Cinnamon and honey: what the research actually supports
- Claim
- CINNAMON + HONEY: WHAT'S REAL?
- Catch
- WATCH THE DOSE
- Verdict
- A NICE DRINK, NOT A CURE
In a meta-analysis of 10 trials (543 people with type 2 diabetes), cinnamon lowered fasting blood sugar somewhat but did not significantly change HbA1c, the long-term blood sugar marker, and results varied widely between studies. A Cochrane review of 6 trials (899 children aged 1 to 18) found honey probably eases acute cough for up to about three days. There is little human evidence that the mix improves digestion. The catch: cassia cinnamon, the common kind, is high in coumarin, which can harm the liver at high daily intakes; Ceylon cinnamon contains very little. Never give honey to babies under one year old because of the risk of infant botulism.
SOURCES
- Allen et al. (2013), "Cinnamon use in type 2 diabetes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis," Annals of Family Medicine
- Oduwole et al. (2018), "Honey for acute cough in children," Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), FAQ on coumarin in cinnamon and other foods
For information only, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before using cinnamon supplements, especially with diabetes medication or liver problems.
