Chitosan Revealed

Today, the challenge to keep the weight off is becoming more and more daunting.  The temptations are just endless!  Ice cream, candies, those juicy hamburgers and the fries that go with it – oh, the very thought just makes you want to grab any one of these and sink your teeth in it.  These foods, however tempting, cause us to pack on the pounds, pounds that I’m sure we are all anxious to lose.  There are a number of diet programs and diet pills that are available in the market.  However, most of these use synthetic substances.  The good news is that there is something natural that can help us with the battle of the bulge.  Now, weight loss can be safe and natural.  Introducing: chitosan – a natural fat inhibitor that can do wonders for our figures, without the dreaded side effects.

Chitosan comes from chitin, which is derived from the exoskeletons of lobsters, crabs and shrimp. Their shells contain what is called a polysaccharide. The shells are ground into powder and after it has undergone a process, it is then able to absorb a large amount of fat – the claim is 6 to 10 times its weight. It was found that the polysaccharide was able to absorb impurities from the water. Thus it was used for oil spills and similar disasters.

This same ability enables you to also lose weight. Chitosan sweeps the body of fat. It acts as a magnet that effectively absorbs it. This very ability that chitosan has earned it the nickname “super fiber”.

But it does one more step, which is to bind the fat and then turn it into something that the body will not absorb. Before the fat even reaches the stomach, chitosan traps these and causes these to be flushed outside of the body. Chitosan promotes healthy digestion and even hastens the process of getting rid of those wastes and fats. It also soothes the stomach lining.

Chitosan also has zero calories. So if you include that in your diet, you can prevent the accumulation of fat inside the body. When there is less fat that goes inside you, your body turns to its fat stores and burns these up instead.

There are also added claims aside from weight loss. Chitosan is also said to have the ability to increase HDL (the good cholesterol) while it decreases LDL (the bad cholesterol). It also helps manage blood pressure levels as well as the level of uric acid in the blood. And because it has a soothing effect on the stomach, it helps in curing lesions and ulcers. Additional benefits include stronger bones and teeth (because it promotes calcium levels) as well as prevent irritable bowel syndrome.

To increase the effect of chitosan, manufacturers have also discovered the power of adding Vitamin C. This increases the ability to absorb lipids. The citric acid also works to curb appetite.

Chitosan usually comes in capsule form. The recommended dosage is to take one or two of these before you eat your meal. So that means you take in chitosan thrice a day, especially if you are about to eat a meal that is particularly filled with fat. However, if you are eating meals that are filled with healthy fats, (such as olive oil, nuts, salmon, avocado) that you surely would want to keep in your system, it’s best to avoid taking in chitosan. These healthy fats actually work to enhance weight loss.

Although chitosan claims to help you lose weight without your having to diet, the sensible think to do is to combine a low-calorie diet with your chitosan intake. In a study that used obese individuals as subjects, a low calorie diet coupled with chitosan decreased their cholesterol levels by 25%. Of course, it would also help for you to add some exercise into your routine.

Chitosan is all natural and it is fiber and not synthetic. It has very low toxic levels. It is important to note, however, that chitosan comes from crustaceans, so that means that those who are allergic to seafood should avoid taking chitosan. Another thing to remember is that these are mostly claims that are not backed up with research, so as outstanding these claims are, it should be taken with caution and common sense.