Losing weight is always a hot topic. Various fitness classes, yoga classes, weight loss products, and weight loss facilities are popping up all over the place! In this issue, we will sort out the main ingredients for the formulation of the best herb extracts for weight loss products in foreign and domestic markets. A closer look at the main ingredients of the weight loss products sold by various companies, which is often dazzling and the price varies a  lot.

Let’s reveal the active ingredients of these weight loss products exclusively for you.

Common weight loss products ingredients analysis:

1. Extracto de te verde

Extracto de te verde

In fact, green tea extract has no weight loss benefits.However, in animal experiments it was found that green tea extract lowers cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and raise good cholesterol. On the other hand, Lipidized catechin gallate (EGCG) (green tea polyphenols) from green tea extracts which could promote the secretion of gastric juice and can dissolve fat, so it is often added to weight loss products.

2. Green Coffee Bean Extract

Green coffee bean extract contains the active ingredient chlorogenic acid which is a plant polyphenol, made by the condensation and dehydration of one molecule of caffeic acid and one molecule of quinic acid. The main mechanism of action has been found to (1) reduce the absorption of glucose from food in the small intestine,(2) reduce blood glucose concentrations, (3) inhibit fat absorption, and (4) indirectly promote the breakdown of triglycerides in adipose tissue to assist in weight control.

Dosage : the routine is green coffee extract with 50% chlorogenic acid, with a recommended daily intake of 400 mg.

3. Psyllium Husk Powder

It contain 70% water-soluble fibres and 30% non-water-soluble fibres, with a high swelling effect. It has a highly expansive effect, suppressing appetite, providing a sense of fullness, preventing constipation, lowering blood cholesterol, and preventing colorectal cancer.

Dosage : the recommended daily intake is about 5-10 grams, but please remember that the daily water intake must be more than 2000 c.c. in order to fully utilize the effect of psyllium fiber. Insufficient intake of water may lead to constipation.

4.Garcinia Cambogia Extract HCA

Garcinia Cambogia Extract HCA

The rind of Garcinia Cambogia contains a component called HCA （Hydroxycitric acid）, According to animal experiments, HCA can compete with citric acid in the metabolic cycle to inhibit ATP-citrate lyase and reduce the synthesis of fat. On the other hand, as HCA is a similar substance to citric acid, it can inhibit Phosphofructokinase in glycolysis and promote the synthesis of glycogen in the body to stabilize blood sugar under high concentration, thus reducing appetite and making weight control easier.

The pharmacological properties of Garcinia Cambogia are mainly in the reduction of fatty acid synthesis, therefore the effect of reducing body fat is greater than reducing body weight, for people with normal body weight but high body fat can use Garcinia Cambogia health food to achieve the purpose of reducing body fat synthesis, but for obese people who exceed the standard weight to achieve the purpose of weight loss, you need to use other weight loss methods such as meal replacement, diet control and increase exercise to effectively achieve. In addition, Garcinia Cambogia has the effect of exhaustion and light diarrhea, for those who have indigestion and poor bowel habits have an aid effect.

Dosage : Garcinia Cambogia is suitable to be taken 30 minutes before a meal. 500 mg of Garcinia Cambogia is to be taken 2-3 times a day, with an upper daily dose of 1500 mg. It is also recommended that approximately 2000 ml of water be consumed daily to dilute the acid toxins produced by the oxidation of fatty acids in the body, and that additional fat-soluble vitamins be taken.

Garcinia Cambogia HCA has a special feature that regulates fat metabolism without affecting protein metabolism, making it less prone to edema problems in weight loss.

5.Gymnema Sylvestre Extract

Gymnema Sylvestre Extract

Gymnemic acid and gurmarin in Gymnema Sylvestre contains saponins, glycosides and other components that can block the sweet taste sensation in human taste buds, so after ingesting Gymnema Sylvestre leaves, only bitter and astringent taste can be perceived. Therefore, it can be used to suppress the craving for sweets. In addition, the leaves can also reduce the absorption of sugar in the intestines, which aids in weight loss.

Dosage : For newcomers, 100 mg of Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf is appropriate, while the usual dosage of Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf is 400-600 mg a day (based on 75% Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf acid extract), depending on your condition. It is also worth mentioning that the effect of the leaves on the taste buds is only for about two hours, so if you want to use this as a way to wean yourself off the sweet stuff, you'll have to choose the right time.

6.Citrus Aurantium Extract

Citrus Aurantium Extract

Also known as bitter orange, its peel extract contains Synephrine, Its structure is similar to ephedrine, which can promote thermogenesis and suppress appetite without the side effects of ephedrine, and is less likely to cause arrhythmia and cardiovascular or central nervous system damage. Synephrine can increase fat disintegration and promote fat burning, on the other hand, it can suppress the satiety center and reduce the appetite.

Dosage : the recommended dosage is 30-130 mg daily, taken with plain water 30 minutes before a daily or large meal.

7.Aloe Vera Extract

Aloe Vera Extract

Barbaloin in aloe vera is converted into aloe-emodin anthraquinone, which stimulates water absorption and peristalsis in the large intestine, thus promoting smooth bowel movements.

Dosage : the recommended dosage is 100-200 mg per day and is not recommended for pregnant women due to the fact that aloe vera can cause constriction of the large intestine and pelvic cavity or congestion of the pelvic cavity in pregnant women which can lead to miscarriage.

8.White Kidney Bean Extract

Extracto de frijol blanco

White kidney beans, containing alpha amylase inhibitors can inhibit the breakdown of starch in food into glucose and reduce the further absorption of sugar by the body, thus having a weight loss effect. Therefore, white kidney bean extract is suitable for people whose diet is heavy on starchy foods. Reminder, its mechanism of action is to inhibit the breakdown of starch into glucose, rather than inhibiting the absorption of glucose, so those who want to take white kidney beans to lose weight, it is recommended to drink less sugary drinks or glucose refined food.

Dosage : To reduce the side effects of diarrhea and vomiting, it is recommended to consume less than 2000 mg per day and no more than 500 mg per dose. In addition, since white kidney beans inhibit the decomposition and absorption of starch, it is easier for bacteria to ferment starch from the small intestine to the large intestine and produce gas.

9.Chili Pepper Extract

Chili Pepper Extract

The capsaicin in chili peppers is a natural heat-producing substance that can promote the secretion of adrenal glands and norepinephrine, which in turn breaks down fatty acids to produce heat for the body to use and promote sweating.

10.Lotus Leaf Extract

Extracto de hoja de loto

Lotus leaf has the function of dehumidifying and diuretic, eliminating edema, so it has a very good role in weight loss and fat reduction for people with edema type obesity and constipation type obesity, in the extract of lotus leaf, the main active ingredients are lotus flavonoids, lotus alkaloids and so on, it has the function of fat regulation, can inhibit the body's absorption of fat, and can effectively promote the decomposition of fat.

Studies have shown that alkaloids and flavonoids in lotus leaves can control body weight, prevent obesity and regulate lipid metabolism, and can be used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and obesity. Among them, the mechanism of weight loss of alkaloids mainly affects the proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes and the expression of relevant obesity factors by influencing the activity of lipase.

The flavonoid weight loss mechanism in lotus leaves mainly lies in lowering the total cholesterol in hepatocytes, and its effect is mainly in promoting lipid metabolism, while the inhibitory effect on total cholesterol synthesis is weak.

MCT powder

MCT's scientific name is medium-chain fatty acids, which are naturally found in breast milk, and the contents of breast milk can be considered as the essence, its unique structure can be quickly and efficiently broken down in the liver to produce energy. The unique metabolic pathway determines the positive impact of MCT on weight loss. In other words, your body will feel significantly fuller when you consume MCT even if you don't consume carbohydrates.

It is recommended that for all weight loss products on the market to start with the following general principles include:

✔ Appetite suppression: Increases satiety, delays gastric emptying time, directly affects the central nervous system.

✔ Inhibits digestion and absorption: Inhibits digestion and absorption of carbohydrates: inhibits the action of related catabolic enzymes, slows down the rate of absorption

✔ Inhibits the digestion and absorption of oils and fats:Inhibit lipolytic enzymes, avoid contact between oil and lipolytic enzymes, slow down the absorption of fatty acids. 

✔ Promote metabolism: Increases energy expenditure, increases fat oxidation, reduces fat formation.

In conlusion for diet foods, most of the appeals will fall on these points, some products will focus on a particular point, but most will go down the compound route, which means using two or more of these mechanisms at the same time. In addition to these directly related topics, they can be extended to include relief of stress, improvement of the intestinal flora, provision of micronutrients, etc., but in any case, they are still basically based around these four basic building blocks. It is recommended to start with diet and exercise first, and then supplement with healthy foods or medicines. Taking in as much food as possible (low GI value) will help stabilize insulin secretion, thus reducing fat accumulation. Eating small and frequent meals, chewing and swallowing slowly, eating more high-fibre foods, and supplementing with "30 minutes or more of aerobic exercise" will definitely help you achieve a perfect figure.

Finally when we are faced with a wide range of products recommended by beauty salons and weight loss agencies, we will know how to distinguish from them.