If you are pregnant or an expecting mother, you try to ensure that you include the healthiest and right food in your diet.

You have known Cinnamon as the most potent herb and primarily consume it in your food and drinks. Infact we are well aware of the health benefits of this superfood because of its antioxidant properties.

Although, there have been a lot of rumors and misconceptions regarding the consumption of Cinnamon during pregnancy.

Can Cinnamon cause a miscarriage? or

Is Cinnamon safe during pregnancy

Today in this article, we will try to find various aspects of eating Cinnamon during pregnancy.

Table of Contents

Can Cinnamon Cause a Miscarriage?

While pregnant, you have to take care of certain foods you should avoid for a safe pregnancy. But the good news for you is that Cinnamon is not on the off-limit food.

Cinnamon is used mainly as an ingredient in foods, seasoning or flavoring agents, and drinks like tea or coffee.

No scientific studies have been established to support or deny that eating Cinnamon can cause a miscarriage. Generally most herbs and spice are safe in small quantities during pregnancy including the cinnamon tea.

However, eating in moderation is always considered to avoid the side effects during pregnancy, either inducing labor or leading to miscarriage.

Is Cinnamon Safe During Pregnancy?

There is no harm in consuming cinnamon during pregnancy, and it possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. It is recommended to take cinnamon to treat common symptoms like cough & cold, sore throat, nausea, and joint pains during pregnancy. In some cases, doctors even advise taking cinnamon during pregnancy to treat appetite loss and tooth pain and reduce cholesterol levels.

Despite having several health benefits, as we discussed, there also comes some adverse side effects if the intake exceeds a higher amount.

It would be best to be more careful when you are on diabetes and blood thinner medication. The overconsumption of cinnamon can be dangerous and cause miscarriage, especially when you have to go through surgery.

It is best to avoid cinnamon altogether if you are using it in any form, like cinnamon oil, supplement, and essential oil. Consuming these in large quantities can cause possible side effects like allergies, liver damage, and gastrointestinal problems during pregnancy.

Also Read: List of Superfood

Risk Factor of Consuming Cinnamon During Pregnancy

1. Low Blood Sugar Level: Cinnamon can cause your blood sugar level to be too low as it regulates blood sugar, and this could be extremely dangerous if you have to go for emergency surgery.

2. Liver Damage: Cinnamon contains a substance called coumarin, which is high in cassia cinnamon (one type of cinnamon). It is believed that large consumption can cause damage to the liver if you already have liver diseases.

Also Read: Fatty Liver Diet

3. Allergies: Your immune system is quite sensitive during pregnancy. Excess consumption of cinnamon can cause allergies, and you may develop symptoms like skin irritation and indigestion or a burning sensation.

4. Interaction with other medication: When you consume cinnamon in large quantities, it can interact with your medicine and cause complications. For people with a particular medication for diabetes, cinnamon can interfere with your medicine and cause serious problems.

Coumarin can interact with your medication and affect your liver adversely and cause liver damage.

You should contact your doctor if you have diabetes and take any medication. It is good to avoid cinnamon supplements to avoid liver damage due to its interaction with medicine.

5. Increased Risk of Bleeding: Coumarin, a power blood thinning agent in cinnamon, can increase your chance of excessive bleeding. When you have to undergo a cesarean surgery, it can cause severe complications during surgery. Cinnamon can also further lower your platelet count if you are on a blood thinner.

How much Cinnamon is Safe during Pregnancy?

There have been no studies to establish any specified limit to consider what quantity is safe to consume.

The general study recommends the effective dose of 1-6 gm of cinnamon per day for an average adult.

Although, no studies has suggested any safe quantity to consume during pregnancy, any higher amount is still toxic as it can trigger many health complication. Pregnant women should must be very careful in regular consumption of cinnamon in any form used in dishes, cakes and other bakery product as it could be harmful.

Not to forget that cinnamon is only present in foods and drinks; Cinnamon oil is also present in essential oil used for aromatherapy. Pregnant women should avoid aromatherapy that uses cinnamon oil and any other toxic essential oil.

Precautions to Consume Cinnamon During Pregnancy

Avoid Cinnamon if you have any allergies to it or have any pregnancy-related issues.
Trying using Ceylon varieties of Cinnamon as it has a mild flavor.
Cinnamon is best when consumed fresh. Avoid expired or old stock, which can pose health issues.
If you have a high-risk pregnancy or any risk of miscarriage, you should altogether avoid it.
Artificial Cinnamon may contain chemicals; there, you should avoid it.
Cinnamon essential oil must be avoided during pregnancy as it can cause uterine contractions leading to miscarriage.

Conclusion

Cinnamon is a widespread spice used to flavor and seasoning agents in various dishes. Although cinnamon has many health benefits, taking high doses may lead to severe complications in pregnancy.

It is always advisable to consult your doctor when you take any cinnamon supplement, especially if you are on any medication. It is generally safe to sprinkle a small amount of cinnamon over your food and use it in cinnamon tea.