Pregnancy myths might be a few of the most mysterious, mind-boggling comments you’re going to come by from the moment you get pregnant. Old wives’ tales, folk tales, or however you want to refer to them, might make you question everything you’ve ever known about pregnancy. For example, can cinnamon cause a miscarriage?
Now, you’re probably already aware that you aren’t supposed to work out while you’re pregnant and that you shouldn’t, under any circumstances, schedule an appointment with the hairdresser.
But what about the myth that suggests you can guess your baby’s gender based on your pregnancy cravings? Or the one that claims you get heartburn because you’re carrying a hairy baby? Or the oddest out of the bunch which argues that you aren’t supposed to bathe because you might hurt the baby?!
Before you throw away sugar, spice, and everything nice, make sure you’re getting the tea from the right source because cinnamon can’t cause a miscarriage. However, that doesn’t give you the green light to stuff your face with cinnamon buns considering that everyone’s favorite spice comes with a warning.
Right off the bat, can cinnamon cause a miscarriage?
Whether you’re a cinnamon connoisseur or a concerned mom-to-be, chances are you’ve come across articles arguing against consuming cinnamon throughout pregnancy.
While there’s something to be addressed about the amount of cinnamon you’re allowed to consume, we don’t have any evidence that cinnamon can cause a miscarriage, premature birth, or induce labor.
We’re referring to all forms of cinnamon, from powdered cinnamon to cinnamon pills, cinnamon oils, and cinnamon supplements. Not to make you overthink and overanalyze even more, but cinnamon also comes with a myriad of health benefits that have been researched and confirmed.
After all, research suggests that most herbs and spices are considered safe for pregnant women to consume moderately. A dash of cinnamon on a croissant or with your decaf won’t harm you or your baby.
At the end of the day, you can always consult with your doctor and check whether or not you’re allowed to spice things up with cinnamon from time to time. Meanwhile, we’re bringing you a few advantages and drawbacks of cinnamon consumption down below!
What are the advantages of consuming cinnamon during pregnancy?
1. Stronger immune system
Starting with a bang, cinnamon possesses strong antifungal and antibacterial properties due to a component known as cinnamaldehyde. Because of this component, cinnamon can boost your immune system and fight off fungus and bacteria that might be threatening to harm you and your baby.
When you’re pregnant, your immune system becomes weaker to prevent your body from fighting off the fetus (the more you know, right?!) You’re supposed to strengthen your immune system when your baby becomes bigger and stronger, and cinnamon might just be the right way to do that.
But, be cautious of the amount of cinnamon you consume.
2. Decreased chance of inflammation
Cinnamon tea might be a cause for concern because you aren’t aware of the amount of cinnamon you’re consuming.
More often than not, though, cinnamon tea contains a negligible sprinkle of cinnamon among other spices. Additionally, cinnamon tea seems to be one of the best ways to get the most benefits for you and your baby.
Cinnamon contains antioxidants which happen to have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation isn’t necessarily bad because it helps your body fight off infections. But, when you have a weakened immune system, inflammation might turn against you and start attacking your body’s own tissue.
And that’s when you might benefit from a cup of cinnamon tea.
3. Decreased chance of heart disease
Can cinnamon cause a miscarriage? No. Can cinnamon cause premature birth? No. But, can cinnamon protect you from heart disease? Yes.
Cinnamon’s been proven to reduce the number of triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL or bad cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar, all of which are connected to heart disease.
Not to mention that cinnamon’s a known blood thinner that can alleviate the pressure off of arteries and organs of women who suffer from thickened blood and blood clots. Now, that doesn’t mean that you should supplement with cinnamon without getting the green light from your doctor.
On the other hand, that does mean that you shouldn’t be scared of drinking cinnamon tea every now and then.
4. Brain benefits
Whether or not you’re rooting for cinnamon right now, you can’t argue that the ancient Egyptians might have been onto something with the entire “cinnamon’s worth more than gold” thing.
Cinnamon’s beaming with antioxidants which means everyone’s favorite fall spice might be excellent for fighting off your pregnancy brain problems.
Bad memory, poor concentration, and absentmindedness are some of the pregnancy complications that cinnamon might be able to reverse. Before you start sprinkling cinnamon on everything you eat from now on, make sure you consult with your doctor beforehand.
Now let’s see what are the drawbacks of consuming this spice during pregnancy.
What are the drawbacks of consuming cinnamon during pregnancy?
1. Heartburn and other digestive problems
We’ve established that cinnamon can’t cause a miscarriage, but that doesn’t mean that consuming cinnamon every single day won’t cause an array of drawbacks.
Cayenne, curry, and cinnamon are rumored to cause heartburn and other digestive problems. Capsaicin, a compound found within cinnamon, slows down your digestion which causes heartburn symptoms.
Heartburn won’t affect your pregnancy, but you might be too uncomfortable to eat or sleep due to its symptoms (which can cause other health problems down the line).
2. Liver damage
Cinnamon seems to be beaming with compounds and substances that are guaranteed to hurt your health. We’re aware that we’ve been talking your ears off with different names you can’t even pronounce, but we’re trying to do our part to keep you and your baby safe.
We suggest scheduling an appointment with your doctor before baking a batch of cinnamon buns – turns out cinnamon contains high concentrations of coumarin, a substance that’s been proven to cause liver damage.
Now, even smaller amounts of coumarin can cause damage to sensitive people. But, doctors argue that cinnamon damage can be reversed with proper care and medication.
3. Breathing problems
We might be pushing things too far now, but cinnamon can cause breathing problems on the off chance that you manage to snort some while you’re munching on cinnamon buns or sipping on cinnamon coffee.
When you’re eating something made with cinnamon, you’re likely to inhale little particles that can cause you to cough, gag, and struggle to catch your breath.
While coughing might not be as dangerous as some of the other drawbacks we mentioned, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Especially because you’re pregnant and you might cause distress and discomfort to your baby.
4. Mouth sores
Cinnamon oil, cinnamon acid, and products containing cinnamaldehyde are rumored to trigger allergic reactions among people with food sensitivities. Pregnant women are prone to developing food sensitivities (such as lactose intolerance) even though they’ve never experienced them beforehand.
Because of that, pregnant women are more susceptible to mouth sores, swollen tongues, burning gums, and white patches after consuming cinnamon. However, these types of allergies aren’t dangerous and are treatable with over-the-counter medication.
What to consider before consuming cinnamon during pregnancy?
1. Types of cinnamon
Now that we’ve gone over the advantages and drawbacks of consuming cinnamon during pregnancy, we need to set something straight.
Not all cinnamon’s created equal, which means that different types of cinnamon can cause different effects on your health and the health of your baby.
Chinese cinnamon, Malabar cinnamon, and Saigon cinnamon are a few of the varieties you might come across, but Cassia cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon are the two that matter the most. Cassia cinnamon’s the cheap, low-quality type of cinnamon we consume on a regular – and, Cassia contains coumarin.
Ceylon cinnamon’s the pure, expensive type of cinnamon that’s not necessarily available to everyone – but, Ceylon would be a much better option for a pregnant woman because of the absence of coumarin.
2. How much cinnamon can you consume safely?
No need to put that cinnamon bun down, you’re allowed to consume a little bit of cinnamon here and there. But, how much of this spice constitutes a little bit?
Some studies suggest that you shouldn’t eat more than one teaspoon of cinnamon a day, while others agree that two teaspoons of cinnamon a day shouldn’t cause harm to your health, either.
So, depending on whether you’re splurging on Ceylon or opting for Cassia, you might need to figure out which of the two doses works for you.
Since Cassia does contain coumarin, we do need to underline that you shouldn’t consume more than 0.05 milligrams of coumarin a day for every pound you weigh – you do the math.
3. What precautions can you take?
With everything we’ve mentioned beforehand, you’re safe to assume you’re better off consulting with a doctor than devouring a box of cinnamon buns because you’re pretty sure you aren’t sensitive to cinnamon.
We suggest rationing the amount you consume on a regular, avoiding cinnamon supplements, and keeping away from cinnamon altogether when you’re suffering from GI, respiratory, or liver problems. Whatever you decide to do, good luck!
