Page content edited for scientific accuracy by Bryn Sachdeo PhD

What Makes Us Different

Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S.

Illuminate Labs is the only herbal supplement manufacturer in the U.S. which ensures that all of our products meet European Union dietary supplement contaminant standards (strictest in the world). We test our products for purity, potency and label accuracy at a third-party lab called the U.S. Botanical Safety Laboratory and then publish the test results for you the consumer to see. We only sell products that pass this rigorous testing.

In January of 2020, over 800 individual supplement brands (supplied by three large contract manufacturers) were ordered to take all of their products off the market by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for significant violations of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). The only way for consumers to know that the supplements they're taking are safe and effective is to see test results from a third-party laboratory.

Additionally, we publish all of the medical research that went into our supplement formulations right on each product page. See the Medical Research section at the bottom of this page to view the 10 research papers that went into our Ceylon Cinnamon Extract formulation. These publications prove the safety and efficacy of cinnamon supplementation at the dosage we use.

The test result documents are highly technical. If you have any questions about them please contact us. We're always happy to answer consumer questions.

What is Ceylon Cinnamon?

Ceylon cinnamon (botanical name C. Verum) is the safer species of cinnamon. It's often referred to as "Real Cinnamon" or "True Cinnamon". There are two different types of cinnamon, and what's commonly sold today is the cheaper cassia cinnamon (C. Cassia), which has a compound called coumarin that is toxic to the liver. We published a blog article on the different types of cinnamon and the medical research behind them if you're interested in learning more.

According to a study published in 2013, "One important difference between C. Cassia and C. Verum is their coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) content. The levels of coumarins in C. Cassia appear to be very high and pose health risks if consumed regularly in higher quantities."

Ceylon Cinnamon can help support healthy blood sugar levels and healthy cholesterol levels. Please see the Medical Research section below for a highlight of publications which studied the effect of cinnamon extract on blood glucose and cholesterol.

All Illuminate Labs herbal extracts are sourced from a variety of different countries based on seasonality and purity of raw materials.

Ingredients: 1000 mg Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Verum) Bark Extract Standardized to Minimum 8% Flavonoids, Hypromellose (Cellulose Capsule), Rice Flour, Magnesium Stearate, Maltodextrin, Silicon Dioxide

Product Features: Fully Standardized, 100% Vegan, GMO Free, Allergen Free, Gluten Free

Subscription Terms: Subscriptions can be paused or cancelled at any time by contacting Illuminate Labs. Individual subscription orders will not be refunded if the refund request is received after the item has shipped.

Medical Research on Cinnamon (Efficacy & Safety):

1. “The consumption of cinnamon is associated with a statistically significant decrease in levels of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels, and an increase in HDL-C levels.”

    See full study here.

2. “Whilst definitive conclusions cannot be drawn regarding the use of cinnamon as an antidiabetic therapy, it does possess antihyperglycaemic properties and potential to reduce postprandial blood glucose levels.” 

    See full study here.

3. “There was a significantly higher [blood glucose] reduction in the cinnamon group (10.3%) than in the placebo group (3.4%).”

    See full study here.

4. “Use of cinnamon showed a beneficial effect on glycaemic control (both HbA1c and FPG) and the short term (<4 months) effects of the use of cinnamon on glycaemic control looks promising.”

    See full study here.

5. “Several studies have also revealed that cinnamon extracts lower not only blood glucose but also cholesterol levels.” 

    See full study here.

6. “In summary, cinnamon and components of cinnamon have been shown to have beneficial effects on essentially all of the factors associated with metabolic syndrome, including insulin sensitivity, glucose, lipids, antioxidants, inflammation, blood pressure, and body weight.”

    See full study here.

7. “Subjects with the metabolic syndrome who consume an aqueous extract of cinnamon have been shown to have improved fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, percentage body fat and increased lean body mass compared with the placebo group.” 

    See full study here.

8. “In conclusion, supplementation with 500 mg of water-extract of cinnamon for two months reduced fasting insulin, glucose, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol and enhanced insulin sensitivity of subjects with elevated blood glucose.” 

    See full study here.

9. “In conclusion, cinnamon polyphenol reduces the hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress through activating transcription factors and antioxidative defense signaling pathway in HFD rat liver.” 

    See full study here.

10. “However, high coumarin content of Cinnamomum cassia is a concern, but [Ceylon Cinnamon] with its low coumarin content would be a safer alternate.” 

    See full study here.