Your favorite cinnamon and orange juice smoothie could land you in an emergency room.
A study by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) found that coumarin in cinnamon, when combined with citric acid from citrus fruits, forms toxic compounds that damage the liver.
"Just one teaspoon of cinnamon with orange juice exceeds the safe daily dose of coumarin by five times," toxicologist Dr Emilio Rosa warns in an interview with The Guardian .
The real case of Anton from Perm went viral: after a morning smoothie with cinnamon and orange, he was hospitalized with acute liver failure.
“The doctors said that the coumarin blocked liver enzymes, and the acid accelerated the absorption of the poison,” he writes on his blog.
A 2023 study in the Journal of Hepatology confirmed that this combination increases the risk of liver fibrosis by 30%.
How to replace a dangerous duo
Chef nutritionist Anna Bowden recommends combining cinnamon with apples:
"The pectin in apples neutralizes coumarin, and the fiber protects the intestines."
Try a recipe from her book Smart Breakfast : baked apples with cinnamon, walnuts and a drizzle of honey - safe and delicious.
Author: Valeria Kisternaya
