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Robin Shreeves

What to know about the cinnamon challenge and kids

A new dare involving cinnamon is gaining popularity with kids and young adults, but it's not as harmless as it seems.

Fri, Sep 17 2010 at 10:03 AM EST
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cinnamon sticks Photo: S Diddy/Flickr
Cinnamon has several health benefits. When added to oatmeal or baked into a scone or sprinkled into coffee or tea, it’s a great source of manganese, fiber, iron and calcium. It’s believed to help with anti-clotting abilities, help stabilize sugar levels for those with Type 2 diabetes, lower bad cholesterol, and fight infections.
 
None of these reasons, though, are why kids and young adults are encouraging their friends to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon without water. The cinnamon challenge, in which has one person challenges another to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon without water in under a minute, is sweeping the Internet. Often, the one posing the challenge will make a bet, and some unsuspecting friend or frenemy can’t resist what they think will be an easy five bucks. Other people, however, know exactly what will happen and do it anyway.
 
This video shows what usually happens when someone tries to eat the cinnamon. Videos like these are plastered all over YouTube and a website called CinnamonChallenge.com. A search for “cinnamon challenge” on YouTube resulted in 5,340 videos. (Warning: Someone drops the F-bomb at the end of the video.)
 
 
You may be wondering if there are any dangers associated with the cinnamon challenge. Well, there’s the danger of making an absolute fool of yourself, allowing your friends to video it and put it on online, and then having a future possible employer find the video and think, “This one’s not so bright. I don’t think I want to hire her.”
 
What about health dangers? According to Healthcare Professional Homepage, there may be some.
 
  • If the cinnamon gets inhaled instead of swallowed or spit out, it could cause severe chest pain.
  • Choking could occur if the dry powder gets caught in the throat.

I couldn’t find any information about anyone suffering long-term health problems from the cinnamon challenge, and there don’t seem to be any reports of any deaths. Still, it seems like a bad, possibly dangerous idea. If your kids start talking about taking the cinnamon challenge, you should probably discourage it. 

 
Also on MNN: Can the cinnamon challenge kill you?
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Related Topics: Family, Food Safety, Raising Healthy Kids, Video

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anonymous
random person 05/22/2012 18:11 PM

i am too afriad to try it but it is on my bucket list

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anonymous
Be 05/21/2012 13:24 PM

Cinnamon is hydrophobic, so it does not like to mix with water *saliva* that is why you end up coughing it up and vomiting because it is so dry and your mouth needs moisture, it can be very dangerous, it can cause swelling in the throat, if you try this, you might the unlucky one..

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anonymous
Cassib 05/16/2012 11:25 AM

This is highly unlikely that a friend will put a video on the internet, and will effect when the person will get a job. You need to stop makeing a mountain out of a mole hill and let the kids have some fun, what dosent kill you makes you stronger and the cinnamon, at the very least they will feel stupid a have there throught hurting for 10 to 35 Min. I cant stand when people like you try to take the little fun things out of teenagers lifes because it is a little harmfull. It's people like you.... More

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anonymous
MDG 05/15/2012 02:19 AM

No more dangerous than crossing the road. Grow up and stop worrying.

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anonymous
Robert 05/09/2012 18:47 PM

I used to think that humans were smarter than sheep. Now, I'm not so sure

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anonymous
FREAK 04/28/2012 16:31 PM

I'VE never done this I don't know if I should.Someone please reply to tell me if I should

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anonymous
Cassib 05/16/2012 11:30 AM

You should.

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anonymous
Wahh 04/11/2012 17:59 PM

What happens if you swallow a TINY bit?

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anonymous
suspicious :P 04/09/2012 15:43 PM

well i did the cinnamon challenge today with my friend luckly i used my common sense too bring a bottle oof water :D and i did not use a table spoon i used a teaspoon + i did not swollow it as it can cause chest pains and it's very dry to swollow soi guess me + my friend are very smart ¬__¬ i have not had any side affects so it's safe DO NOT SWOLLOW IT !!! >.<

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anonymous
Anonymous 05/11/2012 20:13 PM

then you didnt do the cinnamon challenge with your friend. You're supposed to SWALLOW a TABLESPOON of cinnamon in UNDER A MINUTE.

Not put a teaspoon of it in your mouth

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anonymous
Jaydee 04/06/2012 09:38 AM

wow people are dumb... it does not cause health issues.. I've done it and completed it actually :) its harmless fun

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anonymous
Peds Nurse 04/03/2012 00:18 AM

well I'm a pediatric Nurse and I can tell you we have had 4 children in our hospital in the last weekend! Yes, it is dangerous! The changes for aspiration is great, not to mention the throat infections, bleeds, vomiting, and long term effects to the lungs. We have done so many breathing treatments, steriods, oxygen, on children with particles of cinnamon in their lungs that it makes me outraged that somone would say this is harmless fun!!!!! check your hospitals, see what they have gotten. I'll.... More

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anonymous
super 03/30/2012 23:12 PM

Seriously people, it's not that big of a deal. If you are not allerigic to cinnamon and don't have any health issues, try it! If you acctually want to of course, just make sure to have water or milk on hand. Its about one and a million chance you will die from it, you just have to take the nesicary precautions. It's like going on a plane. There is a one in a million chance it could crash, you just have to take some precautions, that's all. It could be fun! Do it I'd you want to, don't if you.... More

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anonymous
Anonymous 04/05/2012 20:12 PM

Until you get seriously hurt and end up in the hospital risking permanent injury to your lungs other then that your fine :)

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anonymous
hi 03/24/2012 18:12 PM

the cinnemon challange just sounds dumb. im definetly not doing it. anyways, who would want to risk going to the hospital or dying over a silly little challange????:| Oo

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anonymous
Kim 03/20/2012 21:24 PM

I've done this 6 times, as long as you have water near you your not alone not alergic and you dont breathe it in, its perfectly safe nothing happened to me..

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anonymous
Anonymous 03/24/2012 22:54 PM

wat if you just had pop?? I am scared of dieing should i worry??

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anonymous
Jesixs 03/16/2012 19:48 PM

I TRIED THIS WITH MY BESTFRAAAAND AND SHE CANT TALK PROPERLY NOW , SHE THINKS SHE SOUNDS LIKE A GUY BUT SHE JUST SOUNDS LIKE SHES VERY SICK . DONT TRY THIS EVER IN YOUR LIFE.......OR ELSE !

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anonymous
Alisha 03/16/2012 17:13 PM

DO not do this!!! It really does cause problems. I was at a friend’s house when I did it. I thought it couldn’t be that bad and I tried it. My friends didn’t want to but I did anyways, a day or two after I did the challenge I started noticing I had chest pains and stuff and I didn’t really mind it because I thought it would go away (it came on and off), but then like 6 weeks later when I was sleeping in my bed I could not breathe it felt like I was about to die a day after that I.... More

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anonymous
ryan 03/19/2012 14:47 PM

i'm 12 i tried it and i blew my nose and cinamon came out

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anonymous
Jenna 02/27/2012 23:48 PM

for all of you who dont think its harmful, here is an actual medical reference.

not only does it burn the tissue in your nose and throat but:
According to Dr. David Katz, director and founder of the Yale University Prevention Research Center, it is a potentially dangerous practice.

"I think there is a real hazard here," says Katz. "Some will end up aspirating cinnamon and some could have acute respiratory distress."

The reason cinnamon poses a danger is that it is.... More

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anonymous
Elfykins Today 13:01 PM

Certain types of cinnamon contain a compound that a medicina called coumadin is made from.. coumadin is a blood thinner...also, some people are allergic to cinnamon oil, and it can cause your throat to swell shut if so... and if you have any respiratory problems, like asthma, copd and a few others.. it can have serious medical consequences.. inhaling it can burn the tissues in your nose and throat too.. I don't care how many of your friends have done it with no problem.. there is going to be.... More

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anonymous
selina Today 01:50 AM

it doesnt seem that bad but imm aafraid to do it
should i?
selina: 13 years old

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anonymous
Anonymous 03/22/2012 16:35 PM

i dont think you should do this challenge at all. out of all people that done this challenge either died or had to be taken to the hospital. like i said to another person dont take the risk by hurting yourself. sometimes when my friends do the most dangerous stuff and i feel like trying it, i really dont feel like taking the risk on hurting my self. so by giving my advice to you, do not take the chance on hurting yourself. you will regret doing this challenge just like evrybody else did.

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Tarrant
Tarrant Today 08:57 AM

Learn now to listen to your gut. If you are afraid to do it--skip it. What's the point of overcoming the fear of it? Can you think of a positive result of doing the challenge? Will it improve your life? Those are the things you should think over when considering something to do. Somewhere in your head, you know this is not a good idea. Even if you "pass" with flying colors--those people you call friends will mock your facial expressions, your cough, the fact that nothing will taste right. If.... More

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anonymous
Anonymous 03/22/2012 16:37 PM

your advice better than mine goooooooooooooooood job

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anonymous
DJ 02/22/2012 14:51 PM

I did the challenge and I was able to swallow just fine with no, coughing, gagging or any ill effects. I even posted it on my facebook wall for friends of mine who believed it to be impossible. I'll admit, it is a silly idea though and there are lots of better things to do with your time.

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anonymous
Anonymous 03/22/2012 16:40 PM

if you would have thought this was a silly idea the you would have never done this challenge. and another thing that you never should have done, was post it facebook. then when you end up dead or something are you going to post that on facebook to? you are sure are stupid to doing this challenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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anonymous
Kiera 02/22/2012 12:13 PM

It can't kill you. You can choke, but that's why we have water near us when we do it. Don't be so uptight. Kids don't ask their parents' permission to do this.

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anonymous
Anonymous 03/29/2012 08:45 AM

It can kill you. I have a severe cinnamon allergy to the point that I have to avoid stores during the holidays because everything has been soaked in cinnamon oil and placed right inside the door so there is no avoiding it. If I did the cinnamon challenge, I would be dead within about 5 minutes from respiratory distress. IT CAN KILL YOU!

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anonymous
sr 03/04/2012 19:45 PM

Ok.. read the article ppl. Some ppl are allergic to cinnamon oil. This allergy can be something that you develop. My 9 year old daughter had eaten and loved cinnamon buns her whole life until about 2 months ago when she took two bites from a cinnamon roll at school. Her tongue and lips immediately started swelling up. She freaked uut and ran to the school nurse. If she hadn't stopped eating it, it would have ended up closing her airway and she would have died! She can now no longer have.... More

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anonymous
Skye 02/21/2012 11:35 AM

I actually did this, not because I was stupid, but because I was bored. I was actually prepared to call the police if anything happened. And yes it felt like hell and I won't be doing it again anytime soon. I still feel like I have cinnamon in my throat so I encourage u all NOT to do it. It's not worth the mess and the choking and coughing.

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anonymous
DAVE 02/16/2012 10:52 AM

Stop making it sound like your gunna die! Its just a bit of fun for people, sure you might get a cough but so what!?

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anonymous
Wow 02/15/2012 06:29 AM

You just said and I quote "I couldn't find any info on people suffering long tem belth problems or death from the cinnonman challenge, but you should discourage it." why does it matter if kidds doit or not if it has no harm to them or anyone around them? I would rather my kid being doing that than be doing drugs.

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anonymous
Enter your name 02/11/2012 23:45 PM

i try it and my throut statred to burn and i could not swallow it took about 3 cups of milk and 2 cups of water so i could swallow again. but my throut still burns i would not do it again

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anonymous
Anonymous 02/20/2012 21:19 PM

Same thing happened to me

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anonymous
anonoymous 02/09/2012 21:48 PM

ok, at my school, people ended up inhaling the cinnamon, and also snorting it on purpose. they had severe coughs, and some kids even coughed up blood. even if you don't believe that, I've seen several ppl do it and they were in severe pain. seriously, don't do it. ann the ppl who say it didn't hurt are just liars trying to sound cool. >.<

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anonymous
Anonymous 03/22/2012 16:56 PM

that is true for people saying that it didnt hurt because they want to prove that they are not chickens and it didnt hurt at all. but why on earth would they do it in school. some kids around my school get caught for doing drugs and all that.............but why in school?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! you know for sure that for sure that you would get caught anyway. and for people that wanted to be cool and say oh i tried the cinnamon challenge it didnt hurt at all. well guess what, you are just a.... More

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anonymous
snoopy 02/06/2012 17:44 PM

dont do it my friend tried it and she has been out of school for the last 3 weeks cuz she has been soooo sick.. trust me if people think ur dumb for not doing this the the real dumy there is them not u.... ur makeing the right choice by not doing this

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anonymous
Spiderman 02/03/2012 17:22 PM

Wow, our future looks bright!

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anonymous
nina 02/02/2012 18:13 PM

DO NOT DO THIS CHALLENGE I REPEAT DO NOT DO THIS CHALLENGE ! THE CINNAMINE CAN GET CLOGHED UP IN YOUR THROGHT AND YOU CAN DIE OR IF YOU DO THIS CHALLENGE YOU CAN THROW UP AND PLUS THIS DARE IS STUPID DO I A DIFFERENT DARE IM WARNING YOU IM NINA AND I APROVE THIS MESSAGE

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anonymous
Anonymous 01/31/2012 16:51 PM

Iv seen someone actually complete if before its not imposable and iv tried it but failed it kinda sucked and i coughed a lot but Im happy i actually did it now

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anonymous
Enter your name 01/30/2012 09:32 AM

I have a spoon full of cinnamon everyday, but I chase it with a spoon full of honey. No big deal. It tastes great too.

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anonymous
Sonya 01/25/2012 11:42 AM

I'm guessing all of you that are doing this, and the ones that say they are going to try this. You all must be children, or very immature people. This is just stupid, not only dangerous, but just plain stupid. Not sure what else to say about that.

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anonymous
Briana 02/10/2012 18:39 PM

What I noticed in the video was that there was only one adolescent girl dumb enough to try this, and a whole lot of adolescent males.

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anonymous
Anonymous 02/27/2012 10:44 AM

I also noticed that it is mostly young girls doing it, after watching about 2 hours of youtube videos. why do our young ladies feel so insecure that they have to prove themselves. We need to be instilling self confidence in our young women, not that they need to wear make-up, barely any clothes, and look like a model.

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anonymous
Blissy 01/23/2012 18:10 PM

a bunch of people at my school tried it at lunch...their reactions were..... HILARIOUS! After they got water to spit out the cinnamon they came back to everyone and told them that its not funny and that they "almost'' died cuz they couldnt breath.....lol i wanna try this now x3

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anonymous
Anonymous 02/27/2012 10:46 AM

where the heck were the lunch monitors??????

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anonymous
joey 01/22/2012 23:12 PM

you relize it says without water not without a drink

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anonymous
kreshana 01/20/2012 01:53 AM

I really want to try this now, but I super scared.

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