How To Find The Best Cinnamon And Avoid Toxins - Tod Cooperman, M.D. [f38855]
2025-07-29
Post Time: 2025-07-29
Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for overall well-being, but it can be challenging to balance flavor and nutrition. One area that often gets overlooked is sodium intake.
Understanding the Risks of High Sodium Consumption High sodium levels in the body can lead to increased blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. According to recent studies, approximately 89% of Americans consume more than twice the daily recommended amount of sodium per day. Reducing sodium consumption while still enjoying flavorful meals is achievable with a few simple changes.
Strategies for Sodium Reduction
- Rethink Your Seasonings: Instead of relying on salt, try using herbs and spices to add flavor to your dishes. For example, basil pairs well with vegetables, while cumin complements beans.
- Becoming Familiar with Salt-Free Seasoning Blends: Some store-bought seasoning blends are low in sodium or contain no added salt at all.
- Opt for Low-Sodium Broth and Stock: Many commercial broths and stocks are high in sodium, but there are now options available that cater to those looking for lower-sodium alternatives.
- Select Canned Goods Wisely: When selecting canned beans, vegetables, or soups, look for low-sodium or no-salt-added varieties.
Tips for Maintaining Flavor with Less Salt
- Don't be Afraid of Acid: Adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to dishes can enhance flavors without adding salt.
- Umami's the Answer: Using ingredients that are naturally high in umami flavor, such as mushrooms and soy sauce (in moderation), can reduce reliance on salt.
- Get Creative with Marinades: Marinating meats or vegetables before cooking allows for a flavorful result without needing excess sodium.
Healthy Swaps for Sodium-Heavy Foods
- Vegetarian Options: Choosing vegetarian dishes often means reducing sodium intake, as these options frequently rely less heavily on processed ingredients and sauces.
- Fresh vs Processed: Opting for fresh fruits and vegetables over their frozen or canned counterparts reduces overall salt consumption.
Incorporating More Plant-Based Meals
- Focusing on Fresh Fruits: Incorporate seasonal fruits into meals to not only reduce sodium intake but also add natural sweetness.
- Plant-Based Sauces and Condiments: Many store-bought plant-based sauces, condiments, or marinades can be high in salt; choose wisely when making such substitutions.
Staying Motivated on Your Low-Sodium Journey
- Flavor Profile Experimentation: Keep a journal of your favorite low-sodium flavor combinations to refer back to later.
- Involve Family Members and Friends: Making the switch together can be more enjoyable than going it alone, offering additional support when needed.
By incorporating these strategies into daily meals, individuals can successfully reduce their sodium intake while maintaining flavorful dishes that are both satisfying and healthy.
ConsumerLab's Dr. blood sugar is 180 Tod Cooperman explains the major differences among popular cinnamon supplements and spices based on the amounts of beneficial PACs and potentially toxic coumarin and lead that ConsumerLab found in its tests, reported at Also, learn about cinnamon's effect on blood sugar and cinnamon dosage. See the full report for CL's Top Picks and to what's blood sugar find out which Ceylon cinnamon was probably not Ceylon, but less expensive cassia cinnamon, posing a potential safety risk. 0:00 What ConsumerLab found when we tested cinnamon supplements 0:34 Different types of cinnamon 1:47 Lead in cinnamon supplements 2:10 Why use cinnamon as a supplement 2:40 PACs in cinnamon supplements 3:05 Become a member to see ConsumerLab's Top Picks of what should your morning blood sugar level be cinnamon supplements Is cinnamon safe? What did ConsumerLab find? A concern with cinnamon is that it may contain significant amounts of coumarin — a naturally occurring compound that may cause liver toxicity and is a potential carcinogen. Coumarin can be high in cassia cinnamon (the most common type of cinnamon), but should be low in Ceylon cinnamon — also called "true" cinnamon or Cinnamonum verum — which is, typically, more expensive. However, ConsumerLab found that a "Ceylon" cinnamon product contained 4 mg of coumarin per serving — more than any other cinnamon supplement, suggesting that it is mislabeled. None of the products, however, exceeded the tolerable daily intake limit of 7 mg for an average-sized adult, but two exceeded the limit for children (see coumarin amounts in the Results Tables for Supplements and for Spices You can become a ConsumerLab.com member now at for immediate access to exclusive reviews of over 1,000 products, hundreds of CL Answers, warnings, and other information about supplements and natural products that you won't find anywhere else! Not ready to become a member yet? Sign up for our FREE newsletter #cinnamonreviews #ceyloncinnamon #cinnamondosage