CHITOSAN "Fat Grabber"
What is Chitosan?
Chitosan is a unique fat-absorbing dietary fiber that inhibits the absorption of dietary fat during digestion. While various fibers perform this function, Chitosan seems to be the most effective. After months of reviewing different suppliers of Chitosan, NOW chose Liposan Ultra Chitosan. This brand of Chitosan dissolves rapidly in stomach acid and almost immediately begins binding to ingested dietary fat, greatly reducing the amount that is absorbed during digestion.
In fact, studies show that Liposan Ultra® binds several times more dietary fat than other leading national brands, which means you get more value. Once dietary fat is bound by Chitosan, it is excreted through normal digestive processes.
Chitosan is derived from the chitin of shellfish. Chitin is a polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of shellfish and crustaceans. It is a unique dietary fiber that is indigestible, so it does not contribute to the amount of ingested carbohydrates.
How many grams of fat will be absorbed by two capsules of Chitosan?
As with many dietary supplements, different people will experience different results depending on a number of factors, including body type, metabolism, and diet. NOW uses the Liposan Ultra brand of Chitosan because studies show that Liposan Ultra binds several times more dietary fat than other leading national brands. In vitro, Liposan Ultra was shown to absorb up to 88 grams of fat, but this doesn't mean it will necessarily have the same effect when ingested by humans. Studies are ongoing.
We often get questions concerning an erroneous claim that there is an easy experiment that can be done at home to show how Chitosan absorbs fat. The experiment involves melting ¼ teaspoon of butter in two cups of hot water, then sprinkling ¼ gram of Chitosan on top of the water/butter mixture. In a short time, you're supposed to be able to see Chitosan binding the butter, forming lumps on the surface and leaving the water fat-free. This is not an accurate experiment because Chitosan must be broken down by stomach acids before actively binding to dietary fat. Water will not activate Chitosan, and water-soluble forms of this nutrient are ineffective because they do not protect bound fat from being broken down by pancreatic enzymes.
Can I take Chitosan with prescription medications or other supplements, and are there any side effects?
Since Chitosan binds to fat in the stomach, it is advisable to take it 3-4 hours prior to the ingestion of fat soluble medications or nutrients. If Chitosan is used simultaneously with certain medications, it may block the desired effects of that medication.
Check with your doctor before mixing Chitosan with prescription medications. If you have questions about taking Chitosan with dietary supplements, check with a certified nutritionist or your local health food store. There are no known side effects associated with Chitosan supplementation.
Phase 2 "Starch Blocker"
What is Phase 2™ Starch Neutralizer?
Phase 2™ is an amazing, non-stimulant, all-natural nutritional ingredient that is derived from the white kidney bean. It is the first nutritional ingredient that has been clinically and scientifically proven to neutralize starch, which is found in common foods such as potatoes, breads, pasta, rice, corn and crackers.
Phase 2™ is a safe yet powerful nutritional ingredient, clinically studied for its role in reducing the absorption of starch calories. Phase 2™ helps you to enjoy those foods that you love and to participate in special meals containing quantities of starches in excess of your nutritional goals.
What role do starchy foods play in weight management?
During the digestive process, your body converts carbohydrates found in starchy foods (such as potatoes and pasta) into sugars. It digests these starchy carbohydrates with alpha amylase, an enzyme that is produced by the pancreas.
These sugar calories are then used by the body for fuel, with the excess sugar stored for future use, often as fat. Unfortunately, an imbalance between calories eaten and calories burned means that these stored fat supplies can accumulate in the body.
When should I take Phase 2™?
Recent research has shown the most optimum time to take Phase 2™ is just before a starch-rich meal, along with 8 oz of water. However, the studies also showed that Phase 2™ could still provide some of its starch "neutralizing" benefits when taken during, or just after, a starchy meal. One study showed that Phase 2™ is also effective if the capsules are opened and the contents sprinkled right onto food.
Does Phase 2™ cause any toxic side effects?
A dose equivalent to 74 grams taken daily for 90 days by a 165 lb. person showed no signs of toxicity. Pharmachem Laboratories Inc., announced that a Chronic Toxicity Study (L.D. 50) demonstrated that Phase 2™ Starch Neutralizer™, the first standardized white bean extract used in a variety of healthy weight management supplements, is safe and non-toxic.
“Phase 2™ showed no signs of chronic toxicity at doses up to 1.0 gm per kg of body weight for up to 90 days,” said Ramadasan Kuttan, Ph.D., director, Amala Cancer Research Center, Thrissur, India, who conducted the study along with R. C. Srimal, M.D. “The data indicates that administration of Phase 2™ for 90 days did not produce any adverse reaction…” (as determined from a number of different measurements, such as organ weight, necropsy, hematological and biochemical values).
Are there any human studies that prove Phase 2 ™ effectiveness?
Yes. Human studies indicate that this natural compound has the ability to inhibit starches found in foods from being broken down to simple sugar. This amylase-inhibiting effect causes most starches to pass through the GI tract undigested, thus causing a smaller increase in blood glucose levels within 15 to 80 minutes following the intake of starchy foods. The following describes one of the studies performed on Phase 2.
