Do you know if you are using the right cinnamon?

Karen Dworkin (http://nativekitten.blogspot.com/  says there is cinnamon and then there is cinnamon. Who knew there was a huge difference in what kind of cinnamon you are using. You live your learn and just learned something from a master herbalist. About to toss out my mine now and get the good stuff the Ceylon cinnamon.

There are actually different cinnamon.

Ceylon cinnamon is the true cinnamon and is typically more expensive than the other cinnamon (called cassia cinnamon) that are more commonly used.

The big difference between them is that cassia cinnamon have higher levels of coumarins compared to the Ceylon cinnamon.

The anti-coagulant properties of coumarins does not cause a problem when ingesting Ceylon cinnamon, but can become dangerous when ingesting the cassia cinnamon, if consumed in large amounts on a regular basis. This is especially dangerous for someone who is on blood-thinning medication!

Not that I am taking blood thinners but I am eliminating things like goji. Anything that I know of that thins the blood. I had trouble in May with them trying to get my blood to clot when I had that horrible cut. They (medical staff) kept asking me if I was on blood thinners my reply was no but found out I was eating some.

So I am watching those blood thinning things and bit by bit eliminating them from my daily intake.

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Budding Planet says,

Here’s how you spot the difference between the two types of cinnamon

• cassia is dark, reddish brown whereas Ceylon cinnamon is light tan in color
• cassia sticks form a “double-scroll” whereas Ceylon cinnamon appears rolled like a cigar
• cassia is thick and hard whereas Ceylon cinnamon is thin and brittle

You can go here to see the images http://spices.suite101.com/article.cfm/difference_between_cassia_and_cinnamon

This is very important if you enjoy stuff like cinnamon buns, or if you have high blood pressure for example and you are on blood thinning meds.

Real Cinnamon Sticks – Light Tan and Brittle – Stephanie Jolly

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More on cinnamon and your health

• Cinnamon cures
• Should we drink chlorinated tap water?
• Jicama reduces blood pressure
• Did you know you can get chicken pox even if you were vaccinated?
  

Tagged with: blood thinning medication • cinnamon • health • high blood pressure

Filed under: Cures • Health • Herbs

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