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.

Herbalean PM Ingredients

Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate is supposed to increase the production of the growth hormone. However, there has only been one study to substantiate this claim; more research is needed.

Hoodia Gordonii is overhyped and overused. There is NO scientific evidence to show that hoodia gordonii actually contributes to weight loss.

Chamomile Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) comes from the fruit Garcinia Cambogia. HCA has been proven to contribute to weight loss.

Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) 5-HTP is an amino acid which mood enhancing effects.

Gymnema helps control blood sugar levels. Valerian promotes restful sleep.

Theanine is an amino acid which is supposed to reduce stress responses. There are no studies directly linking Theanine consumption with weight loss.

Pyruvate can increase metabolic rate. However, subjects in the studies proving this took 36 grams of Pyruvate daily. Herbalean PM does not disclose how much Pyruvate is contained in the formula, but odds are you would have to take dozens of Herbalean PM diet pills per day to equal the amount of Pyruvate in the study. (DO NOT TAKE MORE HERBALEAN PM PILLS THAN RECOMMENDED!)

Passionflower, or maypop promotes restful sleep.

Banaba has been proven to lower blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, Herbalean PM fails to list how much Banaba is included in their formula.

Hydrolyzed collagen protein (HCP) is basically gelatin. You might as well eat jello; it would have the same effect.

Magnolia bark

Herbalean PM Claims

The Herbalean PM website claims Herbalean PM does the following: “* Promotes loss of fat and inches * Supports weight loss * Promotes lean muscle development * Supports overall fitness * Supports increased energy and stamina * Promotes better sleep * Helps shorten workout recovery time * Enhances body’s ability to rejuvenate and repair itself” (website).

This Herbalean PM review finds that while Herbalean PM may serve as a sleeping aid, there is NO proof that it will cause weight loss. Herbalean PM does contain some proven ingredients, but since the amounts of these ingredients are not listed, there is no way of knowing how effective Herbalean PM will be at causing weight loss. Herbalean PM Dosage The Herbalean PM website gives the following dosgae directions for Herbalean PM diet pills: “Start with two capsule in the evening before bedtime and drink 8oz of water. Do not exceed 2 capsules daily. Remember to drink 8 – 10 glasses of water each day”.

Herbalean PM Cost

One bottle of Herbalean PM diet pills costs $34.95. If you take the recommended dosage of 2 capsules per day, one bottle will last one month. This is not expensive as diet pills go, but since Herbalean PM fails to disclose how much of each ingredient is included in the formula, this Herbalean PM review finds Herbalean PM is too expensive.

Herbalean PM Guarantee

According to their website, Herbalean PM has a 30-day 100% money back guarantee. Unlike many other diet pill companies, Herbalean PM will give refunds for open bottles. We like that they will take back open bottles, but we would like to see more than a 30-day guarantee.

Herbalean PM Conclusion

This Herbalean PM review finds Herbalean PM is a mediocre product. There is no evidence that Herbalean PM will help you “Lose weight while you sleep” (website). Look for a diet pill with proven ingredients in proven amounts.

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.

SmartBurn Ingredients

Chromium 133 mcg 111%
Calcium 156 mg 16%
Potassium 218 mg 6%
SmartBurn Proprietary Blend: 1.5g (1,500mg)
Garcinia Cambogia Extract (Fruit and Rind)
-Gymnema Sylvestre Extract (Leaf)
-Rhodiola Rosea Extract (Root)
-Theanine
-Astaxanthin
-Hoodia Gordonii
-Tarragon Extract
-N-Acetyl Tyrosine
-Withania Somnifera Extract (Root)
-Vinpocetine
-Soy Phospholipids
-Green Tea Extract (as Camellia Sinensis)

Chromium is supposed to reduce insulin resistance. However, different studies have found opposite results. Regardless of whether or not chromium actually contributes to weight loss, there is not as much chromium in SmartBurn diet pills as was tested in clinical studies, so the chromium in SmartBurn would not be effective anyway.

Garcinia Cambogia contains Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which has been proven to contribute to weight loss. Unfortunately, SmartBurn doesn’t tell you how much Garcinia Cambogia it contains.

Gymnema Sylvestre has been shown to help control blood sugar levels. However, SmartBurn fails to disclose how much of this ingredient is included in their proprietary blend.

Hoodia Gordonii, contrary to common misperception, has NOT been proven to contribute to weight loss.

Tyrosine is used to synthesize protein. For tyrosine to be effective, you must take 500 to 1500 mg per day. With a proprietary blend, there is no way of knowing how much tyrosine is contained in SmartBurn diet pills.

Vinpocetine increases blood circulation to the brain; it is used to treat age-related memory problems.

Green tea is one of our favorite diet pill ingredients; it increases metabolic rate. Once again, SmartBurn fails to list how much green tea is contained in the formula.

SmartBurn Side Effects

Side effects of SmartBurn diet pills include unstable blood sugar levels, extreme loss of appetite, jitters, and restlessness.

SmartBurn Marketing Tactics

SmartBurn is made by Iovate, who makes other diet pills including Cylaris and nanoSlim, is known for its shady marketing tactics. The SmartBurn website claims the following, “In two 8-week studies in which all groups followed a diet and exercise plan, subjects using the primary ingredients in SmartBurn (Garcinia cambogia extract, chromium polynicotinate, and Gymnema sylvestre extract) lost, on average, significantly MORE WEIGHT than subjects who were using a placebo (14.99 vs. 3.06 lbs. and 12.54 vs. 3.53 lbs.).” They fail to mention the amount of each ingredient used in the study. Further, they fail to list how much of each ingredient they include in their own proprietary blend.

The claim that SmartBurn can help you lose up to 450% of the weight than diet and exercise alone is completely ridiculous. I don’t know where they came up with this number, but there is NO research to back it up.

SmartBurn Cost

SmartBurn diet pills cannot be purchased directly from the SmartBurn website. However, the website does have links to two sites that sell SmartBurn; these sites sell SmartBurn for $87.92 for a one month supply. However, we found SmartBurn on other websites for $19.99 per month–just another interesting marketing ploy by Iovate.

SmartBurn Conclusion

This SmartBurn review finds that SmartBurn diet pills are not worth your time or money. While SmartBurn contains some proven ingredients, they do not say how much of each ingredient is included (because they don’t want you to know). Save yourself money and grief; check out our recommended products to find one that is best 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.

What are the ingredients in Animal Cuts?

The following is the (lengthy) list of ingredients, according to the Animal Cuts website.

Serving Size 1Pack
Servings Per Container42

Amount Per Serving % DV

• Niacin(as Niacinamide) 15mg 75%
• Vitamin B6(as Pyridoxine HCL) 2mg 100%
• Synephrine *
• Octopamine *
• Tyramine *
• Eqigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG)
• L-Theanine *
• PEA (Phenylethylamine) *
• Choline Citrate *
• Betaine HCL *
• Inositol Monophosphate *
• Guarana (22% Caffeine) *
• L-Carnitine *
• Dandelion Extract (Taraxol, Taraxerol) *
• Uva Ursi Extract (Arbutin, Methyl-Arbutin) *
• Guggul (2.5% Guggulsterones) *
• Soy Isoflavones *
• Insulin Potentiators 100mg
• Alpha-Lipoic Acid *
• Chromium Polynicotinate *
• Chromium Picolinate *
• Nucleotide Regulators 300mg
• Phosphate *
• Inosine *
• Phosphatidylcholine *
• Neurotransmitter Regulators 250mgSt.
• John’s Wort (0.3% Hypericin) *
• Tyrosine *
• Citrilene%u2122 (Hydroxycitric Acid) *
• Grapefruit Extract (Naringin, Naringenin) *
• White Willow (Bark) *
• Phenylalanine (As L-Phenylalanine) *
• Ginger Root Extract (Gingerols, Shoagols) *

What do the ingredients in Animal Cuts do?

Synephrine–One study performed in December of 2007 looked at the lipolysis (fat loss) effects of Satsuma mandarin orange (Citrus unshu Mark) peel on the fat cells of rats (I know, it’s always rats). A high concentration of Synephrine was present in the peel and lipolysis effects were present. The overall conclusion:

These results suggest that the segment wall, an edible fraction, from Satsuma mandarin orange might be useful as a functional food, especially as a fat-reducing material ((J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2008 Dec;53(6):547-51.)).

PEA (Phenethylamine) is an alkaloid that functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Some people call Phenetyhlamine “The Love Drug” because it is included in chocolate but the question arises as to the validity of that claim because Pheneythlamine is metabolized so quickly, it’s doubtful that any significant amount would reach the brain quickly enough to cause an effect. More human research is needed on phenethylamine.

Carnitine is an amino acid which helps break down fats. Although Carnitine is included in many weight loss supplements, there is no clinical evidence that it contributes to weight loss.

Gugglesterones are supposed to increase thyroid function to promote weight loss. However, studies have had varying results.

Chromium Picolinate (chromium + picolinic acid) is pushed by companies as an aid to losing weight. It is known that small quantities of chromium are “needed for glucose utilization by insulin in normal health, but deficiency is extremely rare in developed nations.”

Do you have a chromium deficiency? Probably not. However, some studies are finding that Chromium Picolinate reduces insulin resistance, thus leading to weight loss. Other studies claim to find the opposite.

L-tyrosine has proven to contribute to the ability to work out more effectively and burn more calories. You guessed it–the amount of L-tyrosine in Animal Cuts is not disclosed.

Green tea is a very effective ingredient in increasing metabolic function when used in the appropriate amount. However, Animal Cuts does not disclose how much green tea is contained in their formula.

This long list of ingredients can be intimidating. Companies often include dozens of ingredients in micro
amounts so you think you are getting something different and effective. Don’t be fooled. The proof is in how much of each ingredient is included. You will notice the ingredients in Animal Cuts are included in a “complex”. In other words, they don’t want you to know how much of each ingredient is included in the formula. Therefore, it is virtually impossible for this Animal Cuts review to determine the true effectiveness of this product.

How much do Animal Cuts diet pills cost?

A bottle of Animal Cuts diet pills costs around $30 and has 42 packs (servings). If you take the recommended 2 packs a day, one bottle will last you 21 days. While this isn’t especially expensive for a diet pill, there is no way to know how effective it is (which essentially makes it infinitely expensive).

What are the directions for taking Animal Cuts?

The Animal Cuts website gives the following directions:

“Take two Animal Cuts packs everyday for three consecutive weeks. Follow a cycle consisting of three weeks on and one week off. After your one week off cycle, you can repeat another three week on cycle until you reach your goals. Take on an empty stomach.”

Animal Cuts’ in-your-face marketing

Let’s just say Animal Cuts marketing isn’t your typical diet pill marketing. Their website uses any language you can imagine and doesn’t apologize for doing so. They show pictures of bulging biceps, obviously catering to the teenage crowd.

Animal Cuts conclusion

This Animal Cuts review finds that, despite their claims, Animal Cuts diet pills are really not that different from typical fat burners. Like so many other diet pills, Animal Cuts leaves you in the dark about how much of each ingredient is included in the formula. This is a tell tale sign that there is not enough of the proven ingredients to be effective. Try using a diet pill that is honest in the amount of each ingredient included.

What we see is a pretty typical weight loss supplement that uses some effective ingredients but fails to disclose how much of each ingredient is included ((honestly, sometimes I feel like a broken record)). This makes it virtually impossible to determine if enough of each ingredient is included to make this an effective weight loss supplement.

So what are the ingredients in Methyl Ripped?

CLENADRINE™ (Extreme Thermogenic Complex) 900mg
Di-Caffeine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (read: caffeine), Di-Caffeine Malate, Esterified Green Tea Extract [Standardized For 45% Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) Ester, 2% Epicatechin Gallate (ECG) Ester, 2% Gallocatechin Gallate (GCG) Ester, 1% Catechin Gallate (CG) Ester], Salix Matsudana, Isohumulones, Evodiamine HCL, Octopamine HCL, Tyramine HCL.

CYTO-T3™ (Xtreme Thyroid Stimulating Complex) 50mg
Bacopa Monnieri, Gugglesterones E&Z HCL.

DNP-X™ (Uncoupling Protein Complex) 50mg
S-Allyl-L-Cysteine, (E)-N-[(4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenyl) Methyl]-8-Methyl-6-Nonenamide.

CC-VOL™ (Cortisol Control Complex) 50mg
Ashwagandha, Phosphatidylserine, Beta-Sitosterol, Theanine.

CYCLO-AMP™ (Xtreme Cyclic AMP Stimulating Complex) 50mg
Clary Sage Extract, Forskolin, CAMP, Amentoflavone.

Betadrol™ (Receptor Upregulating Complex) 50mg
Raspberry Ketone, DNA, RNA, Crataegus Monogyna.

AbsorbMax™ (Rapid Absorption Complex) 5mg
Piper Nigrum

Di-Caffeine Alpha-Ketoglutarate is supposed to be the ingredient that makes this product different. Supposedly it is “designed for maximum impact”, whatever that means. There has been no research done on Di-Caffeine Alpha-Ketoglutarate.

DiCaffeine Malate is a combination of caffeine and malic acid. As I stated above, the efficacy of caffeine goes without saying, but what about malic acid? Malic acid ((originally isolated from apple juice, according to Wikipedia)) plays a role in the citric acid cycle. The citric acid cycle belongs to the metabolic cycle and helps in the conversion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into CO2 and water. This conversion results in energy that can be used by the body. You can see then where Forged Nutrition makes their claim about “the positive effect on energy replenishment that the malate ion has.”

My recommendation would be to treat DiCaffeine Malate the same as you would treat the inclusion of any caffeine in a diet pill. Know that it will increase your metabolic rate at the (possible) cost of jitters and some sleeplessness.

Studies show raspberry ketones induced weight loss in mice with a diet containing 2% of the total diet as raspberry ketones. No studies have been done on humans. Note: in order to take in 2% of raspberry ketones as your total diet you would have to take a ton of these Methyl Ripped pills. Once again, Methyl Ripped does not disclose how much of this ingredient is included. This makes it impossible to determine whether or not the amount of raspberry ketones in Methyl Ripped is enough to be effective in promoting weight loss. ((http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15862604))

Gugglesterones are supposed to increase thyroid function to promote weight loss. However, studies have had varying results.

One study on coleus forshkohli (Forskolin) found

“Oral ingestion of forskolin (250 mg of 10% forskolin extract twice a day) for a 12-week period was shown to favorably alter body composition while concurrently increasing bone mass and serum free testosterone levels in overweight and obese men. The results indicate that forskolin is a possible therapeutic agent for the management and treatment of obesity.”

Well, since Forksolin is found in Methyl Ripped’s Xtreme Cyclic AMP Stimulating Complex (and I type that with extreme sarcasm) is only 50 mg, you can rest assured that you’re not getting 250 mg of forskolin in there.

Green Tea has been proven to contribute to weight loss; however, there is no exact amount listed so we cannot be sure if it is effective in Methyl Ripped.

Bacopa Monnieri is used for epilepsy and asthma treatment. It has been proven to have antianxiety effects.

What are the side effects of Methyl Ripped?

Side effects of Methyl Ripped include heavy bloating, abdominal cramps, headaches, jitters, and difficulty sleeping.

What is the price of Methyl Ripped?

The average cost for 120 softgels is $35. If you take the recommended dosage of 6 softgels per day, one bottle will last 20 days. That equal $52.50 per month. This is extremely expensive when compared to other more effective alternatives.

Methyl Ripped Review Conclusion

Considering Methyl Ripped contains several ingredients that have not been tested and they do not list specific amounts for the clinically proven ingredients, we would recommend looking elsewhere. Look for a supplement that uses clinically proven ingredients in sufficient amounts.

Cortislim’s Claims Challenged by FTC

Based on a press release from October 5, 2004, the FTC wasn’t too happy with the marketers of Cortislim (and CortiStress), saying they had made false or unsubstantiated claims:

The FTC alleges that the defendants promoted cortisol control as “the answer” for anyone who wants to lose weight, especially abdominal weight. According to the FTC’scomplaint, the defendants’ broadcast ads, print ads, and Web sites claimed that persistently elevated levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone,” are the underlying cause of weight gain and weight retention and also claimed that CortiSlim effectively reduces and controls cortisol levels and thereby causes substantial weight loss. The FTC alleges that the defendants claimed that CortiSlim: (1) causes weight loss of 10 to 50 pounds for virtually all users; (2) causes users to lose as much as 4 to 10 pounds per week over multiple weeks; (3) causes users to lose weight specifically from the abdomen, stomach, and thighs; (4) causes rapid and substantial weight loss; (5) causes long-term or permanent weight loss; and (6) causes weight loss. The FTC also alleges that the defendants claimed that the effectiveness of CortiSlim and its ingredients is demonstrated by over 15 years of scientific research. According to the FTC’s complaint, these claims are false or unsubstantiated.

The FTC also reached far and wide, contacting multiple websites hawking CortiSlim with this this letter.What was the end result with the FTC’s complaint against CortiSlim? While the Final Agreement is stipulated according to the FTC, wikipedia states that Cortislim eventually paid $1.2 million (in conjunction with many other diet pill makers for false or unsubstantiated claims) ((http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CortiSlim)) ((http://www.barryyeoman.com/articles/weight.html)).

Cortislim Also Gets Mixed up with the FDA

On August 19, 2004 the FDA sent a letter to Stephen Cheng and Window Rock Enterprises, makers of CortiSlim and CortiStress. The FDA stated the following in their warning letter:

the dietary supplement CortiSlim is misbranded and violates the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act). According to the FDA’s letter, CortiSlim’s label and accompanying information make unsubstantiated claims that CortiSlim “eliminates cravings,” “controls appetite,” “burn[s] calories more efficiently and naturally through thermogenesis,” and “diminishe[s] hunger and stress eating.” The FDA also asserts that claims that CortiSlim “supports healthy cortisol levels” or “supports weight maintenance efforts” would be unsubstantiated.

But Does CortiSlim Work? Maybe the Cortislim Peeps Just got Claim-Trigger Happy?

According to an article in O, The Oprah Magazine by Barry Yeoman, the connection between Cortisol and weight gain is “loose at best”:

Experts remain unconvinced that the product works at all. For one, they say the stress-cortisol-weight relationship is a loose one at best. “Not everyone who reports high stress is producing a lot of cortisol,” says Elissa Epel, PhD, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. And while some investigations have linked excess cortisol with weight gain, the New England Research Institutes, which conduct trials for government agencies and commercial enterprises, recently found that obese men had significantly lower amounts of the hormone than normal-weight guys. “Despite popular claims that reducing cortisol levels could lead to weight loss, we find little evidence,” wrote the study’s authors.

So what we’re unsure of here is whether the hormone cortisol is connected to weight gain.The next question goes one step further — does CortiSlim even affect cortisol levels? According to the same article, the unfortunate news (if you sell CortiSlim) goes something like this:

A thorough review of the medical literature on each of its ingredients found little to suggest that it would. “I don’t think there is remotely sufficient support for the claim,” says Stanford University neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky, PhD. “Certainly not support of a type that would satisfy the vast majority of metabolic endocrinologists.”

CortiSlim Ingredient Profile

• Vitamin C and Calcium – a vitamin and a mineral with undisputed healthy benefits and very little to do with weight loss through cortisol reduction.
• Chromium (see the Chromium review) is a bit up in the air with research falling on both sides of the fence. CortiSlim’s 50 mcg dose is far too little to effect any weight loss result.
• Proprietary Blend: Cortiplex Cortisol Control Blend
  • Magnolia Bark
  • Licorice Root PE
  • Beta-SitosterolL-Theanine

• Leptiplex Thermogenic Blend
  • Green Tea
  • Orange Peel (Citrus Aurantium)

Insutrol Glucose Control Blend

• Banaba Leaf
• Vanadyl Sulfate

The vast majority of these ingredients are simply eye candy and, as was mentioned above, with thorough medical research done on each of them, there was little to no evidence showing the cortisol hormone being affected. As a diet pill stands, cortisol aside, CortiSlim is weak weak weak. The Themogenic proprietary blend is a total of just 125mg, clearly not enough to have much of a weight loss effect – even when both ingredients used have been shown to be excellent at metabolic enhancement.

CortiSlim Review Conclusion

There are several things I don’t like about CortiSlim:

• They made unsubstantiated and false claims in their advertising, misleading consumers. Even if CortiSlim were an effective weight loss supplement, I wouldn’t recommend it for that very reason.
• The connection between the cortisol hormone and weight is weak — very weak.
• CortiSlim’s ability to reduce cortisol levels isn’t proven — at all. The creator himself said that in this industry, clinical studies aren’t necessary…

There are many other better alternatives when you’re looking to lose weight. Stay away from CortiSlim.

Xyphedra’s Name

Has absolutely nothing to do with ephedra. It only shares two syllables. Ephedra was banned in 2004 and won’t be coming back. People died. I’ve never really felt it was totally fair that ephedra was banned. People were abusing it. I think we could find a lot of things that should be banned because they pose health risks when consumed to excess (like McDonald’s). But things are the way they are and ephedra’s no longer available so companies look to present alternatives.

It’s important to recognize that diet pill companies, with Xyphedra being no exception, often use popular syllables (phed-ra) to leverage when launching a new diet pill product. You should never judge a diet pill by its name — only by its ingredients — and to an almost-equal extent, the business practices of the company behind it.

Xyphedra contains some very effective ingredients, let’s dig in.

Xyphedra’s Ingredients

• Green Tea – this is an effective diet pill ingredient. Green tea has mounds of research supporting it as an effective metabolic booster with minimal side effects.
• Chocamine – I’m neutral, leaning positive on this ingredient. Cocoa itself is effective for endurance, but Chocamine’s has such a deluge of ingredients inside it, it’s tough to really zero in on effectiveness.
• Phenylethylamine – I’m also neutral, but leaning positive on phenylethylamine. Yes, there’s a bunch of it in chocolate, and some people anecdotally report a “high” when taken in large doses, but I’d like to see some more research before I give it the go-ahead.
• Picamilon – an effective anti-anxiety ingredient, combining Niacin and GABA. Effective dosage needs to be 1mg per kg of bodyweight according to one study — though a lower dosage may provide benefits as well.
• L-Tyrosine – a strong contender with lots of research backing it up mainly in relation to its ability to aid patients under stressful situations and in human performance. Hopefully you’ll recognize the benefits of exercise when supplementing with a diet pill. A pill like Xyphedra will go a long way in motivating you to step it up one or two notches. L-Tyrosine plays a big role in this.
• L-Theanine – also an anti-stress ingredient, there to counteract the possible jitters from Green Tea.

Unfortunately we don’t know how much of these ingredients is included in a single pill of Xyphedra. On their supplemental facts they use a proprietary blend (which a lot of diet pill companies do, to apparently avoid being copied so quickly), but then they don’t disclose how much their proprietary blend is in total. That leaves consumers wondering what exactly they’re getting.

UPDATE 3/15/08: I actually contacted Xyphedra and mentioned that I found it somewhat strange to list the supplement facts but not show even the aggregate amount of the proprietary blend. I ended up speaking with the owner (one advantage of dealing with up and coming companies is that you get this type of attention) and he cited it as an oversight of the web designer and said it would be fixed immediately. You can now see that the Xyphedra proprietary blend is 500 mg.

Needless to say, from that interaction with the owner I’ve become quite the Xyphedra fan. That type of responsiveness is impressive. Most of the time when I deal with diet pill companies it seems they just go down a laundry list of excuses to try and avoid any type of responsibility. My experience certainly allows me to recommend Xyphedra with confidence, knowing they’ll honor their moneyback guarantee.

Is Xyphedra Recommended?

There are two reasons I will happily recommend Xphedra:

1. Their responsiveness to an error I pointed out is admirable.
2. Their ingredient lineup is strong. They’re not providing anything revolutionary with what they’re offering, but they also didn’t cut any corners.

Xyphedra is geared toward quick fat loss and has certainly has potential. Criticalorie gives it the thumbs up.