June 26, 2009, Newsletter Issue #173: Carb and Fat Blockers: Caffeine-Free Weight Loss Helpers

Tip of the Week

Certain types of weight loss supplements, known as carb and fat blockers, reduce the amount of carbohydrates and fats that are absorbed by the body. More research is needed about the specifics of how carb and fat blockers work, but the idea is that if carbs and fat are “blocked” and not stored, you will not gain as much weight.

Some advantages to carb blockers and fat blockers:

Easy to use. You don’t have to take these supplements at a specific time of day, just before meals.
Relatively inexpensive. About $30 will get you approximately 2 months’ worth of supplements, which is a better deal than some other weight loss products.

One of the more common carb blockers is white kidney bean extract which neutralizes a starch-digesting enzyme, allowing carbs to pass through the body without being absorbed. Common fat blockers include chitosan, which binds with dietary fat and eliminates it so it's not absorbed by the body. Chromium picolinate (to help maintain a normal metabolism) and Gymnema Sylvestre, a common ingredient in traditional Indian medicine that may prevent the transformation of excess glycogen into fat, although this effect has not been studied.

Evidence shows that carb blockers and fat blockers may help you lose a modest amount of weight if you take them regularly. You can buy carb blockers and fat blockers separately, or choose a supplement that contains both types of blockers, such as Fitness Labs’ Carb and Fat Erase supplement, which combines carb blockers and fat blockers in one capsule. But if you need or want to lose a significant amount of weight, you may want to also consider a supplement that contains a stimulant or an appetite suppressant.

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