With the New Year fast approaching, you can bet losing weight will be at the top of everyone's New Year resolutions list and health foods stores will be well stocked with weight loss pills in anticipation of the after holiday rush. But are people wasting their money on weight loss pills?
Most reputable companies put out decent products that work to some degree, but not to the extent most people think they do. In the early 90's ephedra hit the market with a lot of fanfare. It promised to burn fat like no other compound. And for the most part, it lived up to that promise.
Unfortunately along with its fat burning strength, ephedra also made your heart race uncontrollably and was blamed for a few deaths as well. Needless to say ephedra has been banned by the FDA and is no longer available in stores.
Are there any compounds that work as well as ephedra?
Yes, but ephedra set the bar very high and there really isn't anything new (save for possibly one) that matches its fat burning power.
Currently Hoodia and Green tea are probably two of the more well known weight loss products on the market. Hoodia works as an appetite suppressant, while Green tea works through a process called thermogenisis (fat burning). Neither is as effective as ephedra for weight loss.
There is however one promising compound that seems to block fructose from converting to adipose tissue.
What's all the fuss about fructose?
Fructose may be the biggest cause of obesity in the United States today. Here's a quote from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:
"evidence that a marked increase in the use of HFCS, and therefore in total fructose consumption, preceded the obesity epidemic and may be an important contributor to this epidemic in the United States."
For the past thirty years fructose has virtually replaced cane sugar as the sweetener of choice for most manufacturers because of its low cost to produce. During this period there has been a 300% increase in the use of high fructose corn syrup and a 40% drop in the use of cane sugar.
What is this new natural substance?
This all natural compound is derived from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and Heartwood of Acacia. There more common names are Chinese skullcap and "Black catechu".
What does this compound do?
There are two obesity markers in the blood stream that this natural compound substantially decreases. Chronically obese people have high levels of these two markers. These natural compounds inhibit fat conversion via fructose pathways by down-regulating fat accumulation and up-regulating fat breakdown, thereby decreasing these two obesity markers.
Subjects between the ages of 40 and 75 participated in an independent double blind scientific study conducted by scientists at JSS Medical Research, Inc., in Montreal, Canada. None of the participants were given any advice on dieting or exercise and typically this age group has the most difficult time at losing weight.
On average each participant lost an astounding 7% of their bodyweight compared to zero pounds lost for the participants who were not given this natural compound.
Their results would likely have been much better if they combined an exercise program along with a sensible diet.
Although these compounds show a lot of promise (especially if you are addicted to sweets) and may very well hold the key to the obesity epidemic, it should not replace a healthy diet and sensible exercise program. - 16650
Most reputable companies put out decent products that work to some degree, but not to the extent most people think they do. In the early 90's ephedra hit the market with a lot of fanfare. It promised to burn fat like no other compound. And for the most part, it lived up to that promise.
Unfortunately along with its fat burning strength, ephedra also made your heart race uncontrollably and was blamed for a few deaths as well. Needless to say ephedra has been banned by the FDA and is no longer available in stores.
Are there any compounds that work as well as ephedra?
Yes, but ephedra set the bar very high and there really isn't anything new (save for possibly one) that matches its fat burning power.
Currently Hoodia and Green tea are probably two of the more well known weight loss products on the market. Hoodia works as an appetite suppressant, while Green tea works through a process called thermogenisis (fat burning). Neither is as effective as ephedra for weight loss.
There is however one promising compound that seems to block fructose from converting to adipose tissue.
What's all the fuss about fructose?
Fructose may be the biggest cause of obesity in the United States today. Here's a quote from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:
"evidence that a marked increase in the use of HFCS, and therefore in total fructose consumption, preceded the obesity epidemic and may be an important contributor to this epidemic in the United States."
For the past thirty years fructose has virtually replaced cane sugar as the sweetener of choice for most manufacturers because of its low cost to produce. During this period there has been a 300% increase in the use of high fructose corn syrup and a 40% drop in the use of cane sugar.
What is this new natural substance?
This all natural compound is derived from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and Heartwood of Acacia. There more common names are Chinese skullcap and "Black catechu".
What does this compound do?
There are two obesity markers in the blood stream that this natural compound substantially decreases. Chronically obese people have high levels of these two markers. These natural compounds inhibit fat conversion via fructose pathways by down-regulating fat accumulation and up-regulating fat breakdown, thereby decreasing these two obesity markers.
Subjects between the ages of 40 and 75 participated in an independent double blind scientific study conducted by scientists at JSS Medical Research, Inc., in Montreal, Canada. None of the participants were given any advice on dieting or exercise and typically this age group has the most difficult time at losing weight.
On average each participant lost an astounding 7% of their bodyweight compared to zero pounds lost for the participants who were not given this natural compound.
Their results would likely have been much better if they combined an exercise program along with a sensible diet.
Although these compounds show a lot of promise (especially if you are addicted to sweets) and may very well hold the key to the obesity epidemic, it should not replace a healthy diet and sensible exercise program. - 16650
About the Author:
Author Deen Dragonovich has over 30 years in health and fitness and has researched fructose blockers along with weight loss pills for many years. He also delivers valuable weight loss tips regarding nutrition and fitness.
