Alexandra Ramirez
1. Nature’s Bounty
Best Overall Cinnamon Herbal Supplement
5/5 Product Rating
Cinnamon has been regarded as an excellent supplement that helps many of your important bodily systems. It’s been very popular for thousands of years in Eastern medicine and has now gained a lot of recognition in the United States over the last several years.
The fact that it helps to stabilize blood sugar means you’ve got a supplement that can really make big differences in your health. All you need is two capsules a day, and it is preferred that those be taken with a meal.
You can take both capsules at once, or one capsule at two different times a day. Many people like to break the capsules apart and add the ingredients to drinks, oatmeal, cereal, coffee or another food of choice.
Nature’s Bounty has NO artificial color, sweeteners, or flavor. It also contains NO sugar, starch, milk, lactose, soy, gluten, wheat, yeast, fish, or preservatives. It also contains no sodium.
– Linda Krantz
2. New Chapter
Best Overall Cinnamon Herbal Supplement – Runner Up
4.6/5 Product Rating
When you take New Chapter Cinnamon Force you will be helped with maintaining, or getting to, a healthy weight. Cinnamon helps turn sugar into immediate energy rather than being stored as fat.
It is a great supplement to take when you want to lose weight and although it is not a weight-loss pill, the benefits that cinnamon provide will help steer you in the right direction when it comes to obtaining your optimum weight.
This product, like all New Chapter supplements, is Non-GMO Project Verified and gluten free. If you’re looking for a supplement that can help with blood sugar and converting carbs to energy, you will love New Chapter Cinnamon Force.
– Linda Krantz
3. Zhou Nutrition
Best Budget Cinnamon Herbal Supplement
4.5/5 Product Rating
Some of the benefits that you can expect when taking Ceylon Cinnamon Capsules include blood sugar stabilization, a healthy heart and prevention of insulin spikes which make it great to take when you want to lose weight.
The supplements are easy to swallow and can be easily taken apart if you’d rather sprinkle the cinnamon on your food. The flavor of this cinnamon is different from cassia cinnamon. Customers enjoy its more sophisticated taste.
This cinnamon is sourced in Sri Lanka and encapsulated and packaged in the USA. The company offers its customers a 100% money-back guarantee. If for some reason you are not happy with the product, you can return it with no questions asked. There are 60 capsules in this bottle, each with 500 mg of cinnamon.
– Linda Krantz
Cinnamon Herbal Supplement Buying Guide
You may be surprised to learn that about 250 different species of cinnamon have been identified all over the world. This is due to the fact that the cinnamon tree grows all over the world and different species are found on different continents and in different regions.
There are two main types of cinnamon that are most common. These two are:
- Ceylon Cinnamon – This type of cinnamon has also been referred to as “true” cinnamon. It is not as commonly used as cassia cinnamon but is healthier and absent of coumarin, which is a potentially toxic ingredient when taken in excess.
- Cassia Cinnamon – This form of cinnamon is the type found in most grocery stores. It is more readily available and easier to find.
Differences Between Ceylon Cinnamon and Cassia Cinnamon
Origin
The two types of cinnamon that are most common are sourced from two different trees that are related. Ceylon cinnamon comes from trees located in Sri Lanka and Thailand. It is a rare form of cinnamon so it is more expensive than cassia cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is also called “true cinnamon”. It is much more difficult to find Ceylon cinnamon in grocery and health food stores but it can be easily found online and through the links we have provided above.
Cassia cinnamon has also been called Chinese or Saigon cinnamon due to the fact that it almost exclusively comes from trees located in China. This type of cinnamon is the one most commonly found in stores and is less expensive than Ceylon cinnamon.
Coumarin Content
Based on studies that have been done, researchers believe that Ceylon cinnamon is much healthier than Cassia Cinnamon. There have been more studies done on Cassia than Ceylon but this is changing as more information comes out about the health benefits true cinnamon can bring. There is a compound in cinnamon called coumarins that Ceylon cinnamon has much less of than Cassia. In fact, the amount is so small that it can barely be detected. It is the coumarins that indicate Cassia cinnamon can cause problems if large amounts are taken.
Overall you can expect similar health benefits from both types of cinnamon but as more studies are done, it is expected that Ceylon cinnamon will come out on top as the best variety to take.
Taste Differences
When the two types of cinnamon were compared, we found Ceylon cinnamon to be much lighter and somewhat citrusy in taste compared to Cassia cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon is much spicier and has a deeper taste to it. They can both be used in baking and cooking recipes. If the type of cinnamon is not specified on the bottle, you can generally expect it to be Cassia. You should use your cinnamon within one year from the date of purchase and then replace it with new bottle.
Should You Take Cinnamon Herbal Supplements?
There are many health benefits that have been reported from taking cinnamon herbal supplements. If you are undecided about taking it, read just a few of the many benefits below to see just what cinnamon herbal supplements can do for you.
- Anti-inflammatory – The anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamon have been reported to lower the onset of brain decline, cancer, heart disease and more. There have been more than 7 different flavonoid compounds that have been found in cinnamon and all are very effective at fighting inflammation in the body. Cinnamon’s ability to lower inflammation and swelling make it a great choice for helping reduce allergic reactions, muscle soreness and PMS pain.
- Protects the heart – Additional studies report that using cinnamon can reduce cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, lower triglyceride levels and other risk factors that can increase heart disease. Because of the special compounds present in cinnamon herbal supplements, it has been found to help the body form blood clots which prevent excessive bleeding. Another benefit is an increase in blood circulation which can help the heart repair itself if it has been damaged. Heart tissue is also repaired which lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks.
- Fights Viruses and Infections – When it comes to illness, cinnamon provides many benefits that assist the body in defending itself to disease. It is a natural antibiotic, anti-fungal anti-microbial and anti-viral agent. Taking it can boost the immune system and help you ward off illnesses such as the cold, the flu, digestive tract problems, and skin issues.
Conclusion
As you can see there are many reasons that taking a good quality cinnamon herbal supplement is good for your health and well being. Aside from just tasting good, it can help protect your heart, reduce inflammation, freshen your breath, and help the health of your teeth and gums.
For having so many health benefits, it is an extremely affordable supplement and is easy to find online. In this guide, we have shown you the differences between the two types of cinnamon, shown you what to look for and provided three top-rated cinnamon herbal supplement choices.
With these many benefits, the popularity of cinnamon herbal supplements continues to grow. Adding it to your daily supplement routine, in the right doses can have a significant impact on your health that will help you look and feel better.
Resources
- Zhou – http://www.zhounutrition.com/
- Nature’s Bounty – https://www.naturesbounty.com/
- New Chapter – http://www.newchapter.com/
