Hydroxycitric Acid Update

On May 1, 2009 the FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop taking Hydroxycut-branded products. Over more than 7 years they have received 23 reports of health related issues with those taking Hydroxycut-branded products. The main health concern appears to be serious liver-related problems. Iovate Health Sciences Inc., the makers of Hydroxcut, have voluntarily recalled all of the products under question in the FDA’s report

Common symptoms of liver complications include:

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• brown urine
• light colored stools
• unusual tiredness
• stomach pain
• itching
• loss of appetite
• weakness
• vomiting

In light of the recent FDA warning concerning the possible dangers of Hydroxycut-branded diet pills, many believe that the associated health risks are likely due to the inclusion of the commonly used ingredient Hydroxycitric Acid, or HCA. And while according to the FDA, “The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts.” you can never be too cautious.

So, while further study and research is needed to confirm the link between HCA and the liver problems, until proven otherwise any products that contain HCA are no longer recommended on this website.

AccuSlim Ingredients

Chromium Chelavite (300 mcg) has been studied in many clinical trials. Results have been mixed; some have shown that chromium contributes to weight loss while others have shown it does not.

Vanadium (100 mcg) has not been shown to contribute to weight loss.

Advantra-Z (600 mg) contains Synephrine, which contributes to weight loss. The important thing with synephrine is the concentration–the higher the better. Unfortunately, AccuSlim fails to disclose the concentration of synephrine it contains.

Green tea (400 mg) has been proven to contribute to weight loss when taken in doses of 300 mg or more per day. This AccuSlim review finds there is enough green tea in AccuSlim to contribute to weight loss. Green tea contains caffeine. Be sure to evaluate your own reaction to caffeine before taking AccuSlim diet pills.

Oriental ginseng (200 mg) has been shown to cause weight loss in mice; however, more human research is needed.

American ginseng (200 mg) has been shown to cause weight loss in mice; however, more human research is needed.

Eleuthero (250 mg) is supposed to increase endurance; it has not been shown to contribute to weight loss.

Rhodiola Rosea (300 mg) is a “feel good” ingredient. It does not contribute to weight loss.

Garcinia Cambogia (1500 mg) has been proven to contribute to weight loss.

The AccuSlim website claims, “Designed to get even the most stubborn metabolisms moving, the ACCUSLIM™ Advanced Fat Burner contains some of the most well-known and most-effective—but hardly used— weight loss nutrients available today.” The only proven ingredients included in sufficient amounts are green tea and garcinia cambogia. Despite what AccuSlim claims, these ingredients are quite common and can be found for a much lower price.

AccuSlim Cost

AccuSlim costs $28.95 for 90 capsules. If you take the maximum recommended dose of 9 capsules per day, one bottle will last 10 days. This is EXTREMELY expensive for a diet pill. You can get the same results with a different diet pill for a fraction of the price.

AccuSlim Guarantee

The AccuSlim website says the following regarding their guarantee:

“Please call us during our normal business hours for return authorization prior to returning any merchandise. Merchandise must be returned in sellable condition in order to receive credit.

Credit will be issued for merchandise returned within 10 days of your receipt of shipment. A 15% restocking fee will be applied to returns after 10 days. Product returns cannot be accepted after 30 days. Orders returned without authorization are subject to 15% restock fee.”

This “guarantee” is ridiculous. The restocking fee should not be there, and they really should give more than 30 days to return the product.

AccuSlim Follies

I found some interesting things when looking at the AccuSlim website. One of their instructions is, “Do not snack after dinner.” Anyone who has ever tried to diet knows that is one of the main dieting rules. Why do they think that people need to diet (obviously because they have been snacking after dinner too much). If AccuSlim contained an appetite suppressant they wouldn’t have to make this statement.

Another folly is that, according to their website, AccuSlim “could be even more effective than Ephedra”. Don’t be fooled. If this were the truth, everyone would be buying AccuSlim. The science just doesn’t support this claim.

AccuSlim Conclusion

This AccuSlim review finds AccuSlim is really nothing special. True, it does contain green tea and garcinia cambogia in adequate amounts, but so do several other diet pills (and for much less cost). We recommend looking at our recommended products to find a diet pill that will work for you.

Hydroxycitric Acid Update

On May 1, 2009 the FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop taking Hydroxycut-branded products. Over more than 7 years they have received 23 reports of health related issues with those taking Hydroxycut-branded products. The main health concern appears to be serious liver-related problems. Iovate Health Sciences Inc., the makers of Hydroxcut, have voluntarily recalled all of the products under question in the FDA’s report

Common symptoms of liver complications include:

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• brown urine
• light colored stools
• unusual tiredness
• stomach pain
• itching
• loss of appetite
• weakness
• vomiting

In light of the recent FDA warning concerning the possible dangers of Hydroxycut-branded diet pills, many believe that the associated health risks are likely due to the inclusion of the commonly used ingredient Hydroxycitric Acid, or HCA. And while according to the FDA, “The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts.” you can never be too cautious.

So, while further study and research is needed to confirm the link between HCA and the liver problems, until proven otherwise any products that contain HCA are no longer recommended on this website.

Mega-T Green Tea Ingredients

Mega-T Green Tea consists of the following ingredients:

• Green Tea – pretty obvious that it would contain green tea. Green tea is actually quite an effective diet pill ingredients. It’s been shown to increase the metabolic rate and has mountains of research to back it up. I thoroughly reviewed Green Tea and stand behind it. It should be noted, unfortunately however, that Mega-T Green Tea doesn’t include a very effective dosage of green tea (90 mg EGCG and 50 mg of naturally occurring caffeine)
• Chromium – research falls on both sides of the fence with Chromium. Some clinical studies have shown that chromium is effective, while others have shown that it’s not. Its purpose is primarily to regulate blood sugar levels, which can help control weight problems. If I did opt for chromium, I would go with the patented formulation ChromeMate, as found in products like Anoretix.
• Garcinia Cambogia – I reviewed Garcinia Camogia and found it to be an effective diet pill ingredient when used in the right quantities. I’m partial to Super Citrimax, which is HCA, the active component of Garcinia Cambogia that makes it to do what it does. When you use just the HCA, you can include more ingredients in there because you’re dealing only with the extract.
• Guarana – Guarana standing alone isn’t too impressive. When combined with Yerba Mate and Damiana, it yields great results. It’s unfortunate that Mega-T Green Tea didn’t include these other two ingredients to really build an effective formulation. They tended to stay on the “less expensive” side of the ingredient equation.
• Eleuthero, Bladderwrack, Fo-Ti and Gotu Kola are there mainly for supplement fact eye candy.

Mega-T Green Tea’s Claims

LOSE UP TO 20 LBS

They have a little asterisk at the end of the claim, but I don’t have the package in front of me and can’t see what they say. They probably make the standard disclaimer that “results may vary.” It’s interesting to note that they say up to but depend on consumers really noticing the “20 LBS” part of the claim. They’re hope there is that you get excited about the prospect and buy yourself some Mega-T Green Tea. Though, it probably doesn’t need pointing out, but Mega-T Green Tea’s claim is also correct if you lose just one pound…

“Green Tea: Curb appetite to improve fat metabolism.”

This claim doesn’t really make any sense. Green Tea doesn’t curb your appetite — it increases the rate at which your metabolism burns calories. They’re just throwing stuff out there trying to get consumers to bite.

Mega-T Green Tea’s Price

We found it for $36 — extremely expensive compared to other alternatives. Actually, the alternative we’d recommend is more expensive, but the “bang for your buck” is just so much higher. With Mega-T Green Tea you’re getting an ineffective amount of green tea, a bit of garcinia cambogia (but not in its better Super Citrimax form), and guarana, but without the Yerba Mate and Damiana.

Overall, Mega-T Green Tea just leaves me underwhelmed from every side.