Can cinnamon be beneficial for health? The potential adverse effects of cinnamon consumption
Kacper Nowak
2026-03-24
5 min. read
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Cinnamon, derived from the bark of the cinnamon tree, is a commonly used spice that is rolled into thin strips after drying. For centuries, it has been employed in natural medicine, including Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, to aid in the treatment of conditions such as erectile dysfunction, acne, menstrual pain, and rheumatism. Additionally, cinnamon serves as a flavoring agent, sweetener, and natural preservative, incorporated into various food products including chocolates, alcoholic beverages, drinks, desserts, and baked goods [1].
Is cinnamon healthy?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded cinnamon GRAS for its high polyphenol content as well as its high antioxidant potential. This means that it is considered to be a safe food. The results of many studies indicate its anti-health properties. Cinnamon exhibits hypoglycemic, hypolipidic, hypotensive, and antimicrobial properties.[1] In addition, this spice is characterized by its high levels of polyphenols and also has a high anti-oxidant potential.[2] The result is that cinnamon also has strong anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antiseptic effects.
The harmful properties of cinnamon
There are also studies that raise some doubts about the health benefits of cinnamon to humans. Their authors recommend caution in the use of this spice. The cucumbers contained in it may also exhibit toxic effects. Most studies on the adverse health effects of coumarin have been conducted on rodents. Although they are less toxic to humans, their excess in our diet can also be harmful to health.[6] It is worth mentioning here that the content of the cucumber also depends on the toxicity of the genus cinnamon.
Is that even how much cinnamon you can eat a day?
Due to the adverse health effects associated with the consumption of excessive amounts of coumarin, it has been established that it is safe to consume no more than 0.1 mg/kg per day [6]. This means that a person weighing 70 kg can consume 7 mg of coumarine per day. Currently, restrictions have been introduced in the European Union on coumarins, e.g. in bakeries where the label of the ingredients is cinnamon. However, the above mentioned values may add up to the content of coumain in each of the different stages of the treatment.