Carb Blockers

Today, everyone is looking for a miracle cure that will make losing weight painless and easy. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could keep eating as many carbohydrates as we want and never have to worry about getting fat, raising our blood sugar, or developing diabetes?

That’s essentially the type of promise made by the manufacturers of products known collectively as carb blockers.

Carbohydrates & Our Bodies

When you eat a food that is rich in carbohydrates, your body immediately begins to process the nutrients. An enzyme in your body breaks down those carbs and converts them into glucose – a type of sugar used by your body in the form of energy.

Once the carbs become glucose they enter the bloodstream and are absorbed by your cells for the purpose of creating energy for your body. If too much glucose is in your blood, some of it is converted again so that it can be stored in your body for use later. If you continue to over-consume carbs, you’ll eventually gain weight because the stored glucose will become body fat.

Your body produces insulin for the purpose of helping that glucose do its job. When the cells have all the glucose they need, insulin removes the leftovers and helps store it. If your body isn’t producing the right amount of insulin, that glucose remains in your bloodstream. That’s what happens if you are diabetic.

What are Carb Blockers?

Carb blockers are marketed as weight loss products. The idea is they contain phaselous vulgaris which is extracted from a type of kidney bean. This chemical is said to stop the enzyme alpha-amylase from breaking down those carbohydrates you’ve consumed. Instead of ending up in your bloodstream, the carbs end up not being usable and so they are excreted with the rest of the waste from the body.

Because the carbs never enter your bloodstream, they won’t be saved up or converted into body fat later. Additionally, your body will have to use the reserves you’ve already stored which can help you lose weight.

Do Carb Blockers Work?

While the promise of carb blockers seems wonderful, there are no reliable clinical studies that have been completed to show these products actually deliver on their promises. Most of the studies that have been done were conducted by the manufacturers themselves and included too few participants to generate statistically significant results.

That means you shouldn’t put too much faith in these products, especially given the side effects they can cause.

What Side Effects Can Carb Blockers Cause?

Because the carbohydrates are excreted from the body, most of the side effects are related to your bathroom habits. Users have reported problems such as excessive gas and diarrhea, as well as other types of “gastrointestinal distress.” You may also have severe heartburn thanks to the products.

While most chemical products do have some side effects, these are quite uncomfortable for the average user, especially given the products may not be providing any benefits.