Also Read: Is It Safe to Drink Peppermint Tea During Pregnancy?
Side effects and Considerations of Eating Cinnamon while pregnant
Although we said that eating cinnamon when pregnant can have many health benefits, there are some serious health conditions that you should take into account. It is always wise to err on caution and avoid cinnamon when in doubt.
- Beware of The Types of Cinnamon
Cassia and Ceylon are two common types of cinnamons, but their contents differ in terms of coumarin. The active compound of coumarin is more in Cassia. When used in excessive amounts, this compound can cause liver damage and breathing problems, especially when you’re pregnant (because the fetus cannot process excess amounts of toxic compounds).
- Possible Liver Damage
Some types of cinnamon, especially the Cassia variant, contain coumarin that can damage your liver. Additionally, if you’re consuming blood thinner medicine or other harmful medicines to your liver, you should limit your cinnamon intake to normal day-to-day consumption.
- Possible Uterine Contractions
One of the important ingredients of cinnamon is essential cinnamon oil. This essential oil isn’t good for pregnant women because it can cause uterine contractions, which aren’t healthy for both the baby and the mother.
- Possible Allergies and Interferences
Generally, spicy foods can cause allergic reactions in all people. Cinnamon, in particular, can cause allergies like the burning of the mouth, inflammation of the tongue, and oral soreness, and also, it can interfere with other medications that you use during pregnancy. [4: pregged]
Also Read: nettle tea in pregnancy
Can Cinnamon Cause Miscarriage During Pregnancy?
One of the most frequently asked questions about any food during pregnancy is if it causes miscarriage? This is true for cinnamon too. Does eating cinnamon during pregnancy causes miscarriage? Although there are many myths and stories about using cinnamon to terminate the pregnancy, there is no scientific evidence to support this.
When it comes to serious issues like miscarriage, there are usually many contradictory results and research that both use their own evidence to support their own hypothesis. Over the internet, you can even find guidelines to use cinnamon for abortion.
So the decision is yours! Most scientific evidence suggests that eating cinnamon is safe in moderate amounts (considering its health risks mentioned above), though other seemingly unevidenced sources link cinnamon with miscarriage. Consult with your professional health provider before making any changes to your cinnamon diet. [5: mominformed] [6: kingdomofbaby]
How much cinnamon is safe during pregnancy?
Officially there are no guidelines for how much cinnamon is safe for consumption in pregnant women. But according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the appropriate amount of cinnamon to consume in one day is ½ teaspoon. But take this ½ tablespoon as an unofficial recommendation.
Cinnamon is not off-limits during pregnancy, but at the same time, it isn’t wise to consume cinnamon in pregnancy more than typical amounts found in normal foods.
All the above considerations are for low-risk people without any other health conditions mentioned for risk factors. [7: healthline]
Is cinnamon tea bad for pregnancy?
Cinnamon and pregnancy are two best friends since consuming cinnamon is healthy for pregnant women and provides several health benefits to them. But what about cinnamon tea? Can pregnant women include this tea in their diet? Yes!
Cinnamon tea is healthy for pregnant women and their unborn babies if taken in moderate quantities. Drinking cinnamon tea can reduce symptoms of morning sickness and soothe indigestion.
Hipregnancy recommends you consult your health provider before including cinnamon tea in your pregnancy to check whether you can have it since each pregnancy is unique.
Moreover, check with your doctor how much cinnamon tea is safe for you. Consider drinking too much cinnamon tea during pregnancy can cause uterine contractions and should be avoided.
If you want to learn about other pregnancy-safe teas, check the best tea to drink when pregnant.
Conclusion
Cinnamon was a powerful spice for a long time and even had some medical use cases in the past. Like every other food, especially exotic foods or spices, there are some misconceptions, myths, stories, scientific facts, and recommendations for eating cinnamon during pregnancy. Besides the many health benefits of cinnamon for pregnant women, we explored some of the most vital health risks associated with it too.
However, one of the most frequent questions about cinnamon is if it causes miscarriage. As elaborated above, there is no scientific evidence against eating cinnamon during pregnancy.
All sources agree on the fact that taking cinnamon in moderate amounts is safe. As Always, consult with a health professional to be sure about how to include cinnamon in the particular pregnancy diet you are following.
FAQs
1. Can I drink cinnamon and milk while pregnant?
Yes, studies prove that it is safe to drink milk and cinnamon during pregnancy in moderation. To be on the safe side, it is recommended to consult your doctor before having cinnamon and milk while pregnant. Recommend you read article titled Milk of Magnesia Pregnancy.
2. Can you take cinnamon pills while pregnant?
eating cinnamon in foods as flavoring will not cause any harmful effects but taking cinnamon pills as a supplement is not recommended. The reason behind this is related to limited studies on taking cinnamon supplements during pregnancy. Hence, there is not enough information to support its safety for pregnant women.
3. Is cinnamon water good for pregnancy?
Cinnamon water is safe to drink during pregnancy as long as you have it in moderation. Adding cinnamon to water makes it a magic drink to support heart health, lower cholesterol, and keep your body hydrated.
4. Is it safe to eat cinnamon during pregnancy third trimester?
Yes, cinnamon can be taken in the third trimester of pregnancy. Although it is safe to have cinnamon in the 3rd trimester, moderation is key to support a healthy pregnancy. (Recommend you read what to eat in the third trimester?)
5. Can you eat cinnamon during first trimester?
Generally speaking, it is considered safe to consume cinnamon at any stages of pregnancy, including the first, second, and third trimesters. Adding moderate amounts of cinnamon to your pregnancy diet provides numerous health benefits, such as lowering risk of infections, managing cholesterol levels, and lowering blood pressure.
6. Can cinnamon tea cause miscarriage?
No scientific evidence supports the idea that drinking cinnamon tea can cause miscarriage. However, drinking excessive amounts of cinnamon tea can result in uterine contractions while pregnant.
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