Do carb blockers work or not? These are becoming more popular today, so everyone naturally wants to know if they will really help them drop pounds or not. Here are seven frequently asked questions about them:
#1) How do they work?
The idea is that they prevent you from digesting carbs (hence the name). This will also lower the amount of calories you can take in. They are one of the newer weight loss methods on the scene. Obviously a lot of people are attracted to them because they are supposed to help you drop pounds without having to put forth any effort.
#2) How long have they been around for?
This started about twenty years ago. That’s when it was discovered that a property of the white kidney bean, phaseolus, can stop the digestive enzymes (alpha) from breaking down the carbs and absorbing them.
#3) So why haven’t carb blockers been sold for longer?
This is because when they initially began, the blockers actually produced many negative health effects. For this reason, they were taken off the market for a good twenty years.
However, in the meantime there have been many alterations made to them. Since they have been reintroduced to the market, the negative effects have gone down dramatically.
So things are looking good. However, the truth is, there is still a lot of research to be done on blockers. The long term effects they cause on the body are still relatively unknown.
#4) What ingredients are used in carb blockers?
Most blockers use a combination of wheat germs, bean extracts and phaseolamin (the primary ingredient). The latter is derived from the white kidney bean.
This is what causes the carbs to essentially pass through the system without getting broken down and digested. They are also known to speed up the metabolism.
#5) How much phaseolamin is needed to prevent digestion?
There has been research done which has shown that it takes a huge amount (four to six thousand milligrams) to work. Since many of the products being sold have just five hundred milligrams, this would not be enough. Even the most potent products only have about four thousand milligrams.
However, not everyone accepts these findings, since they were performed in a controlled lab setting. In other words, conditions were not the same as are found in the human body. Still, they do have some credibility.
#6) How much of the carbs do they prevent from being digested?
About 60%. So some of them still get through.
#7) What happens when the digestion is stopped?
The carbs are simply not transformed into energy. In other words, they are essentially useless to the body. While you won’t get the energy benefits, you won’t get the negative effects either.
Conclusion – So Do Carb Blockers Works ?
The bottom line is, there has simply not been sufficient research on this weight loss product to show whether they cause negative long term effects or not. One thing is for sure-they are not a miracle cure.
If you want to lose weight, you have to resort to diet and exercise. Carb blockers might aid you a little, but the vast majority of your results will come from lifestyle changes.
