Be Careful With The Type Of Cinnamon You Use If You Decide To Use Cinnamon

Ceylon And Cassia Cinnamon – One Can Be Toxic – One Helps Lower Blood Sugar Levels

You may not have been aware that there are multiple types of cinnamon, but you need to become aware because your health can depend on it. The cinnamon you commonly buy in the store is called cassia cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon.

Cassia cinnamon’s consumption has become popular because of one of its particular health benefits. Cassia cinnamon is able to control and reduce blood sugar levels.

Scientific studies indicate you need to consume a teaspoon a day of cassia cinnamon to make a significant difference in controlling blood sugar levels.

Cassia Cinnamon And Diabetes – Blood Sugar Levels

Cassia cinnamon contains a compound called coumarin. Most studies done on cinnamon have been done on cassia cinnamon, and they have shown that cassia cinnamon lowered blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetics and pre-diabetics.

It was assumed that all types of cinnamon lowered blood sugar levels until tests done on ceylon or “true” cinnamon indicated differently. Ceylon cinnamon or “true cinnamon” was shown not to be able lower blood sugar levels, and ceylon cinnamon also contain very small amounts of coumarin.

Cassia Cinnamon And Coumarin

Coumarin is the active ingredient that controls blood sugar levels, so it would appear that it would be better to consume cassia cinnamon, but this isn’t the case.

Scientific studies have shown that coumarin consumption can compromise liver function. The high levels of coumarin in cassia cinnamon that controls blood sugar levels is also toxic to the liver.

So don’t consume high does of cassia cinnamon then, right? Well it takes at least the consumption of one teaspoon of cassia cinnamon to be able to control blood sugar levels. So if you are consuming cassia cinnamon specifically to control blood sugar levels you need to consume at least one teaspoon a day, but preferably two.

But as little sprinkling a quarter teaspoon on cassia cinnamon on cereals or cookies can have a toxic effect on 1-year-olds. As the age of a person increases the person’s resistance to the toxin does increase though.

Consuming the amount of cassia cinnamon daily that is needed to significantly control blood sugar greatly increases the risk of liver toxicity.

If you are consuming cassia cinnamon as a magic bullet to control blood sugar levels it appears that it is not worth the risk.

Ceylon And Other Types Of Cinnamon

There are hundreds of types of cinnamon^[1] and they all contain high levels of coumarin, all except ceylon or “true” cinnamon. So except for ceylon cinnamon it appears that the consumption of all other types of cinnamon is problematic.

So what about consuming ceylon cinnamon? Ceylon cinnamon contains very low levels of coumarin so it is not effective in lowering blood sugar levels. Ceylon does have a bunch of other health benefits just like many other plant foods.

Ceylon cinnamon does have antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-tumor, and cholesterol lowering properties. Since a whole food plant-based diet has been proven to lower blood sugar levels and also has the aforementioned properties, the use of cassia cinnamon is not necessary.

You can avoid any confusion trying to find ceylon cinnamon out of the other types of cinnamon simply by avoiding the use of cinnamon.

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