Revolutionizing Weight Loss?
Jamie Fritch
Just What They Want To Hear
Everyone enjoys a good fatty meal from McDonald's, KFC, or any other fast food restaurant from time to time. Or
maybe just a bag of chips, a candy bar, or an ice cream cone. All of these are food items which people consume on a
regular basis and are full of fat. For years, the public has worried about the intake of fat from items such as these and
has almost obsessed over weight, figures, and fat. With all the hype about liquid diets, diet pills, diet programs, etc. who
wouldn't jump at the idea of an all natural solution. The makers of this product has certainly done their share of work to
create an image truly appealing to any and all that dream of losing that extra fat. 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. The information surrounding this product is extremely impressive and appears to justify a revolutionary new
discovery. However, is this truly what it is dressed up to be or is it yet another gimmick?
Chitosan: Where did it come from?
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. (Chitosan: The Fiberand Fat Buster)
How It Works
Let's now take a look at exactly what is chitosan and how it is used for weight loss. The allegations of how chitosan
works are as follows. However, note that there is no significant studies to thus back up this information or to explain
exactly how such procedures take place. 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. (Chitosan) 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. (Absorption of Fats) 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. (Fat Magnet) 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. .
Benefiting Weight Loss
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. (Revolutionary Discovery: Chitosan)
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. (Fat
Zapper) Obviously, the allegations are extremely pleasing, now whether or not they actually could be a reality is
another side to these claims.
Additions to Increase Effects
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
so much as double the effectiveness of chitosan. (Your Health Store - Chitosan) Thus, many of the products on the
market today which contain chitosan as a chief substance, also include the addition of some sort 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.
Administering Chitosan
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. (Fat Zapper) 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.
Other Claims to Fame
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. (Nutrient That Binds Fat) 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.
Specific Research Studies
Specific studies which tested the effects of chitosan as a weight loss supplement on humans were near to impossible to
find. One study which apparently tested the effects of chitosan to the hypocholesterolaemic response of human
subjects was published in 1993 by a group of Japanese doctors. However, any copy of this report was not available and
only references from this report were made. The only other true scientific study that was done was on the effects on
broiler chickens to chitosans of different viscosity. In this prospective cohort study setup, broiler chickens were fed ad
libitum on a control diet based on maize and maize starch diets containing low-, medium-, or high-viscosity chitosans at a
level of 15 g/kg. The diets began of the total 224 broiler chickens on the second day of their lives. The groups were
randomly allocated and divided into separate cages of mixed sex. The cages contained raised wire floors in a
windowless, light- and temperature-controlled room. The birds all had free access to water and feed for the duration of
the experiment. Both were monitored specifically to observe if either was consumed more or less with the addition of
chitosan to the diet. After the 22 day experiment, many conclusions were drawn. The 22 days consisted of regular
check-ups including body weight testing, blood plasma tests, and feed intake records. Feeding the
high-viscosity-chitosan-containing diets reduced ileal fat digestibility by 8% on average. However, increasing the
viscosity of the chitosan fraction could not be correlated specifically with the increases in terminal ileal digesta viscosity.
Therefore, it could not be established that any necessary increases in chitosan are necessary to receive the few
benefits accredited directly to the fiber itself. Significant reductions in body weight, feed intake and plasma control
concentrations were observed. (Razdan & Pettersson, 1994)
Jamie Fritch
Just What They Want To Hear
Everyone enjoys a good fatty meal from McDonald's, KFC, or any other fast food restaurant from time to time. Or
maybe just a bag of chips, a candy bar, or an ice cream cone. All of these are food items which people consume on a
regular basis and are full of fat. For years, the public has worried about the intake of fat from items such as these and
has almost obsessed over weight, figures, and fat. With all the hype about liquid diets, diet pills, diet programs, etc. who
wouldn't jump at the idea of an all natural solution. The makers of this product has certainly done their share of work to
create an image truly appealing to any and all that dream of losing that extra fat. 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. The information surrounding this product is extremely impressive and appears to justify a revolutionary new
discovery. However, is this truly what it is dressed up to be or is it yet another gimmick?
Chitosan: Where did it come from?
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. (Chitosan: The Fiberand Fat Buster)
How It Works
Let's now take a look at exactly what is chitosan and how it is used for weight loss. The allegations of how chitosan
works are as follows. However, note that there is no significant studies to thus back up this information or to explain
exactly how such procedures take place. 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. (Chitosan) 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. (Absorption of Fats) 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. (Fat Magnet) 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. .
Benefiting Weight Loss
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. (Revolutionary Discovery: Chitosan)
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. (Fat
Zapper) Obviously, the allegations are extremely pleasing, now whether or not they actually could be a reality is
another side to these claims.
Additions to Increase Effects
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
so much as double the effectiveness of chitosan. (Your Health Store - Chitosan) Thus, many of the products on the
market today which contain chitosan as a chief substance, also include the addition of some sort 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.
Administering Chitosan
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. (Fat Zapper) 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.
Other Claims to Fame
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. (Nutrient That Binds Fat) 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.
Specific Research Studies
Specific studies which tested the effects of chitosan as a weight loss supplement on humans were near to impossible to
find. One study which apparently tested the effects of chitosan to the hypocholesterolaemic response of human
subjects was published in 1993 by a group of Japanese doctors. However, any copy of this report was not available and
only references from this report were made. The only other true scientific study that was done was on the effects on
broiler chickens to chitosans of different viscosity. In this prospective cohort study setup, broiler chickens were fed ad
libitum on a control diet based on maize and maize starch diets containing low-, medium-, or high-viscosity chitosans at a
level of 15 g/kg. The diets began of the total 224 broiler chickens on the second day of their lives. The groups were
randomly allocated and divided into separate cages of mixed sex. The cages contained raised wire floors in a
windowless, light- and temperature-controlled room. The birds all had free access to water and feed for the duration of
the experiment. Both were monitored specifically to observe if either was consumed more or less with the addition of
chitosan to the diet. After the 22 day experiment, many conclusions were drawn. The 22 days consisted of regular
check-ups including body weight testing, blood plasma tests, and feed intake records. Feeding the
high-viscosity-chitosan-containing diets reduced ileal fat digestibility by 8% on average. However, increasing the
viscosity of the chitosan fraction could not be correlated specifically with the increases in terminal ileal digesta viscosity.
Therefore, it could not be established that any necessary increases in chitosan are necessary to receive the few
benefits accredited directly to the fiber itself. Significant reductions in body weight, feed intake and plasma control
concentrations were observed. (Razdan & Pettersson, 1994)
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