Carbohydrates are the powerhouse of energy. However, too much of carbohydrate in a diet may pile up unnecessary calories. In such a situation, Carb blockers for weight loss may prove beneficial.
Carb blockers:
Carb blockers or carbohydrate blockers are dietary supplements that keep the starches and the calories found in the searches away from the body by keeping the starch undigested.
The carb blockers are also well known by different other names such as carb cutter, starch blockers and carb trappers, etc. These supplements stand true to their name as they stop the absorption of all the calories in the food that may further result in the loss of weight.
The carb blockers come in the form of pills and supplements. These are made up of white kidney bean and wheat germ extracts.
Mode of action of carb blockers:
When we consume carbohydrates in the form of food, as soon as its reaches our mouth the enzymes start doing their work of digestion. The salivary amylase starts converting the complex starches into simpler forms in the mouth itself. When the food reaches our stomach, the carbohydrates are further process by pancreatic amylase. Thus, the complex forms of carbohydrates are converted into simpler sugars that are easily absorbed by the body. Body then either uses the sugar to produce energy or store the excess sugar in the form of the fat layer.
Carb blockers hit this basic principle of digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. It blocks or neutralises the amylase enzyme preventing the digestion of the carbohydrates. As a result a good amount of carbohydrates are passed out of the alimentary canal undigested. Thus, carb blockers help in weight loss by preventing the piling up of unnecessary calories.
Way to use carb blockers:
The effectiveness of carb blockers is multiplied when they are taken in a correctly scheduled time. They are taken just before or with the first bite of a carbohydrate meal. Two capsules are taken in a single dose. Doctors usually prescribe two doses of carb blockers in a day with the starchy meals. However, you must also follow the instruction given by the manufacturer of the pill or supplement or ask your doctor for the better advice.
Difference between prescription pill and supplement to lose weight:
Carbohydrate blockers for the weight loss come in the form of prescription drugs, and they are required to be FDA approved for their efficacy and effectiveness while the supplement doesn’t require that. Hence, it is not sure about the ingredients of the supplements.
People who are willing to lose weight using carb blockers should ask their doctor first before going to the options available.
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Benefits and effectiveness of carb blockers:
Carb blockers shouldn’t be considered a miracle drug just because they help in slowing down the absorption of starch from the food. They only inhibit the enzyme and don’t stop it completely. Hence, a small amount of carbohydrate is always digested and absorbed by the enzymatic system of the body. The drugs only reduce the rate of absorption but don’t stop it completely.
However, these pills are known to slow the starch absorption and may improve or even prevent insulin resistance.
Safety of the carb blockers:
Carb blockers for weight loss can be used by almost anyone except small children and pregnant or lactating women as its safety in such cases is not determined. Also, people with any underlying ailment of heart or any other medical condition should avoid the use the carb blockers without consulting your doctor.
Potential side effects:
Starch blockers effectiveness in weight loss have been known for a long time, and there is no such major threat to the health that has been reported. But, it is best to take the drug only for doctor’s consent, and any abnormal side effects should be immediately reported to the doctor. The common side effects of using the carb blockers are:
1. Diarrhoea
2. Flatulence
3. Gastrointestinal distress
4. Stomach cramps
5. Heartburn
6. Gas production
7. Bloating, etc.
Conclusion:
If you’re thinking to use any of the varied options of weight loss carb blockers, talk to your doctor or your dietitian primarily. Enquire with your inner quest that whether it sounds too good to be factual and be sceptical about the answer. Be wise and choose right.
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