| Capsaicin as a bodybuilding supplement for fat loss. | | | | what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems |
| Does it work? | | | | to be "conclusive evidence." However, scientists the |
| It seems that everyone has a product on the market | | | | world over are conducting studies to link capsaicin to |
| that is said to promote fat loss. More and more | | | | weight loss and the results that are coming in look |
| manufacturers are cashing in on the public's infatuation | | | | fairly promising. Studies show that Capsaicin can |
| and obsession with fat loss. Body builders, however, | | | | prevent new fat cells from forming as well as |
| tread a little more lightly. Because their bodies are their | | | | decrease the appetite and reduce fat in the body. |
| fortunes, their identities, they are more careful about | | | | Another study used humans to test the effects of |
| the bodybuilding supplements that they take, the food | | | | capsaicin on fat in the human body. Each subject was |
| that they eat as well as nutrition. Many tend to lean | | | | tested for metabolic rate and measured prior to the |
| toward natural bodybuilding supplements simply | | | | study. Additionally, they were measured and their |
| because they have aversions to putting synthetic | | | | metabolic rate measured every half hour after taking |
| materials into their bodies. Capsaicin is a popular fat | | | | the extract or after taking placebo tablets. Weight and |
| loss supplement that many bodybuilders swear by. But | | | | body fat was also measured in the subjects. This |
| just how effective is it? | | | | study was performed over a two week period. |
| Capsaicin is the stuff in chili peppers that makes them | | | | The findings of the study revealed that the subjects |
| hot. It is a known irritant for humans and animals, best | | | | who took the capsaicin experienced a significant |
| known for it burning sensation in any tissue that it | | | | increase in their mean metabolic rate at 30 minutes |
| touches. Pure capsaicin is colorless, odorless and has a | | | | and 60 minutes after taking the extract. Throughout |
| texture that is crystalline to waxy. It is the active | | | | the study that ranged a two week period, body fat |
| ingredient in pepper spray, the chemical riot control | | | | was reduced in 70% of the subjects who had taken |
| agent. On the dinner table, it is used to give foods a | | | | the capsaicin extract. The greatest effect of reduction |
| little "heat." In the weight room, however, capsaicin is | | | | of body fat occurred in those subjects who began the |
| being used as a method of fat loss. | | | | study with higher fat content at the onset. The |
| Studies Show | | | | subjects experienced a loss in fat, not water, based on |
| Scientists in Taiwan have found that capsaicin can | | | | hand held body fat measuring devices. |
| cause fat cells to self destruct. In laboratory tests, | | | | Supplement Forms |
| scientists used preadipocytes, cells that develop into | | | | Capsaicin is one of the oldest natural body building |
| fat cells, as their subjects. They created a capsaicin | | | | supplements that has been used to a variety of |
| extract in the lab and infused the fat, contained in test | | | | conditions. It can be found in capsule form, liquid and |
| tubes, with the extract for a period of eight days. | | | | even a nasal spray. The liquid form of capsaicin (as |
| Every other day they freshened the extract. The | | | | well as the nasal spray), manufactured by SiCap |
| result was that the preadipocytes that were exposed | | | | Industries, used a special hot pepper extract to |
| to the capsaicin died off before they could develop | | | | promote weight loss. The formula includes feverfew |
| into fat cells. The results of the experiment appeared | | | | and green tea extract. It is intended to boost |
| in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. | | | | metabolism, increase circulation, and decrease body |
| Of course, the jury is still out on Capsaicin. As natural | | | | fat. The liquid is in a spray form that can be sprayed |
| supplements go, there is no governing body that | | | | on foods like fish, chicken or salads, or sprayed directly |
| regulates it so any claims made are not backed by | | | | on the tongue. |