Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Warning Cinnamon Causes constipation When Eaten in Excess


Well I think that as much as people say that it grosses them out to talk and think about problems related to defecating, everyone is interested to read about it. This is very natural because it is something that we all have in common.

So this is a bit of a story that has a very important lesson to be learnt from it. This past weekend friends who came to us for the weekend had brought for desert a cinnamon cake. Now this was no normal cinnamon cake, this was the best cinnamon cake I had ever eaten, really rich and tasty with lots of cinnamon. You know how sometimes you eat a cinnamon pastry and it's a bit week on that gooey cinnamon flavor. Well this was nothing like that I`ll tell you that much. So I indulged, ate a lot of this cake. Now the next morning things just were not flowing the way they usually do for me and I usually have a pretty good flow if you know what I mean. I figured it was be because I hadn't eaten enough fiber at dinner so at lunch I made sure to eat lots of salad. But we had another guest over for Saturday lunch that brought these really good cinnamon cookies. Low and behold my slight problem kept on through Sunday as well.

Now I use cinnamon a lot when treating diarrhea so it binding power is nothing new to me. But it wasn't until Sunday afternoon when I looked for something to satisfy my sweet tooth and saw what was left of the cinnamon cake sitting in the fridge that I realized the source of my problem. Well I didn't eat any more of the cinnamon goodies and by Monday it was business as usual.

Cinnamon is a great herbal remedy when used properly but in excess its binding capability can cause constipation.

If you are constipated or suffer from constipation regularly you should avoid all cinnamon products altogether.
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23 comments:

  1. it wouldn't be the cinnamon causing the constipation - as a medicine cinnamon actually increases bowel movement. it's the pastry, the wheat, the sugar and the starch of the cake...

    you should also use only true cinnamon 'cinnamomum verum', not zeylanicum or aromaticum.... those contain a high level of a toxic alkaloid which over time will create leaky gut or worse, breakdown of the intestinal tract.

    true cinnamon verum, ceylon cinnamon creates super health, weight loss, balances blood insulin levels and cleans the bowels... it's high in manganese, iron, calcium and kills candida/bacteria, yeast and molds from the system...

    blessings...

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    1. Sorry, it's the cinnamon, not the flour etc. Or rather, I can only say it's the cinnamon with me - it may be different for other people, of course.

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    2. It's the cinnamon. I take 2 tsp per day of it to regulate my blood sugar. It's highly "binding". To counteract, I take 2 tsp of crushed flaxseed with each tsp of cinnamon, & it keeps me regular. Otherwise, it's trouble.

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    3. It's the cinnamon. I have tried over and over drinking cinnamon tea and it's the same thing over and over constipation.

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    4. Yes, cinnamon is actually a good activator of the bowel movement. It helps digest.

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    5. Sorry to burst your bubble but I had the same problem with cinnamon, I found a recipe on Pinterest for cinnamon whole grain oatmeal and rye flower muffins , the recipe called for 2 tablespoons of cinnamon, the muffins looked burned orange , I noticed an immediate change in my bowel movements needless to say I make the breakfast muffins with out cinnamon

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    6. I take metformin for my diabetis and I always have the runs, at least 3 times a day, started on a cinnamon supplement, and within two days was constipated.

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  2. Thanks 528 for the tip but I really think it was the cinnamon in this story. But I am going to look into the "true cinnamomum"
    peace

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  3. I've been taking honey and cinnamon twice daily(heavy on the cinnamon) and have noticed a hardening of stools and problem going. It's the only thing that has changed in my diet, I'm pretty sure it's the cinnamon!

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    1. Same here Kathleen. Barely more than a pinch of cinnamon a day I just started adding to my very strict diet and now I stay constipated.
      This morning I didn't use any cinnamon and I was able to go.

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  4. Have to agree with the message of your story, and disagree with 528. Even tea with cinnamon causes problems for me. I am a very healthy eater. Different strokes for different folks I think.

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  6. Same here: cinnamon IS the culprit. 'As a medicine' it certainly does NOT increase bowel movement in my person, in fact on the very contrary. It causes pretty severe constipation, even in minute amounts (in homemade ginger-cinnamon tea for instance). Very shitty, so to speak, since I love cinnamon and would like to benefit from its many health-promoting properties. Unfortunately, I can't. Such is life.

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    1. You can still use it. I solved d problem by adding 2 tsp of crushed flaxseed each time u take d cinnamon - & you'll be alright. Try it & email me @ Haye_p@yahoo.com to tell me the results.

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  7. What would I do without my tablet and all this information from you folk.I have Crohns disease and for the past month have been suffering with constipation. I now know the cause, have been putting it liberally on my oats and adding honey, also using it to flavour my kefir, but alas no more .Thanks for the info.

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  9. I have eaten the exact same cereal with the exact same fruit added at the exact same time for several months, you can say I do ALL things in an exactly the 'SAME' type of way. About a week ago I added cinnamon to my cereal for added flavor and it was delicious so I added a bit more daily. Within 2 days I was completely compacted. Over the weekend I told my husband of the changes so we decided I should eliminate the cinnamon, now Monday morning I am as good as new! So I turned to the Internet to seek if I was the only one.. at last I know now without a doubt it was the wonderful and yummy cinnamon.. I know what to do if things ever turn the other way for me now.. add cinnamon. 
    Stay Blessed

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  10. I definitely had a problem with cinnamon... I made some whole grain muffins with rye flour ,oatmeal and the recipe called for 2 tablespoons of cinnamon, I noticed an immediate change in my bowel movements... I knew it couldn’t be the rye flour of the oatmeal I eat these all the time with no problems, im convinced it was the cinnamon needless to say I’ve eliminated the cinnamon from the recipe and things are getting better .

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  11. Cinnamon ruined me for the week. Tasted good, but not worth the trouble. I even tried drinking more water, more fiber to counteract but did not work. What did work was avoid cinnamon. And it was only a small amount in soup and banana bread that caused it.

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  12. I'm on the throne right now as I write this wondering if I'm going to have to visit the ER because I cannot poop!! And it is painful. Something told me to look up side effects of cinnamon only because I have been adding it to my coffee everyday now for a month and have been constipated but last night I had half of a cinnamon coffee cake heavy on the cinnamon thus my problem right now. I feel like I'm pushing out a grapefruit seriously.. definitely gonna need the plunger.

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  13. Been having severe constipation and I realize it's the ceylon cinnamon I've been adding to my coffee each morning.
    It's making me nauseous too. I couldn't believe it but now reading the comments it's got to be it. It's like it paralyzes your gut and stops peristalsis!

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