Tag: Coumarin levels

According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the tolerable daily intake of coumarin is just 0.1 mg per kilogram of body weight, a level easily exceeded by common cinnamon. This raises a critical question for many cooks and health enthusiasts: is there a cinnamon without coumarin, or at least a safe, low-coumarin alternative? The answer lies in distinguishing between the two main types of cinnamon widely available on the market.

One teaspoon of common Cassia cinnamon can have between 7 and 18 milligrams of coumarin, a substantial amount that might reach or surpass the safe daily intake limits for some individuals. However, this quantity is almost entirely dependent on the specific cinnamon variety, as coumarin levels vary dramatically between different types.

According to research, Ceylon cinnamon contains significantly less coumarin, a compound potentially harmful to the liver, than the more common Cassia variety. This critical difference is key to understanding what is the safest cinnamon supplement to take, especially for regular, long-term use.