Ingredient profile
Finessa Licorice Extract and Cassia Cinnamon: DGL, Coumarin and Safety
Finessa lists deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract (DGL) in fourth place and cassia cinnamon bark in first place of its 755 mg Gut Health blend. By our label arithmetic, DGL weighs at most 188 mg and cinnamon at most 755 mg. DGL has the glycyrrhizin removed, while cassia carries coumarin, which matters for the liver.
Written by the Finessa label deskUpdated
On the label01
What licorice extract and cinnamon are in Finessa?
The Gut Health blend names "cinnamon (cassia) bark" first and "deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract" fourth. The blend totals 755 mg a scoop, and the panel prints no single amounts.
Cassia is the cinnamon most often sold in North America (NCCIH, Cinnamon (cassia and coumarin)). DGL is licorice with glycyrrhizin taken out. Glycyrrhizin is the part linked to high blood pressure and low potassium (NCCIH, Licorice root).
The other three lines are ginger, cascara sagrada extract 10:1 and fructooligosaccharides. Cinnamon and DGL sit at the two ends of that list, so their ceilings differ a lot.
| Name on the label | Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) bark |
|---|---|
| What it is | Bark of the cassia tree |
| Where it appears | Place 1 of 5 in the Gut Health, 755 mg |
| Amount per scoop | Not listed; place 1 of 5, at most about 755 mg |
| Amount used in research | No established dose; studies often do not say which species was tested |
| Strength of evidence | Research does not clearly support cinnamon for any health condition |
| Marketed or traditional use | A warming spice bark. |
| Main caution | Cassia contains coumarin, which can stress the liver in large amounts; may lower blood sugar. |
| Name on the label | Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Extract (root) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Licorice root with the glycyrrhizin taken out |
| Where it appears | Place 4 of 5 in the Gut Health, 755 mg |
| Amount per scoop | Not listed; place 4 of 5, at most about 189 mg |
| Amount used in research | No established dose |
| Strength of evidence | Unclear: NCCIH says it is unclear whether licorice has an effect on digestive symptoms |
| Marketed or traditional use | A licorice extract with most of the blood-pressure-raising compound removed. |
| Main caution | Removing glycyrrhizin lowers, not removes, the licorice cautions; ask if you have high blood pressure. |
How much02
How much DGL and cassia cinnamon is in a Finessa scoop?
At most 188 mg of DGL and at most 755 mg of cinnamon, by our arithmetic. The real amounts are not printed.
A blend must list its parts from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36 (proprietary blends)). Line k then weighs at most the total divided by k. With 755 mg, line 1 can weigh up to 755 mg, and line 1 must weigh at least 151 mg, since five lines share the total.
This is our arithmetic from the label order, not a lab test. The label also does not add up: the blend lines sum to more than a 96 g tub allows across 50 servings. We cannot say which number is off, so ask for the lot's certificate of analysis.
| Place | Line | Most it can weigh |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cinnamon (cassia) bark | 755 mg (at least 151 mg) |
| 2 | Ginger powder | 377 mg |
| 3 | Cascara sagrada extract 10:1 | 251 mg |
| 4 | Deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract | 188 mg |
| 5 | Fructooligosaccharides | 151 mg |
Our sources give no studied dose for DGL or for cassia in a powder like this. The bars below show other lines, for scale, against the amounts research used.
Licorice03
What is deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), and is it safe?
DGL is licorice root with most of the glycyrrhizin removed. NCCIH says DGL has none and "might be safe for up to 4 months" (NCCIH, Licorice root).
Plain licorice is different. Glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure, lower potassium and cause an irregular heartbeat, even in small amounts for people who eat a lot of salt or have heart or kidney problems (NCCIH, Licorice root).
The same source says there is not enough high-quality evidence to support licorice for any health condition. It is unclear whether licorice alone changes digestive symptoms (NCCIH, Licorice root).
The panel prints the DGL name, so the glycyrrhizin should be low. We cannot test how low. Ask the order desk for the certificate of analysis if you take blood pressure drugs, water pills, digoxin or corticosteroids, since licorice can interact with them (NCCIH, Licorice root).
Cascara can lower potassium. DGL should not, but we cannot test the powder. For that reason, read cascara sagrada in Finessa.
Finessa: from $39 a bottle50 scoops a tub · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 180-day guarantee
See packsCinnamon04
Is cassia cinnamon safe, and does it help blood sugar?
Cassia is likely safe in food amounts. Its coumarin is the concern, and its help for blood sugar is not established.
Some cassia products contain high coumarin, and long use may matter for people with liver disease (NCCIH, Cinnamon (cassia and coumarin)). MSK adds that cinnamon taken with statins was reported to cause hepatitis, and that it may in theory raise clotting time (NCCIH, Cinnamon (cassia and coumarin)).
NCCIH says research does not clearly support cinnamon for any condition. It is unclear whether supplements help with diabetes or weight loss. Studies often fail to say which species or part was used (NCCIH, Cinnamon (cassia and coumarin)).
Finessa lists cassia, not Ceylon cinnamon, which holds only trace coumarin.
Blood sugar cautions are real for medicine users. Ginger, also in the blend, may lower glucose further with diabetes drugs (MSK, Ginger (blood thinners, diabetes drugs, gallstones)). See Finessa side effects.
Who should ask05
Who should ask a doctor before taking licorice and cinnamon?
Ask first if you take blood pressure, heart, diabetes or blood-thinning medicine, or have liver disease.
- Blood pressure drugs, digoxin and water pills: licorice may change potassium and pressure (NCCIH, Licorice root).
- Corticosteroids: interactions with licorice are reported (NCCIH, Licorice root).
- Liver disease or statins: cassia coumarin (NCCIH, Cinnamon (cassia and coumarin)).
- Diabetes medicine: watch glucose and tell your care team (MSK, Ginger (blood thinners, diabetes drugs, gallstones)).
- Pregnancy: heavy licorice intake is unsafe, and NCCIH does not cover Finessa (NCCIH, Licorice root).
Do not change a prescription because of a supplement. Tell your care team first (FDA, Mixing medications and supplements).
Finessa is a supplement, not a medicine for any bowel or liver disease. No trial has tested it.
FAQ06
Licorice and cinnamon in Finessa: questions
Is the licorice in Finessa deglycyrrhizinated?
The panel prints "deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract". That means glycyrrhizin is removed. We cannot test how much remains, so ask for the lot's certificate of analysis if you take blood pressure medicine.
Can Finessa licorice raise blood pressure?
Plain licorice can, through glycyrrhizin (NCCIH, Licorice root). DGL has none, so the risk should be low. People on heart or blood pressure drugs should still ask first.
How much cinnamon is in one Finessa scoop?
At most 755 mg and at least 151 mg, by our arithmetic from its first place in the 755 mg Gut Health blend. The real amount is not printed, and this is not a lab test.
Does Finessa use cassia or Ceylon cinnamon?
The panel prints cinnamon (cassia) bark. Cassia holds more coumarin than Ceylon, which has only trace amounts (NCCIH, Cinnamon (cassia and coumarin)). Long use matters most for people with liver disease.
Does cinnamon in Finessa lower blood sugar?
That is not shown. NCCIH says it is unclear whether cinnamon supplements help with diabetes (NCCIH, Cinnamon (cassia and coumarin)). Do not use the powder to manage blood sugar.
Can I take DGL and cascara together?
Finessa has both. Cascara can lower potassium, and DGL should not, since the glycyrrhizin is removed. Ask a doctor first if you take a water pill or heart medicine.
Is licorice safe during pregnancy?
Heavy plain licorice is unsafe in pregnancy; about 250 g a week was linked to earlier delivery (NCCIH, Licorice root). We cannot say Finessa is safe in pregnancy. Ask your doctor.
Who wrote this07
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Gofinessa, a U.S. stocking partner for Finessa, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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