Cinnamon is a spice with a rich history, which is renowned for its distinctive fragrant aroma. Besides its strong aroma, cinnamon is also favored for its sweet, warm flavor and is widely used in creating flavors in cuisine from food to drinks, including coffee. Cinnamon has many health benefits, but if used too much, it has negative effects. So, how much cinnamon in coffee should we put to be both healthy and not have side effects? This article can be a reference if you try making a cup of cinnamon coffee but do not know how much cinnamon to put in the coffee.
How Much Cinnamon In Coffee Should We Put In?
Through the above section, we all realize that we should not consume too much cinnamon to avoid negative effects on long-term health. So how much cinnamon in coffee is just enough to be delicious and good for health? The perfect amount of cinnamon in coffee should be about ¼ to ½ teaspoon per cup of coffee (about 0,7 – 1,4 gram). At this dosage, cinnamon coffee can help you lose weight because coffee contains caffeine, which is a natural appetite suppressant.
And research shows that the daily cinnamon intake should only be around 1 – 6 grams. And the amount of cinnamon consumed also depends on the type of cinnamon used, age and overall health of the consumer. For normal healthy adults, they can consume about 1 – 1.5 teaspoons of cinnamon per day (around 2.8 – 4.1 grams). This amount is still beneficial to our body without exceeding the safe level. Cinnamon also helps regulate your insulin levels naturally. Therefore, cinnamon in coffee could prevent hunger and cravings more than regular coffee.
If we use Cassia cinnamon in coffee, it is best to only take a lower dose of about 0.5 to 1 gram per day to ensure that you do not consume too much coumarin. Ceylon cinnamon contains less coumarin so it can be consumed at a higher dose and still be safe. However, if you have liver, diabetes, or blood problems, you should consult your doctor before adding cinnamon to your diet. You also should start with a low dose and gradually increase the amount of cinnamon.
Facts About Cinnamon
There are currently two popular types of cinnamon on the market: Ceylon and cassia. Ceylon cinnamon, which is native to Sri Lanka, also known as true cinnamon or Mexican cinnamon due to its versatile uses in Mexican cuisine. According to worldwide chefs, Ceylon cinnamon has a thinner and softer bark, looks more fibrous, and is lighter in color. The flavor of Ceylon cinnamon is also milder and sweeter than cassia cinnamon.
In contrast to Ceylon cinnamon, Cassia cinnamon tastes stronger and spicier and has a darker brown bark. Although China is the home of cassia cinnamon, there are three different types of cassia cinnamon on the market today: Chinese cassia, Korintje cinnamon, and Saigon cinnamon. The three cassia cinnamons differ not only in where they are grown, their aroma and flavor, but also in their content of coumarin. Coumarin is a chemical that gives cinnamon its sweet smell.
Each type of cinnamon has a different scent, flavor and uses, so depending on your needs and price, you should consider choosing the right type of cinnamon. For foods such as marinades, grilled dishes, spices, Cassia cinnamon is probably more suitable than Ceylon. Because Cassia cinnamon often has a rich flavor and spreads throughout the dish. As for drinks such as decorating and adding flavor to a latte or a cocktail, Ceylon cinnamon is the perfect choice to use.
Some Cinnamon In Coffee Recipes
Those with a sweet tooth could sprinkle a little cinnamon on top of whipped cream or a frothy latte to your coffee to add a natural sweetness to your coffee. The cinnamon latte is also a popular coffee drink, which is the mixture of the flavor of espresso with whole milk and a bit of cinnamon.
You can also try adding cinnamon to your coffee, which can help create new flavors, especially when we use coffee brewing techniques such as French press or pour-over.
You can use any type of coffee you like to mix cinnamon with coffee, from dark roasts to lighter blends. We realize that adding cinnamon seems to weaken the flavor of the coffee a little. So if you like your coffee strong, add a teaspoon or two of ground coffee. Moreover, true cinnamon does have a sweet, woody flavor like brown sugar. Therefore, if we mix the woody sweetness of true cinnamon with the bitterness of black coffee, our cup of coffee tastes like little sugar added to it.
Benefits And Side Effects Of Cinnamon
Cinnamon has long been known as an ingredient with many health benefits. However, cinnamon also has many side effects, potentially causing negative effects on health. So we will take a look at the benefits as well as the side effects that can occur when consuming cinnamon.
Benefits Of Cinnamon
The first benefit of cinnamon is anti-inflammatory properties. The active compounds in cinnamon, especially cinnamaldehyde, have the ability to enhance the immune system and limit inflammation. For example, cinammon can improve arthritis and digestive problems by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory substances. Therefore, cinnamon can support overall immune function and help the body better fight infections and diseases.
In addition to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, cinnamon is also known for its ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Cinnamon regulates blood sugar levels mainly by increasing insulin sensitivity in the body. To put it simply, cinnamon can help cells respond better to insulin, which makes the body use glucose better and stabilizes blood sugar levels. Cinnamon also helps reduce the glycemic response after meals, preventing blood sugar spikes. Thanks to this, cinnamon is a food supplement for people who are controlling diabetes or want to control their weight.
Finally, cinnamon loads with antioxidant effects. Antioxidants of cinnamon can help maintain heart health by reducing inflammation, protecting the body from oxidative stress, improving blood flow, and lowering cholesterol levels. Therefore, cinnamon is considered an antioxidant-rich food, which improves heart health and helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Side Effects Of Cinnamon
Cinnamon actually brings many health benefits, however, if used in excess, it can lead to potential side effects that adversely affect the body and health of consumers.
The first side effect of using too much cinnamon is liver damage, particularly in concentrated supplement form. The reason is that cinnamon contains coumarin, a compound that gives cinnamon its sweet taste but is also toxic to the liver in high doses. The liver will have difficulty in metabolizing coumarin. Then, the liver works too hard as well as disrupts the normal metabolic process to remove coumarin. This organ will gradually be damaged over time
The second side effect is that cinnamon can cause hypoglycemia. Cinnamon has the ability to reduce sugar in the body and can regulate sugar levels. But if you consume too much cinnamon, it can lead to hypoglycemia, especially for people with diabetes or problems regulating blood sugar.
Risk of bleeding is one of the possible side effects of consuming too much cinnamon. Because in cinnamon, it contains anticoagulant compounds. Therefore, people who use blood thinners or blood-thinning medications should be cautious when including this spice in their diet. You should consult their doctor to ensure your health.
A Word From Coffee Expressio
The above article has provided detailed information about how much cinnamon in coffee. In short, cinnamon is a spice or food that is extremely good for health. But we should not consume too much of it because cinnamon still has adverse side effects on health. You should consult a doctor or qualified healthcare professional or nutritionist if you want to add cinnamon to your diet.
