<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

I want to thank the two dozen caring souls who sent messages regarding
my last post on cinnamon sensitivity. It turns out that the spice that
most everyone loves can have a dark side. I'm not the only one that has
trouble with it.

Included in the responses:
*  "Don't know the exact reason, but a lot of people I spoke with on the
Internet said that they cut way back on their cinnamon intake, and they
felt better and had fewer stomach and intestinal upset."

"I, too, am sensitive to cinnamon. If I use a little I am OK, if I pour
it on, it bothers my
stomach."

*  "Two people that I know, who do not have celiac disease, are allergic
to cinnamon and have similar reactions to some celiacs."

*  "I seem to always get a sore throat when I have cinnamon . . . I also
am on a gluten free diet."

*  "Personally, even the smell of cinnamon makes me feel ill.  It was
the first thing I noticed, in supermarkets, when I moved from Europe to
California.  Aaaaagh!"

*  One person reported they only trust Penzey's spices (mail order).

Another recommended Toni brand.

*  "I have noticed that after I have been on a GF diet, even though it's
been over 2 years, I cannot tolerate the spicy things that I used to be
able to.  I used to eat chili and sprinkle hot pepper flakes on it!!!
Just the chili alone would probably put me in bed for a week now.  I
have noticed that I can tolerate a small amount of cinnamon in a recipe
just to give it a little flavor, like about 1/8 tsp. when the directions
call for a whole teaspoon.  Otherwise, any more and I get a
stomachache."

*  One person suggested my cinnamon might be contaminated from previous
use, and that I should replace it with a new container.

*  "Cinnamon is a spice, which similar to pepper produces heat.  Since
you are so newly diagnosed, your intestines probably haven't had a
chance to fully heal yet.  As a result, the cinnamon may well be
irritating the intestinal wall. You may also have a 'leaky gut' and the
cinnamon could be leaking out. You might want to wait awhile and try
again in about six months."

*  "I'm a celiac and have DH also.  I have an unusual reaction to
cinnamon when I keep it in my mouth for any length of time, such as
chewing Dentyne gum or brushing with cinnamon flavored toothpaste.  My
tongue swells. It's weird.  I tracked this down through an article about
Sjorgen's disease (I seem to have subtle symptoms of that also) which
mentioned that the tongue can swell when you chew cinnamon flavored
gum."

*  "If you are not actually allergic to this spice, the good news that
with 3-6 months of avoidance you will likely be able to tolerate it
again."

*  Two people suggested I was reacting to caramel in the brown sugar,
but the brown sugar package lists only sugar and molasses. (I've stopped
using it anyway.)

*  "I became allergic to tuna fish after eating it everyday for lunch as
a child. I stayed away for years and now am able to eat it once again. I
think if we overdose on ANY food or
spice, etc., our bodies become allergic to it.  The moral of the story
is to not overdo with any food." Amen.

* Finally, someone requested detailed instructions on how to kill ants
with cinnamon.