It involves trying to eat a spoonful of ground cinnamon in 60 seconds without water. It may seem simple enough, but it's almost impossible to do. Not only that, it can be extremely dangerous and lead to long-term or life-threatening health problems.
Dangers of the Cinnamon Challenge:
Cinnamon powder contains an inert substance called cellulose, which can lodge in the lungs. Cellulose doesn't break down, so when it gets into the lungs it sits there long-term and can lead to chronic inflammation and eventually scarring of the lungs.
Cinnamon contains antioxidants, which are a healthy component of the diet that help neutralize free radicals, preventing them from damaging cells in the body. Cinnamaldehyde also has some antibacterial properties and might slow down the growth of cancerous cells.
A person takes one tablespoon of cinnamon and tries to swallow it within 60 seconds. While it seems relatively simple, videos all over the web show people attempting the stunt, coughing up clouds of reddish-brown dust for viewers' amusement. But, doctors caution that this seemingly harmless "challenge" could be deadly.
Per WebMD, a daily intake of ½ to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon per day is the limit, per some experts. This equals 2 to 4 grams of cinnamon a day, with the U.S. Department of Health saying that up to 6 grams of cinnamon per day is safe (via The Whole U).
Some experts suggest 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (2-4 grams) of powder a day. Some studies have used between 1 gram and 6 grams of cinnamon. High doses might be toxic.
The "Cinnamon Challenge," a viral video trend on YouTube, has doctors concerned as the number of hospitalized teens who have participated in the prank has increased. According to the American Association of Poison Control, as many as 30 teens needed medical attention after taking the challenge last year.
One cinnamon stick is approximately equivalent to one teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
The stunt can be dangerous, as there is a risk of gagging or choking on the cinnamon, especially if it forms a clump and clogs one's airways. Accidental inhalation of cinnamon can seriously damage the lungs by causing inflammation and leading to infection.
The fad involves daring someone to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in 60 seconds without water. But the spice is caustic, and trying to gulp it down can cause choking, throat irritation, breathing trouble and even collapsed lungs, the report said.
Scientists found that cinnamon extract helped increase brown fat in subcutaneous (fat layer under the skin) fat cells (4). This is good for people with belly fat. Belly fat or fat in the waist region is white fat. Consuming cinnamon may help turn the belly fat (white fat) into brown.
Aside from diabetes, cinnamon has shown promise in promoting weight loss. Cinnamon is high in fiber. The spice can therefore help reduce food cravings by promoting a feeling of satiety and fullness. Cinnamon can boost metabolism, since the body uses more energy to process the spice than it does for other foods.
The inhalation of the spice can cause pulmonary inflammation and inflammation of the upper airways. Therefore, inhaling large quantities of cinnamon should certainly be avoided for someone with asthma.
Can you eat cinnamon sticks? There are several different ways to eat cinnamon sticks. You can grind them into a powder that you can then sprinkle on the top of cakes, desserts, biscuits and other dishes, or you can stir it into food as you're cooking.
You can incorporate Cinnamon in other recipes too. Keep it to one Cinnamon stick per day. Each of Cinnamon sticks weigh about 5g which is within the daily limit. Ceylon Cinnamon Black Tea - 1 Cup Per Day (8-12oz of liquid).
If you're substituting a cinnamon stick for ground cinnamon, a stick equals ½ a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Here's more info about this versatile spice.
Australia cinnamon wholesale price. In 2023, the approximate price range for Australia Cinnamon is between US$ 12.05 and US$ 14.16 per kilogram or between US$ 5.47 and US$ 6.42 per pound(lb). The price in Australian Dollar is AUD 15.56 per kg. The average price for a tonne is US$ 12052.63 in Melbourne and Canberra.
A sweet and woody flavour, cinnamon has a slight citrusy note, and its spicy taste is often likened to the powerful punch of cloves. Other than the texture, there's no difference between ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks in flavour, but it's the way they are used which differs.
The good news is that cinnamon is not toxic to dogs, though cinnamon essential oil can be toxic for pups. Your dog will not suffer fatal toxic effects from consuming too much cinnamon, but that does not necessarily mean you should be sprinkling it on kibble.
The oldest YouTube video documenting such a challenge was uploaded on April 2, 2006. Pre-YouTube, the Cinnamon Challenge was first documented on the web by Michael Buffington as it was played by Erik Goodlad on December 21, 2001, according to KnowYourMeme.com.
Boil a cinnamon stick in water till its gets fragrant. Squeeze a dash of lemon in it and add one teaspoon of raw honey to it. Your weight loss drink is ready. You can also include some other spices like ginger, pepper, cardamom and mint to make the concoction even healthier and tastier.
Some studies suggest that cinnamon for diabetes control is effective after 40 days. If you consult your doctor and take the suitable quantity, cinnamon can help you control sugar.
Coumarin is a flavouring substance which is contained in relatively high concentrations in cinnamon varieties collectively known as "Cassia cinnamon". In especially sensitive persons, even comparatively small quantities of coumarin can cause liver damage, although the effect is usually reversible.