|
|
What You Should Know About CitrimaxResearchers from the Netherlands report that the popular dietary supplement, CitriMax (also known as hydroxycitric acid, HCA, or Garcinia cambogia) has no effect on the amount of fat you burn during exercise. An ingredient found in many weight loss supplements, HCA is found in the rind of the fruit of Garcinia cambogia, which is used in Asian cuisine. HCA is certainly nothing new. Animal studies as far back as the 1970's show that large doses of HCA inhibit the conversion of carbohydrate to fat. CitrimaxMore recently, there have also been claims that HCA can reduce cell levels of malonyl-CoA (an enzyme that slows the rate at which fat is burned as energy). In theory, at least, this would increase the number of fat calories you burn during exercise, speeding up weight loss. Putting the theory to the test, a team of scientists from Maastricht University persuaded a group of ten cyclists to take part in two trials [1]. Both tests involved two hours of cycling. During the first trial, the cyclists consumed a drink containing 18 grams of HCA. In trial two, they were given plain water.
Not much difference is there? Now, despite the fact that HCA before and during exercise has little effect on the amount of fat you burn, what's interesting is the large drop in lactic acid levels seen in subjects using HCA.
Lactic acidLactic acid is associated with (rather than causing) that "burning" sensation you get in your muscles when you exercise. Even at rest, your body produces some lactic acid. During exercise, however, lactic acid can build up because the rate of production is greater than the rate of removal. Although it's often thought of as a "waste product," lactic acid can actually be "recycled" by your liver and used as energy. Potentially, HCA could increase the rate at which your liver converts lactic acid into glucose. However, whether this would actually improve your performance in the gym is open to debate. The amount of HCA used in this study was extremely high (6-30 times the amount used in previous studies), and most people don't have the time to sit on a bike for two hours. What about HCA and weight loss? Most research shows that relatively low doses of HCA has little impact on weight loss. It's supposed to work by limiting the conversion of carbohydrate into fat, also known as de novo lipogenesis (DNL). Although a recent study shows that HCA can limit DNL [2], this really doesn't happen to a significant extent in humans unless you're eating a hypercaloric diet containing large amounts of carbohydrate — which would be a pretty dumb thing to do anyway if you're trying to lose weight.
About The Author If you're stuck in a rut with your current exercise and diet plan... fed up with only losing a pound here and there... or still skinny after months (or even years) of trying to build muscle and gain weight... click here now for instant access to his step-by-step muscle-building and fat-burning workout routines. Related Articles
References |
Who is Christian Finn? |
|
 |
Flabby out-of-shape company president used this unique method to drop 24 pounds and 4 inches from his waist in just 5 months. |
 |
Did this guy use steroids to gain 84 pounds? Take a look at his controversial "before and after" pictures and decide for yourself. |
 |
Natural bodybuilder thumbs nose at weight loss "experts" and finally reveals the simple science of fat loss no one else will tell you. |
 |
"Weird" video reveals how you can trim your stomach at least FIVE times faster than you could with regular ab exercises. |
|
The Facts About Fitness The Facts About Fitness Limited is registered in England and Wales No. 04538088 |