Why You Should Avoid Taking the Cinnamon Challenge

Cinnamon challenge is very dangerous and you should NEVER take it. Read on to know why.

Quantity Matters
Cinnamon is not harmful if consumed in limited amounts. In fact, it has many health benefits. It is anti-microbial. And it helps control blood sugar levels and cholesterol. But when a spoonful of it is consumed at one time, it can lead to choking, burning in the throat and nose, and difficulty breathing.

We love to be challenged, don’t we? There’s an eternal pleasure in completing a challenge and then boasting about it. Many different challenges are going viral these days. Some are meant for a social cause, while others are meant for fun. Food challenges have become a craze in the last few years. Many of them involve health risks and are among the ones you should NEVER try.

Here, we tell you about the cinnamon challenge and reasons why it should be avoided at all costs.

First mentioned in 2001, it became popular in 2007, and by 2010, many people had posted their videos on different social networking sites. There are more than 40,000 YouTube videos of people taking this challenge.

What is the Cinnamon Challenge?

Film yourself while eating a spoonful of cinnamon powder in 60 seconds without having any liquid, and upload the video on the internet. That’s it! Sounds simple, right? But it’s not. This seemingly innocuous challenge is potent and can have severe effects on your health.

On Taking the Challenge

☞ Just watch a few videos on YouTube to see how horrible the effects of taking the cinnamon challenge can be.

☞ Participants start coughing, choking, gagging, vomiting, crying, cursing, and show other signs of discomfort.

☞ Although no one has died due to this challenge, there have been cases of collapsed lungs and pneumonia.

☞ According to the American Association of Poison Control Center’s National Poison Data System, in 2011, 51 calls were received in relation to teen exposure to cinnamon, which increased to 139 in 2012.

Reasons Why the Cinnamon Challenge Should Be Avoided

☞ Cinnamon gets its distinctive flavor from the organic compound cinnamaldehyde. Cinnamaldehyde is used as a fungicide and insecticide. In case of a cinnamon challenge, the concentration of cinnamaldehyde ingested is obviously more, thus making it dangerous.

☞ Cassia, a popularly used variety of cinnamon, poses a health risk, as it contains coumarin which is moderately toxic to the liver and kidneys.

☞ Consumption of ground cinnamon is dangerous for people with liver diseases, as it can worsen the condition.

☞ Ground cinnamon, when consumed in large quantities, can cause severe burning and swelling in the throat and mouth. It can also lead to blocking of airways and collapsed lungs.

☞ People with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should not even think of attempting the cinnamon challenge, as it can worsen breathing problems and lead to choking.

☞ For those having cinnamon allergy, this challenge can prove to be extremely dangerous. The common symptoms of cinnamon allergy include a runny nose, watery eyes, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, it can show symptoms like skin dermatitis, swelling of the face, and anaphylactic shock (rarely). Now imagine how catastrophic the results will be, if the person taking the challenge has no idea that he is allergic to cinnamon.

I hope the above reasons are more than enough to convince you that a cinnamon challenge is extremely dangerous, and you should avoid it at any cost. People who took this challenge suffered from its devastating effects, and are warning the others against it. A girl who took the challenge four times, had collapsed lungs. She has started a website to discourage people from taking this challenge.

So please remember, cinnamon challenge is dangerous. Avoid taking it. Just for a few moments of thrill, you may end up with a health condition that will last you for life.