If you're looking for the best bitter orange supplement, you're in the right place. We've put together a list of the best bitter orange picks based on price, ingredients, customer reviews, and any other features that make them worth considering.
If you've never heard of bitter orange before, then you may recognise some of its alternative names including citrus aurantium, sour orange, or, perhaps the most commonly known of all, Seville orange.
The fruit has a long history in alternative medicine. However, recent years have seen it used to create herbal weight loss supplements due to it being linked to increasing an individual's metabolic rate.
However, you may also find it in skin care products, top multivitamin tablets, essential oils, and perfume, although we're solely focusing on it as a supplement in this article.
So, if you're looking to give bitter orange capsules a try, like PrimaForce's Syneburn Supplement, or you're after a powdered alternative, like Redwells Premium Supplements Citrus Aurantium, then we've got you covered right here.
We've also answered some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding bitter orange supplements to help you get your head around its potential benefits and some of the research into its effectiveness. Before that though, let's get into our list...
Best bitter orange supplement
- Swanson Full Spectrum Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex
- Redwells Premium Supplements Citrus Aurantium
- PrimaForce Syneburn Supplement
- bulk Complete Thermogenic
- NusaPure Bitter Orange Capsules
1. Swanson Full Spectrum Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex
Best bitter orange supplement capsules
Serving Size: 1 Capsule
We're kicking things off with Swanson's Full Spectrum Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex which contains 700mg of bioflavonoids from bitter orange.
Bioflavonoid is a natural compound that is said to aid the absorption of vitamin C and complement its antioxidant capabilities. As a result, Swanson boasts its bitter orange capsules are ideal for improving your daily vitamin C intake.
The supplement also contains rose hips which have been linked by Phetcharat et al. to anti-aging properties like decreasing the appearance of wrinkles and increasing skin moisture content and elasticity.
As a result, these capsules look like they may deliver more than just the apparent benefits of bitter orange, which is one of the reasons we believe they're some of the best supplements on the market.
Read More: Best garlic supplements
2. Redwells Premium Supplements Citrus Aurantium
Best bitter orange supplement powder
Serving Size: 150mg
If you prefer incorporating bitter orange into your routine as a powder, similar to how you might use top-quality protein powder, then Redwells Premium Supplements Citrus Aurantium could be an appealing option for you.
One key advantage of using powdered bitter orange is the absence of gelatin for encapsulation. Redwells therefore emphasises that this blend is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.
Furthermore, this supplement is claimed to consist of 100% pure herbal extract, free from any extra additives, fillers, or binders. This ensures that you're adding the potential benefits of bitter oranges to your diet without any undesirable extras.
So, if you're considering incorporating powdered bitter orange into your diet, this distinctive supplement from Redwells appears to be a worthwhile choice.
Read More: Best milk thistle supplements
3. PrimaForce Syneburn Supplement
Best budget bitter orange supplement
Serving Size: 1 Capsule
PrimaForce's Syneburn Supplement is promoted as a weight loss aid, containing 10mg of synephrine derived from the bitter orange extract. This compound is believed, according to the National Institute of Health, to enhance energy expenditure and offer a mild appetite suppressant effect.
Incorporating these capsules into your regimen could potentially raise your basal metabolic rate and energy consumption, highlighting one of the prominent advantages attributed to bitter oranges.
Furthermore, this supplement provides a generous quantity of 180 capsules at a budget-friendly price point. Given that the recommended daily dose is only one capsule, it can be argued that this supplement offers excellent value for your investment, thus making it a top pick all things considered.
Read More: Best taurine supplements
4. bulk Complete Thermogenic
Best vegan bitter orange supplement
Serving Size: 3 Capsules
Bitter orange is a completely vegan compound in its pure form, giving way to vegan-friendly supplements such as bulk Complete Thermogenic.
In each capsule, you get nine active ingredients in total, including citrus aurantium, with the supplement tailored toward helping you stay alert and focused during a workout. That said, bulk describes its tablets as potent and, therefore, might not suit everyone and should be taken sparingly in our opinion.
However, if you're looking for an alternative to one of the best pre-workouts, for instance, then this bulk Complete Thermogenic could be the supplement for you.
Read More: Best cod liver oil capsules
5. NusaPure Bitter Orange Capsules
Best pure bitter orange supplement
Serving Size: 1 Capsule
We conclude our list with the NusaPure Bitter Orange Capsules, which stand out as one of the purest bitter orange supplements available.
With each capsule providing 500mg of bitter orange as the sole ingredient, along with necessary capsule-forming components, NusaPure boasts it provides a 100% pure supplement. Moreover, it is gluten-free, suitable for vegetarians, and free from GMO ingredients, meaning you're not restricted by dietary requirements when selecting these capsules
So, for those seeking to explore the potential health benefits of bitter oranges exclusively, these capsules are worth considering.
Read More: Best supplements for sleep
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Finding which supplements to add to your diet can be a little confusing at times. Don't worry though because we've answered some of the most frequently asked queries surrounding bitter orange supplements right here.
What do bitter orange supplements do?
Bitter orange is perhaps most commonly known for being one of the traditional ingredients in marmalade. However, you'll also find it has a long history in alternative medicine, particularly in Southeast Asian culture.
More recently, bitter orange has been used to create herbal weight loss supplements because P-synephrine, an active ingredient in bitter orange, is similar to the compound ephedrine. Ephedrine has been linked in research by Shannon et al. to weight loss due to increasing an individual's metabolic rate.
However, weight loss isn't the only potential effect bitter orange has. Like other citrus fruits, bitter orange contains limonene, a substance that has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties according to research by Meeran et al..
Therefore, bitter orange may aid your post-workout recovery as well as help you fight off diseases alongside, especially as it also contains vitamin C.
Should you take bitter orange supplements?
Bitter orange supplements aren't as widely researched as say, for example, the best creatine supplements around. As a result, choosing whether or not you should add bitter orange to your diet will come down to your own personal preference.
This is because the overall safety of bitter orange extract is not widely agreed upon. That said, several studies, including one of particular note by Shara et al., deem bitter orange extract safe for use in dietary supplements and foods at the commonly used doses despite concerns over it increasing heart rate and damaging the nervous system.
In terms of who should take bitter orange, well those who might be looking to lose weight may see some benefit in adding bitter orange to their diet. However, it's important to consume a relatively regular diet with the supplement rather than going too far into a calorie deficit.
It may also be beneficial for those who train regularly or athletes looking to improve their recovery and reduce any potential soreness post-workout due to its associated anti-inflammatory properties.
Is bitter orange considered a stimulant?
The status of synephrine, a primary component of bitter orange, as a stimulant remains uncertain due to conflicting information.
A substance that increases physiological or nervous activity in the body is defined as a stimulant. Bui et al.'s research suggests that bitter orange elevates both heart rate and blood pressure, potentially qualifying it as a stimulant.
In fact, synephrine is listed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association as a stimulant and is therefore prohibited in athletic competitions.
However, Stohs et al. and other researchers have conducted studies indicating that bitter orange is safe and lacks significant adverse effects. As a result, the current research does not provide a clear answer to whether bitter orange qualifies as a stimulant.
How much bitter orange can you take?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrated Health (NCCIH), a US government agency that explores complementary and alternative medicine, believes bitter orange is likely safe to consume orally in amounts commonly found in foods.
This is supported by research from Kaats et al. which found no adverse effects of bitter orange in doses up to 98mg during the 60-day trial period.
With this in mind, it would seem it's relatively safe to consume up to 98mg of bitter orange a day as part of your diet.
Make sure you don't go overboard though because, as touched on above, there are some associations that deem bitter orange to be a stimulant and, in turn, have a significant impact on your heart and cardiovascular health.
How should bitter orange supplements be stored?
Bitter orange supplements, like most dietary supplements, should be stored properly to maintain their quality and potency. This is usually in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and humidity.
Bitter orange supplements should be kept in an airtight container as well to minimise exposure to air. Oxygen can cause oxidation and degradation of the active compounds in the supplements, reducing their potency over time.
Light can also degrade the ingredients in bitter orange supplements. To protect them from light exposure, store the supplements in opaque containers or keep them in a cabinet or drawer.
Keep in mind though that different manufacturers may provide specific storage instructions on the supplement packaging. Always read and follow those instructions for optimal storage conditions.