Does Cinnamon Pose Any Danger During Pregnancy?

There are many uses for cinnamon, including making baked goods sweeter or infusing coffee with more flavor. Cinnamon can be placed over cookies and cakes or added to coffee. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties not only make cinnamon a great complement to your favorite foods but also benefit your health. There are a couple of things you’ll need to keep in mind when using cinnamon during pregnancy because it is a powerful spice.

Does cinnamon cause any issues during pregnancy?

Certain foods may not be eaten while pregnant, such as high mercury fish, raw eggs, and undercooked meats. Luckily, cinnamon is not one of them.

Even so, cinnamon has side effects, including liver damage and stomach problems, even though it’s safe to use as a flavoring ingredient. Also, eating too much cinnamon may result in gastrointestinal problems, mouth ulcers, and liver damage.

Cinnamon does not appear to have any official guidelines or safe limits for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. There does not seem to be an established safe limit for those who are not pregnant or breastfeeding.

Study results showed that cinnamon consumption by 60 people with diabetes for 40 days decreased fasting blood sugar levels significantly. [1]

The safe daily dosage for cinnamon, however, has not been proven by long-term studies, and it should be used sparingly when used as a spice.

Related: Relation Between Fertility and Diet

Supplements, what about them?

Cinnamon is safe during pregnancy, but moderation is essential.

A study from the Center for Complementary and Integrative Health indicates that cinnamon may be unsafe if you’re pregnant and consume more than what’s found in normal foods.

Therefore, it’s OK to consume cinnamon-infused meals, pastries, and cookies.

If taking cinnamon supplements is not safe, it might result in overconsumption, as there is no definitive allocating level of safe consumption during pregnancy.

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Cinnamon benefits during pregnancy

There may be a variety of health benefits to taking cinnamon during pregnancy, including:

Reduces the risk of infection

You are more susceptible to colds, the flu, and other infections during pregnancy due to a weaker immune system. Cinnamon can be beneficial in strengthening your immune system and promoting good health.

Antioxidants in cinnamon such as polyphenols support your body’s immune function and help protect it against infection and disease. Polyphenols are natural antioxidants that help your body combat free radicals.

Anti-inflammatory properties

This extra pressure on your joints can lead to swelling and pain. It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to suffer physical and mental challenges.

The anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamon may help you deal with joint pain and muscle aches by reducing inflammation across the body.

Contributes to lowered blood pressure

A small body of evidence suggests cinnamon might help lower your blood pressure either systolic or diastolic.

Several studies have suggested cinnamon helps in reducing blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Related: 6 Ways You Can Lower Your Blood Pressure

Diabetes during pregnancy and cinnamon

As many as 10 percent of pregnant women in the United States each year, affected by gestational diabetes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Research shows that cinnamon may reduce blood sugar levels during pregnancy by increasing insulin sensitivity, allowing the body to utilize glucose more efficiently. When blood sugar levels rise during pregnancy, the body fails to produce enough insulin, which leads to spikes in blood sugar levels.

Related: Diabetes Reversal Methods

What are the benefits of cinnamon tea for labor?

Cinnamon tea has been rumored to induce labor, but is this true?

Unless you’ve been pregnant for a while, you may be most likely to benefit from a natural method to induce labor. You could eat spicy foods, take walks, and drink cinnamon tea.

The truth is, there is no evidence to suggest that cinnamon tea triggers labor. If you’re going to drink a cup, go ahead and indulge. But if you believe that cinnamon tea starts labor, then don’t get your hopes up.

Cinnamon during pregnancy: Side effects and precautions

It is also possible that cinnamon may cause an adverse reaction. Sometimes, it can cause allergic reactions, which include a rash on the skin, difficulty breathing, and an itchy mouth or tongue.

Cinnamon can also give you heartburn or indigestion if you consume too much of it.

It is also critical to be aware that cinnamon can lower your platelet count. This means you should not consume it along with blood-thinning medications to prevent bleeding during delivery. This risk is even greater if you have a cesarean section.

It is important to remember that doctors do not recommend too much cinnamon consumption during pregnancy. Since little research has been done to determine its safety and risks. [2]

Conclusion

Its sweet, savory taste is a pleasure to the taste buds. Whether you sprinkle it on pastries, cookies, or in your morning coffee.

Cinnamon, also known to provide some health benefits during pregnancy, yet excessive amounts may be harmful, so moderation is essential.

References

• [1]. Ruitang Deng. A Review of the Hypoglycemic Effects of Five Commonly Used Herbal Food Supplements. (2012): ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3626401/
• [2]. Muhammad Usman. Is it advisable to take cinnamon during pregnancy?. (2020)