With all the hype about liquid diets, diet pills, diet programs, etc, who wouldn't jump at the idea of an all natural solution. This probable solution is called chitosan and is simply a fat inhibitor, which appears to work miracles for those in search of a safe way to lose that body fat.
Regardless of chitosan's miraculous overview, it is a very simple substance, which has been around for ages. It is taken from chitin, a polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans. It is processed by removing the shells from shellfish such as shrimp, lobster, and crabs. The shells are then ground into a pulverous powder.
This powder is then deacetylated, or basically stripped of specific chemical groups which allows the compound to thus actively "soak up fats." Or so this is what the producers claim. It has been used in the past in the process of detoxifying water. It was simply spread over the surface of water, where it would immediately absorb any toxic substances such as greases, oils, or dangerous heavy metals. The process is so complete that a scum forms over the surface of water and is then easily removed. For this reason, chitosan is extremely popular all over the world in water purification plants. The present form of chitosan has just been introduced recently as a weight loss supplement.
Basically stated, chitosan is a special fiber which is able to "soak up" or absorb anywhere from six to ten times its weight in fat and oils. In substance, it is chemically similar to the plant fiber, cellulose. However, chitosan is able to significantly bind with fat molecules and convert them into a form which the human body does not absorb.
It claims to affect the fat prior to it reaching the stomach and thus the fat never has a chance to be metabolized. It prevents the absorption and storage of fat by converting into a gel which "traps" the fat. In some sort, it creates a "grease ball" from this excess fat, which is too large to be absorbed by the body. It thus becomes an inert substance and is excreted in the stool.
Chitosan fiber is unlike other fibers in that it carries a positive ionic charge. Since lipids, fats, and bile acids all possess negative charges, there is a chemical bond between the two and thus they attract naturally to one another. This unique ability is what makes chitosan so remarkable. This amazingly "too good to be true" ability is also what causes suspicions to arise on the validity of these claims.
Besides from the obvious effect that fat is not absorbed into the body with the presence of chitosan, it goes a lot deeper in benefiting weight loss. Chitosan is a 100% natural and acts as a super fiber. Thus, supplementing the diet with chitosan, is part of creating a cleansing process which is said to be extremely vital to weight loss. Take note that these are, again, the simple declarations made by the producers of chitosan and are supported with no background studies or thus medical proof of any sort.
Another stated advantage of chitosan comes from the idea that the chitosan-bound fat leaves the intestinal tract without ever entering the bloodstream. Exactly how this process takes place is not clear and seems to be somewhat far fetched. If this indeed is possible, then the point is made that there would be no caloric value and no matter how much chitosan a person takes, the caloric count remains zero.
The producers of chitosan-based products also try to claim that, since a person taking chitosan continues to eat some sort of fats and is able to continue eating these types of food, the body does not crave such fattening foods nor is it starving or feeling any added sense of hunger. By supplementing chitosan into one's diet, there is less fat that the body accumulates. With less fat entering the body, the body turns to previously stored body fat to burn up. This shifts the energy source from your diet to your stored body fat and results in a net reduction in that fat - and in your weight.
The benefits of chitosan in weight loss can be greatly boosted by the simple additions to go along with the chitosan supplements. First, M.D. Labs have followed current research and clinical studies and have determined that by adding Vitamin C, one can enhance the absorption of lipids. The producers claim that increased appetite suppression is obtained by the addition of citric acid, which boosts the swelling action of chitosan. They claim that this addition could double the effectiveness of chitosan. Thus, many of the products on the market today, which contain chitosan as a chief substance, also include the addition of vitamin C supplement. One such product is the Fat Zapper, which contains 250 mg of chitosan, 240 mg of high quality grapefruit fiber, and 10 mg of vitamin C per capsule.
For more info, download Chitosan And Weight Loss, a free ebook.
The instructions in which to properly administer the supplementation of chitosan are quite simple. The most common advice is to follow some sort of simple plan such as the one that follows: Take one or two capsules ten minutes before each of your three daily meals. Here the chitosan will supposedly help bind excess fat from the meal or snack which has just been consumed. It also serves as an added fiber intake, which aides in digestion, soothing the stomach lining and speeding up the process of elimination of undigested fats and wastes. Also, drink about six to eight glasses of water daily. This is common in any situation where there is an addition of fiber or a need for faster digestion. Also, it is extremely advisable to include moderate exercise. Simple exercises which contain any type of sustained aerobic activity can greatly enhance the results and the time in which physical results will appear. These steps are fairly easy and create a setting in which one's body, with the added chitosan, can actively work to reduce the amount of body fat.
There are many other benefits which chitosan claims to have other than weight loss. It also inhibits LDL cholesterol and boosts HDL cholesterol. It promotes the healing of ulcers and lesions, helps to control blood pressure, reduces blood levels of uric acid, helps prevent constipation, acts as an antacid, helps prevent irritable bowel syndrome, enhances calcium to strengthen bones, inhibits plaque/tooth decay, and offers anti-tumor action. All of these benefits are obviously significant within themselves. However, note that there is not specific research to accompany these claims or any hard data which would classify their validity. Weight loss is claimed to be the greatest effect of chitosan on the body and thus is where it seeks most of its alleged fame.
Due to its composition, anyone allergic to seafood and pregnant women should not take chitosan. Chitosan is not a drug, but a natural fiber. It is extremely low in toxicity and safe for consumption. An ARS Medicina (Helsinki) 1994 report proved that test subjects lost 8% of their body weight in four weeks using chitosan. This product has been safely used for weight loss for over two decades. Chitosan is also a biodegradable substance as as environmentall biocompatible. Whether or not there are downfalls to the product is never overlooked, however the knowledge of any at this time is unknown. As for now, chitosan is being used as a healthy alternative to the expensive and dangerous diet drugs on the market. But, BE CAREFUL, it is easy to make claims of this magic diet solution with little or no evidence to back it up.
