Cinnamon is one of the world’s favorite spices, known for its accessibility and excellent flavor. However, if you’re pregnant, you might be wondering whether this spice is safe for your consumption. Can cinnamon cause a miscarriage?
Cinnamon cannot cause a miscarriage. In fact, cinnamon has many proven health benefits. It is full of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. However, consuming excessive amounts of cinnamon can make you ill.
The rest of this article will tell you everything you need to know about the effects of cinnamon, so you can decide whether this spice is something you want to consume during your pregnancy.
Is Cinnamon Good for You?
Cinnamon is good for you. This spice is a superfood, meaning if it is consumed in healthy amounts, your body can benefit from its wide array of positive benefits. There is no evidence to suggest that cinnamon causes miscarriages in pregnant women.
As an aside, some folks would say that cinnamon combined with honey can amp up your fertility. According to fertility expert Jane L. Frederick in an email interview with Bustle, “Cinnamon mixed with the honey can help with blood flow to organs for reproduction.”
Health Benefits of Cinnamon
Now we have answered the question about if can cinnamon cause a miscarriage, let’s explore the health benefits of cinnamon!
As registered dietitian Lisa Drayer says in a CNN article: “[W]e need to see more research before we can make any solid health claims linking cinnamon to reduce risk of disease or improved health.” That said, here’s what the research has to say so far.
1. Cinnamon Is Full of Antioxidants
Believe it or not, cinnamon is full of antioxidants. These are essential for maintaining good health and are often found in:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Spices
- other naturally occurring substances
But what is an antioxidant, exactly?
Antioxidants include vitamins and other defensive molecules that fight against infections. Regular consumption of antioxidants can help guard your cells against unwanted damage.
Cinnamon is a great source of antioxidants. Because of its great taste and general affordability, adding this spice to your routine can be delicious and beneficial to your health.
2. Cinnamon Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
In addition to being chock-full of antioxidants, this spice is known for having excellent anti-inflammatory properties. When different parts of the body are inflamed, this can cause painful and often harmful symptoms you want to avoid.
By increasing your intake of foods that naturally contain anti-inflammatory properties, you can be protected against inflammation and save yourself a lot of trouble in the long run.
3. Cinnamon Is Antimicrobial
Another excellent benefit of cinnamon is that this spice is antimicrobial. When something is antimicrobial, this means a particular substance can prevent and even stop microorganisms from growing in the body. Antimicrobial substances can be antibacterial or antifungal, and cinnamon is both. It helps fight against bacterial infections as well as fungal infections, which is necessary for maintaining good health.
4. Cinnamon Helps With PMS
You might be surprised to discover that cinnamon can actually help with PMS. As women know all too well, premenstrual syndrome can be difficult. But did you know that cinnamon can help relieve the pain that comes with cramps?
If you experience painful menstrual symptoms, cinnamon can be a great natural alternative to artificial pain relievers because it can reduce the intensity of inflammation in the body.
5. Cinnamon Contains the Mineral Manganese
Another potential health benefit of cinnamon is that it contains manganese. Manganese is a mineral that provides you with fiber and good bone health. It can also help regulate blood sugar. Adding bits of cinnamon into your diet is a great way to monitor your consumption of manganese.
6. Cinnamon Helps With Nausea
Nausea is one of the most common pregnancy symptoms. Morning sickness is certainly no joke, and too much vomiting can be detrimental to your health — especially while pregnant.
So it’s great to know that cinnamon helps relieve nausea.
Studies have shown that women who consume cinnamon have less nausea than women who don’t.
If you’re struggling with nausea, it might be a good idea to add a bit of cinnamon to your diet. You can do this through smoothies, baking, or using it as a topping.
However, it’s important that you don’t consume too much cinnamon, as too much of anything is never a good idea. As long as your cinnamon consumption is within reasonable limits, you should be just fine.
7. Cinnamon Reduces Migraine Intensity
Another wonderful attribute of cinnamon is that helps reduce migraine intensity, according to recent research. Because cinnamon is anti-inflammatory, it can help prevent migraines from happening. And if they still happen, they’re typically less intense than usual.
Hormone changes during pregnancy can often lead to uncomfortable and debilitating headaches. If this is the case for you, try adding safe amounts of cinnamon to your diet.
How Much Cinnamon Is Safe To Consume While Pregnant?
Cinnamon has a wide variety of great health benefits, but as we mentioned before, eating excessive amounts of this spice is never a good idea.
Half a teaspoon (1.3 grams) of cinnamon each day is safe to consume while pregnant, according to the USDA. While excessive amounts of cinnamon have not yet been linked to miscarriage, it can make you sick and cause a bit of irritation.
For non-pregnant folks, the USDA recommended daily intake is 6 grams or about a tablespoon.
One more thing: Cinnamon is a pretty pungent spice on its own. If you consume too much of it, you’re bound to feel queasy!
Final Thoughts
Cinnamon is a delicious spice used in many dishes. Also, cinnamon has a lot of positive health effects that might be beneficial to you during your pregnancy. However, it’s not a good idea to consume too much of any food, including cinnamon. The USDA recommends eating no more than half a teaspoon of cinnamon each day to be safe.
While cinnamon is actually quite good for you, you shouldn’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable with, especially during pregnancy. It’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor before making any decisions about your health.
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoyed this article about if can cinnamon cause a miscarriage, you may want to Discover the 11 Amazing Cinnamon Benefits for Skin and Hair Health. You may want also to read about the Best Foods for Pregnant Women.
Sources
- National Library of Medicine: Antimicrobial activities of cinnamon oil and cinnamaldehyde from the Chinese medicinal herb Cinnamomum cassia Blume
- National Library of Medicine: Anti-inflammatory activity of cinnamon (C. zeylanicum and C. cassia) extracts – identification of E-cinnamaldehyde and o-methoxy cinnamaldehyde as the most potent bioactive compounds
- National Library of Medicine: Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant
- Healthyy: Cinnamon Health Benefits For Women: Cinnamon Health Benefits For Women
- Michigan State University Extension: Cinnamon for health
- National Library of Medicine: Effect of cinnamon on migraine attacks and inflammatory markers: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
- NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Antioxidants: In Depth
- Merriam-Webster: antimicrobial
- Bustle: 7 Old Wives’ Tales About Getting Pregnant
- CNN: Cinnamon linked to blood sugar control in prediabetes, study finds