Does cinnamon cause miscarriages: myth or fact?

Ah, cinnamon! Who doesn’t love this festive and heartwarming spice? In small doses, it is pure bliss, but in large quantities, you better beware.

Does cinnamon cause miscarriages? It is natural for women to get concerned about the restrictions of their daily diet and prioritize sustaining a healthy pregnancy for the development of their future child.

Cinnamon becomes a viral cause of these worries experienced by pregnant women, which results in many misconceptions.

In this article, we will get a closer look at the cinnamon effects on pregnancies and its health benefits to enlighten our readers and warn them of any potential dangers.

Nature of cinnamon

Types of cinnamon: Cassia cinnamon

To explore the connection between cinnamon and pregnancies, we would like you to know more about the nature of the spice and its general effects on health and well-being.

Cinnamon derives from cinnamon bark which is harnessed from cinnamon trees, and there are indeed different types of it that exist in nature. 

Some of the well-known examples are:

• Cassia cinnamon
• Ceylon cinnamon
• Chinese cinnamon
• Malabar cinnamon

Each type may have various effects and also raises questions regarding the impact on pregnancy.

Cassia cinnamon, for instance, is the most frequently used type that you can buy in groceries. This type of cinnamon is harvested in Sri Lanka (as well as Ceylon cinnamon) or South India. 

It is safe to use, but better to avoid consuming more than 6 grams of cassia per day.

The reason for that is coumarin – a compound that causes liver damage and is better to be taken in small doses.

Health benefits of cinnamon

It may come as a surprise for our worried readers, but adding cinnamon to your diet can bring many health benefits.

That’s right, it is not only a sweet seasoning that goes along with any hot drink and adds rich flavor to your favorite pastries.

It also plays a bigger role in our immune system and actually can help you during pregnancy.

• Eating cinnamon uncovers its anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce swelling during pregnancy or from chronic disease and any inflaming foods.
• Moreover, cinnamon has antioxidant properties that strengthen the immune system by boosting it and decreasing the risks of having heart disease or cancer.
• Consuming cinnamon has the effect of preventing high blood pressure along with improving your blood flow. During labor, the blood loss of the mother also decreases.
• It limits the development of bacteria, preventing fungal infections or any other type of infections.
• Taking cinnamon into your diet also serves as a prevention of gestational diabetes by enhancing insulin sensitivity. This allows the organism to control blood sugar levels and benefit more from glucose.
• Taking cinnamon is highly nutritious as it is rich in carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids, vitamin C, and minerals.

Negative side effects

Despite the many health benefits of cinnamon, it can also cause as much harm in large quantity, especially for a pregnant woman.

• Eating spicy foods increases the chance of getting heartburn or indigestion.
• It can lead to the occurrence of allergic reactions.
• Large cinnamon consumption impacts your bleeding levels by reducing the organism’s number of platelets. It may lead to stemming blood flow, which complicates the baby’s birth
• Large amounts of cinnamon cause liver complications because of coumarin and result in organ failure. 
• It is strongly advised not to consume it if you take any diabetes medication during your pregnancy. Mixing cinnamon with anti-diabetes drugs can interfere with its proper use. 

Signs of miscarriage

Before heading straight to the question whether cinnamon intakes cause a miscarriage, it is essential to understand how miscarriages are characterized.

Sadly, some women experience miscarriages during the period of early pregnancy (first trimester). 

Common symptoms to look out for are:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Stomach pains – cramps
• Exhaustion
• Sickness
• Sore breasts

If you experience any of the symptoms during the early stages of your pregnancy or feel concerned about your state, we advise you to seek professional medical help.

Cinnamon and Miscarriages

Finally, we are getting into the main question of this article – 

“Does cinnamon cause a miscarriage?” 

There are so many myths surrounding cinnamon and that it does induce labor or miscarriage.

Alas, the direct link between spice and pregnancy is yet to be researched. For now, there is not much scientific evidence that cinnamon causes miscarriage. 

However, it may bring some complications during your pregnancy or birth. 

Doctors advise pregnant women not to go overboard with cinnamon. As it goes for any natural herbs consumption, in large quantities it can negatively result in the overall health of mother and child.

This goes as well for all cinnamon pills, cinnamon powder, cinnamon oil, and other cinnamon supplements.

It is recommended to refrain from too much cinnamon consumption to promote good health for pregnant women.

Important to mention that for women experiencing high risk pregnancy, it is better to avoid cinnamon altogether. Especially when they have never consumed it before due to a risk of allergy.

Cinnamon oil

When it comes to other cinnamon supplements like cinnamon essential oil, for instance, it is better to avoid them completely during your pregnancy.  

Hence, try not to partake in any aromatherapies which involve cinnamon or any other essential oils which include toxins. We already established that cinnamon involves a toxic compound, coumarin. 

What about cinnamon tea?

When it comes to herbal teas and blends, the amount of cinnamon ratio is usually pretty low, and very little spice makes your cup. 

For that sole reason, it is safe for pregnant women to enjoy their portion of herbal cinnamon tea.

How much cinnamon is “too much”?

Being one of the members of the cinnamon lovers’ club doesn’t help. You’re never getting enough of this delicious spice.

For some, it is even considered a guilty pleasure, and we can’t blame them.

Nevertheless, specialists state that one should not neglect spice. Only take minimal amounts of cinnamon for regular consumption.

But how much cinnamon is considered “too much”?

It all depends on the percentage of coumarin involved. Studies show that a person should take 0.05 mg of coumarin per each pound of their body.

Generally speaking, as long as it doesn’t go beyond the dose of 6 grams, it won’t present any harm.

Overall, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder is about < 3 grams. It is advised to limit your daily intake of spice from 1/2 to 1 teaspoon. 

If it is added to dishes or any bakery products or pastries, it is not dangerous. 

Conclusion: Is cinnamon safe?

Yes, controlled amounts of cinnamon are completely safe to use.

It may have positive effects on your health and improve your immune system, so it is not necessary to avoid cinnamon at all.

Of course, it is important to take extra precautions by lowering the dosage of spice in your diet and ensure your and your baby’s safety during your pregnancy.

Hopefully, we were able to answer your question in full detail and ease your concerns.

Good luck and stay safe!

FAQ

Learn More: Can Cinnamon Cause a Miscarriage?

Our previous article 15 Signs Of Pregnancy To Know If You Are Pregnant in the title Am I pregnant ve pregnancy exercises information is provided..