Fast weight loss

Yes folks, you heard it right. Oral Xenical, renamed Alli will be sold at your local Walgreens or Walmart or Walwhatever convenience store you go to. This is the first, scientifically proven over the counter drug to make it to market. No prescription needed. The amount taken daily is 60 milligrams three times daily 30 minutes before a meal. As I mentioned in a previous post, this stuff is going to give you the runs, BAD. I like to take mine with an anti-diarrhea tablet. One of the side effects listed is “Oily discharge”… Thats PRETTY damn vague, don’t you think? They aren’t talking about it discharging from your nose. Now in my opinion this stuff should take off 200 calories of fat daily if taken three times. Thats not much at all, but it WILL add up. I promise. Sadly, it won’t be available till this summer. Thats when I want to be thin already.

“In the 16-week study, low-dose Xenical patients on average lost 5 percent of their baseline weight and while those receiving a placebo but following the same diet guidelines on average lost 3.3 percent. ”

Good Luck, and a prize will be awarded to the person with the cleanest underwear at the end of the day.

Sesamin
Sesamin is a lignan isolated from sesame seeds. As a lignan is a molecule that combines with another entity acting as an “activator”, sesamin binds to and activates a receptor called Peroxisome Proliferator-Activator Receptor Alpha (PPARalpha). These receptors are involved in regulation of lipid metabolism, specifically the transcription of the genes involved in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids and lipogenesis, as well as fat oxidation in the mitochondria and the peroxisomes of cells by increasing the expression of enzymes involved in beta-oxidation of fatty acids.
In fact, the interaction of sesamin, and various types of dietary fats has been studied in rats in order to establish if it affects hepatic fatty acid oxidation.
Fatty acid oxidation
In the Division of Food Functionality, and the National Food Research Institute in Japan, rats were fed purified experimental diets supplemented with 0% or 0.2% sesamin (1:1 mixture of sesamin and episesamin), and containing 8% of either palm, safflower or fish oil for 15 days.
Among the groups fed sesamin-free diets, the activity of various fatty acid oxidation enzymes was higher in rats fed fish oil than in those fed palm and safflower oils. However, dietary sesamin increased enzyme activities in all groups of rats given different fats, depending on dietary fat type. But in all cases, the diet containing sesamin and fish oil in combination appeared to increase many of these activities synergistically. So these final results allowed the experts to elaborate some positive conclusions about this combination of sesamin and its action over fatty acid oxidation.
Another similar trial was performed in the Laboratory of Nutrition Biochemistry and the National Food Research Institute, also in Japan. Oxidation was examined in rats that were fed experimental diets containing various amounts (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.5%) of sesamin (a 1:1 mixture of sesamin and episesamin) for 15 days. Finally, dietary sesamin dose-dependently increased both mitochondrial and peroxisomal palmitoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) oxidation rates. Furthermore, mitochondrial activity almost doubled in rats on the 0.5% sesamin diet. Peroxisomal activity also increased more than 10-fold in rats fed a 0.5% sesamin diet in relation to rats on the sesamin-free diet. Once again, dietary sesamin greatly increased the hepatic activity of fatty acid oxidation enzymes, including carnitine palmitoyltransferase, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, acyl-CoA oxidase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase, and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase.
According to many researchers, another possible combination in order to increase this type of processes is related to conjugate linoleic acid (CLA). Japanese scientists studied whether dietary manipulations could enhance the effects of this substance over fat loss, and they found that sesamin helped stimulate the loss of adipose tissue. So it is possible that sesame lignans increase CLA ’s effects by stimulating a pathway of fatty acid breakdown called beta-oxidation. This combination may be also effective in lowering serum triglycerides, since the enhanced fatty-acid oxidation that sesamin promotes in the liver may be responsible for some triglyceride-lowering effect.
Dosage
As sesamin dosing ranges have not been established, and a few cases of sesamin allergies have been reported, the most advisable would be using it according to what is indicated on the product label. In addition, it may be also contraindicated with diuretic medications. So, of course, the advice and control of a qualified physician is necessary, just like with any other supplement.
It is also worth to make clear that the effects can vary from person to person because of genetic differences. However, sesamin is stimulant-free, so there’s no “rebound” weight gain or water retention once stop using it. In part because of that, healthy adults consider sesamin a safe nutritional supplement for use.

Cayenne
Cayenne is a very hot red pepper made from the dried pods of chili peppers and is well known for its pungent taste and smell. It is used to flavor dishes; its name comes from the city of Cayenne in French Guiana. It is also used as a herbal supplement, and was mentioned by Nicholas Culpeper- an English botanist, physician, and astrologer in the XVII century- in his Complete Herbal. Besides, it is believed to have many beneficial medicinal qualities, especially for the pulmonary and digestive systems, and it is used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine with those purposes, although its properties are being recognized in the whole world.
The reasons behind the properties
The main medicinal properties of cayenne are derived from a chemical called capsaicin, the ingredient that gives peppers their “heat”. The content of capsaicin in a regular pepper ranges from 0-1.5%. In fact, the degree of heat determines the peppers’ usage and value and the only beneficial ones are those which are labeled as 40,000, 60,000, 90,000 or more heat units. Apart from capsaicin, cayenne has other useful constituents, like vitamins E, vitamin C and carotenoids.
Regarding its digestive actions are related to the sooth of the digestive tract, along with the stimulation of the flow of stomach secretions and saliva, which contain helpful substances to the process of digestion.
Another great property is its quick stimulant effect over blood circulation. This is a major benefit for human body, since it increases the effectiveness of other herbs when mixed together. For example, when a tonic for the liver is taken, its effects turns insignificant if the person does not have a good circulation to its liver. Another example may occur when the person has a restriction of blood flow, which happens always in sick areas –like when an injury occurs. Blood flow takes nutrition and healing properties of herbs and medicines to those cells while it carries out and removes waste material. However, cayenne goes through that entire blockage and pass by the problematic area, allowing all the minerals and vitamins from the eaten foods, and the vital chemicals from the medicines taken to reach that area.
Fat loss properties?

Although some cayenne supplements are circulating in the fat loss market, by now no scientific evidence is available regarding with this regard. However, some sources affirm that though it may not have a fat loss action by itself, it can be mixed with Ginger Root, Apple Cider Vinegar, Potassium, and a few other herbs in order to get some results. In fact, there are some supplements that incorporated cayenne along with other type of substances, instead of being based just on cayenne at all.

Available forms

Apart from the supplements, whose reliability is already explained, cayenne is also available in powder and capsules. The herbals experts usually prefer powder to capsules, because of the process that occurs when the person puts cayenne in its mouth: the stomach secretes digestive juices before the cayenne gets there, in order to be ready for it.

On the other hand, when a capsule is swollen, as it tastes nothing, it goes down the stomach provoking no reactions at all, since it has not been noticed. However, when the gelatin bursts the effects suddenly appears, causing a shock to the body.

However, for those who are not used to this type of flavored food, high quantities of cayenne can taste a little aggressive. So, a good initial dosage would be 1/16th of a teaspoonful in some juice. Once the body gets used to it, the dosage can be slowly increased. However, the opinion and monitoring of a physician is advised, in order to avoid overdoses, and take exactly what the personal condition of the patient’s body requires.

Chromium

Chromium is an essential trace mineral for the human body. It’s important in processing carbohydrates and fats, and it helps cells respond properly to insulin.

The best food sources of chromium are meats and whole-grain products, while fruits, vegetables and milk have very low quantities of this substance. Although many studies have been performed in order to explain the way Chromium acts in the body, or whether it can be an aid to lose fat since its function are in some way related to metabolism, this subject is still unclear.

Trials

A reliable scientific study has been performed in School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University in China. The objective was to study the effects of chromium on the level of leptin and insulin in obese rats.

Binding of leptin to Ventral Medial nucleus of the hypothalamus signals to the brain that the body has had enough to eat -a sensation of satiety. Taking into a count this correlation of leptin concentrations with percentage of body fat, the hoped result should be an increase of this substance after the intake of Chromium (Some suggest Chromium Picolinate, others chromium polynicotinate, or also known as chromium nicotinate) However, in general, obese people have an unusually high circulating concentration of leptin, which leads to the theory that they are resistant to the effects of leptin, in much the same way that people with type 2 diabetes are resistant to the effects of insulin. Aparently, the high sustained concentrations of leptin from the enlarged fat stores result in the cells that respond to leptin becoming desensitised.

As the experiment was performed over 32 obese model rats, the positive result was an increase in their leptin levels. So the rats were divided randomly into four groups, from which we will just compare the one who was given chromium (3 mg/kg bw), with the high fat diet one.

After six weeks, fats around kidney and spermary were weighted and blood samples were collected to determine the level leptin and insulin. According to the results, the level of leptin and insulin in experimental group were lower than those in high fat diet group, as well as the ratios of fats around kidney and/or around spermary to body weight.

Although this has been performed in rats, it gives an idea the reaches of Chromium, since it would possible depress the high level of leptin and insulin in obese people too.

Regarding chromium picolinate –combination of chromium with picolinic, which aids in its absorption- its action over humans, results of a double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study published some years ago on the Current Therapeutic Research show that chromium aids in the loss of body fat, improving body composition, determined by the ratio of fat-free mass versus the amount of fatty tissue in the body. However, the dosage given to all patients were of 400 micrograms per day, which exceeds the “safe and adequate intake”, according to the United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDA) committee.
Safety

Although its ingestion in supplement form does not seem to imply major problems in the short term, the effects of its long-term use are a concern for some experts. According to a study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, daily ingestions of chromium supplements of 600 micrograms for five years may lead to an accumulation of this substance in tissues, which is apparently related to chromosome damage. However, it is worth to make clear that once again, this has been not proved over humans, since the study was performed over hamster ovary cells.

Regarding chromium in its natural form, a diet rich in whole-grain breads –the less processed grain, the more chromium levels- and cereals should provide enough amounts. However, if a supplement is chosen, the usual advisable maximum per day is 50-200 micrograms, while the FDA to recommend a daily intake of approximately 130 mcg, as infinitesimal amounts of chromium are needed to aid the transport of blood glucose across cell membranes.

Conclusion

At the moment, the use of chromium supplements is related to some controversy, since some sources claim it is a reliable aid to fat loss while some others claim just the opposite. It seems like all kinds of trials have been performed in order to support one theory or the other, though the most reliable ones are those performed on rats, since they come from a well-recognized source. Although this study may give a good perspective about chromium actions in humans, it is obvious that there is still some more serious research to do.

Hydroxycitric acid

Hydroxycitric (HCA) acid is the active ingredient in the herbal compound Garcinia cambogia, a type of fruit. Its chemical structure is similar to the one of citric acid -the primary acid in citrus fruits.

As it may play an essential role in de novo lipogenesis inhibition, because it inhibits the extramitochondrial enzyme adenosine triphosphate-citrate, some sources affirm that hydroxycitric acid can lower body weight and reduce fat mass in humans.

Related to this subject, animal studies seemed to prove that hydroxycitric acid reduces appetite by raising the amount of serotonin -a neurotransmitter thought to affect appetite control- in the body.

However, with the objective of proving if this property is available also for humans, a twelve-week double blind placebo-controlled trial was performed in the Department of Medicine and Obesity Research Center of St Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, and in Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. It was practiced over a group of overweight men and women -body mass index [weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters], approximately 32 kg/m2). Subjects were randomized to receive either active herbal compound (1500 mg of hydroxycitric acid per day) or placebo, and both groups were prescribed a high-fiber, low-energy diet. The treatment period was 12 weeks.

Results

Basically, the fat loss occurred between the two groups during those 12 weeks was statistically very similar, since patients in both groups lost a generous amount of weight: P<.001. There were no significant differences in estimated percentage of body fat mass loss between treatment groups, and also treatment group did not influence the fraction of subject fat loss.

Although other human studies have been performed, giving mixed results on appetite reduction, none of these is as methodologically strong as the one previously mentioned. Some of them showed little or no effect, while others reported a 15% to 30% decrease in food intake. In fact, many of them used a similar calorie-restricted diet and a similar amount of hydroxycitric acid as the trial performed in New York. However, the double-blind study used a high-fiber diet not used in the prior studies. So it leaded to the hypothesis that such a diet might limit absorption of hydroxycitric acid. Future studies that measure blood levels of hydroxycitric acid are necessary in order to check whether the supplement was absorbed or not. These would resolve this issue and finally prove or disprove the effectiveness of hydroxycitric acid in fat loss in a reliable way.

Insulin output decrease?

Regarding all the doubts that results of the trials have caused, a group of Dutch researchers decided to leave them behind for a while, and study the possibility of hydroxycitric acid affecting glucose absorption. As it is a key component of metabolism, the results in case of being positive, would have some sort of relation with the fat loss field. The study was performed on rats, and its reliability seems accurate, since was published by the American Physiological Society.

So rats were administered hydroxycitric acid prior to “mimicking a meal by infusing sugar into the stomach,” according to the lead researcher, Peter Y. Wielinga.

Results

Dr. Wielinga explains the group that had no hydroxycitric acid, had a much lower blood sugar increase, and it was finally absorbed after two hours. However, the type of sugar that was used is normally absorbed within about 20 minutes, but it took over 2 hours after the hydroxycitric acid ingestion. Apparently this lowered process reduces the high peaks of glucose, which otherwise would require the body to produce a lot of insulin to deal with the ‘meal’. Hence, this delay is quite positive.
Researchers also indicated “hydroxycitric acid strongly attenuated postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose levels after both intragastric -into the stomach, at P < 0.01- and intraduodenal -into the small intestine, at P < 0.001- glucose administration. According to the American Physiological Society, it also excluded the possibility of “a major effect of HCA on gastric emptying”, which “support a possible role for HCA as a food supplement in lowering postprandial glucose profiles”.
Final word
Although hydroxycitric acid fat loss action remains still unproved, finding this delayed absorption might be a useful phenomenon to follow up. Questions such as “why is it delayed and how might this affect humans?” are being asked by the group of Deutsch researchers, which wonder also how this will translate into humans in terms of dosages. So all these facts indicate there is still a lot of more serious research to be done, since this new property may give a hope to hydroxycitric acid.