Many of the new weight-loss dietary supplements that have hit the market sound too good to be true. That’s because they are.
Have you heard of the drink called Celsius? The makers of Celsius claim that drinking a can, which only contains 10 calories, burns 100 calories. They have reported several studies, all of which support the many benefits of Celsius. For example, the results of one study showed that a test group that drank Celsius on average experienced the following benefits: 78% greater fat loss (than the group that did not receive Celsius), 114% greater decrease in percent body fat, 79% greater endurance performance, and 32% greater resistance to fatigue (increased energy). The statistics may sound significant, but they come from an extremely small study (this one only included 37 college-age men), which can have misleading results.
This is not to say that the company is necessarily lying about the effects of the drink, specifically the claims that it increases one’s metabolic rate and perhaps contributes to a greater amount of calories burned. It’s not magic – Celsius contains the same amount of caffeine as two cups of coffee. Caffeine is known to temporarily improve alertness and “enhance endurance.” Celsius works as a thermogenic beverage. Its ingredients (namely caffeine) are stimulants that increase heart rate and blood pressure, which will indeed increase one’s metabolic rate. The key is that the effects are short-lived. After a few weeks, its effectiveness as a thermogenic will dwindle to nothing, and there will be no longer be any increase in one’s metabolic rate. None of the Celsius studies have shown that its participant were able to maintain their apparent weight loss. Caffeine is also a diuretic (causes increased urination), which could lead to dehydration, which decreases performance.
Surprisingly, there are actually a few aspects about the marketing of Celsius that I actually like. For example, the company refers to the drink as the “ultimate fitness partner.” This is 10-fold better than a supplement that claims to be the “ultimate fitness replacement.” In addition to that, the makers of Celsius do not try to hide the caffeine content of the drink; the amount of caffeine is clearly indicated on each can. (The recommended maximum intake of caffeine has not yet been determined, and is suspected to vary greatly from person to person).
In the end, there’s only one truly natural weight-loss-promoting supplement to a diet – exercise. Anything else is just as it sounds, too good to be true.
Tweet This Post