L-carnitine supplementation should not be used by those who are allergic to any food protein (egg, milk, or wheat), risk of poor nutrition, pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, or other health risks or problems. First off, you should contact your physician about taking any supplements. If you do decide to use the L-carnitine supplement, it is recommended to take the supplement with a full glass of water or other liquid and with a meal or immediately after a meal. I strongly recommend researching this supplement as well as any other supplements before usage. Below are lists of the benefits and side-effects of L-carnitine. 

Benefits of L-carnitine Supplementation

1. Promotes natural growth and development
2. MAY help build muscle
3. MAY prevent forms of cardiovascular disease
4. MAY help protect against liver disease
5. MAY help protect against diabetes
6. MAY help protect against kidney disease
7. MAY help protect against muscle disease
8. MAY reduce hunger pangs and weakness
9. MAY increase energy
10. MAY help reduce body fat

Side Effects of L-carnitine Supplementation

1. MAY cause muscle fatigue
2. MAY cause cramps
3. MAY lower blood-sugar levels
4. MAY cause problems with pregnancy

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Benefits and Side Effects of L-Carnitine Supplementation

Little did she, or we, know, that while she was passionately working on starting this company, she would gain back the 75 pounds she lost, plus ten. We’ve watched Kirstie’s weight fluctuations for years. Using Oprah as a stage for promoting her weight loss, and confessing her weight gain, Kirstie made yet another appearance today. This time, it was to promote her new show on A&E, Kirstie Alley’s Big Life premiering March 21, and her new company, Organic Liaison.

She says she’s been working with a team of scientists to create an organic weight loss plan and is now excited to share with all of us Organic Liaison. It’s a multi-layer membership and supplement program that supports the weight loss efforts of men and women, and is meant to “escort you into the world of organic weight loss,” says Kirstie in the site’s introductory video.

Members have access to the Organic Network Locator, which helps identify organic grocery stores, farmer’s markets and restaurants by ZIP code.

The fun-having actress has made weight loss fun too, by offering members the Body Game, which puts you and a partner (called your Chubby Buddy) in a waist-to-waist competition to lose weight together and share the journey.

Members will access to a Success Graph, which shows your efforts and progress to goal.

Additionally, Organic Liaison will help you get your eating on track by creating meal plans just for you with “brands from a featured partner and foods from organic recipes.” They’ll match your dietary needs, like vegetarian or low carb.

A diet journal, recipe database, calorie counter and more is readily available to Organic Liaison members via their online account.

Organic Liaison also has a line of USDA Organic supplement products also meant to help you manage your weight loss. The Organic Liaison Rescue Me package includes three diet supplements meant to help you cleanse and detox while reducing cravings, curbing appetitive, boosting energy and supporting fat metabolism.

Rescue Me “takes on and wollops two big road blocks for losing weight and keeping it off – excess hunger and cravings,” says Kirstie. The products offer organic ingredients that include vitamins, minerals, herbs, fiber and antioxidants.

Other supplements from Organic Liaison include Nightingale, which is a L-Tryptophan and vitamin supplement to help you sleep and promote weight loss; Pagoda is a green tea extract that helps manage your metabolism and burn calories.

The Rescue Me kit costs $139.00 from Organic Liaison. The Organic Liaison monthly membership costs $10, plus a $10 setup fee; the annual membership costs $89, plus an $89 setup fee.

Also read:

• Organic Liaison for Men

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Kirstie Alley Launches Weight Loss Company Organic Liaison

“Ms. Michaels knows better — taking two pills before eating does not miraculously cause weight loss,” the lawsuit states, per The Associated Press.

Melissa Harnett, Christensen’s attorney who filed the suit, told TMZ, “Telling people you take two magic pills and then eat chocolate cake all day is a deception.”

As part of the suit, Christensen is suing Basic Research and ThinCare International, the Utah-based manufacturer of the multiple diet supplement products bearing Michaels’ name.

“Not only have placebo-controlled, double-blind, published clinical studies been conducted on the active calorie-control compound in Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control, but that research was reviewed by some of the leading weight-loss experts in the world before Jillian would put her name on the product,” read a statement released by ThinCare.

We’ve said it here on multiple occasions and we’ll remind everyone again – when it sounds too good to be true, especially when it comes to dieting, it probably is. At the end of the day, a healthy, balanced diet and approach to eating coupled with regular exercise are every person’s best act toward losing weight. You have to be your own best advocate, and sometimes, that means reading through the fine print.

Don’t take advertising at face value, whether it’s a well-known branded diet supplement, a fat-free claim on a bag of chips or promises of six-pack abs when you use a special machine for three minutes a day. Do your homework and protect yourself.

Also Read:

Jillian Michaels Big Fitness Empire

Jillian Michaels Detox and Cleanse

Do You Know What’s in Your Dietary Supplements?

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Jillian Michaels Sued because of Diet Pill Claims

The counterfeit Alli looks a lot like the real Alli. But, the counterfeit pills are filled with sibutramine, not Orlistat – the main ingredient in authentic Alli.

The main difference between sibutramine and Orlistat is that the former is a substance that should not be used without a doctor’s oversight. Sibutramine is the active ingredient in the prescription weight loss drug Meridia. What’s worse, Alli is taken three times daily, while Meridia should only to be taken once a day.

So far, there is no word on the fake Alli making its way to brick and mortar retail outlets. According to GlaxoSmithKline, you can identify the fake, and potentially fatal, Alli by scoping out the following clues:

• The lot code is missing from the top of the box.

• The expiration date on the fake includes month, day, and year (e.g. 06162010). The authentic Alli’s expiration date includes only the month and year (e.g. 05/12).

• The seal on the bottle should read “Sealed For Your Protection” in white ink on GlaxoSmithKline’s Alli. This is not on the fake product.

• The capsule size is slightly larger in the counterfeit pills, and the contents of the capsules are powdery. The real Alli is shaped like a pellet.

If you think you have been sold a counterfeit version of Alli, you should call the Food & Drug Administration at (800) 551-3989 or go to this website.

(via: WebMD)

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Dangerous Fake Alli Sold Online

From hoodia to green tea, Dr. Oz investigates the most common diet pills and tells you which ones can help supplement your weight loss efforts, which ones are gimmicks and which ones may be putting your life at risk.

Dr. Oz wants us to understand the truth about diet pills and listen to the real experiences of numerous individuals who tried to lose weight by popping some of the most popular weight loss supplements.

Check your local listings for exact show times.

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Tune In: The Truth About Diet Pills on The Dr. Oz Show

The government only gives minimal guidelines on how supplements are stored and coated. So, you need to do most of your own homework.

What’s in Your Supplement?

When manufacturers chelate, or coat, a supplement, they are making it more resistant to damage during digestion. Manufacturers use binders, usually vegetable gums, cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose to hold the tablets together. Capsules can also use binders to help affect the speed of a product being released into the bloodstream.

Fillers are also used in supplements. They act as a dispersing agent and add extra bulk, as active ingredients are often too small to stand alone.

Lubricants are a mainstay with most supplements. They are used as a necessary part of the manufacturing process. Supplements are also coated to make it easier to swallow and to avoid the damaging effects of oxygen.

Watch Out For Some Fillers

If you have any dietary restrictions because of allergies or digestive issues, watch out for supplements that contain yeast, gluten, shellfish, sugar, and salt. They should all be listed on the ingredient list.

As is the case with anything you put in your body, it’s good to know a little about natural versus synthetic. Remember that if something is natural that does not mean it’s automatically safe to use.

It’s a good idea to discuss supplements with your doctor or nutritionist. This is particularly true if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or undergoing treatment for a chronic health condition.

It’s easy to assume when we walk into a store that everything on the shelves is equally safe and effective. Your best bet is to not take anything for granted. Instead, ask questions and do your research.

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Secrets of Supplement Manufacturing

“A police offer who had been encouraged by his doctor decided to try a weight-loss supplement to help him shed his extra pounds. But instead of losing weight, he lost his job. His diet pills, which were imported from Brazil and sold in the United States, contained vitamin E, centella, senna, and cascara, among other “natural” ingredients. Not included on the label was the amphetamine detected in his urine drug screen. The now-unemployed sergeant is not alone. Such contaminated supplements represent an emerging risk to public health.”

The bottom line is you really have to be careful with what you trust as “safe.” In August 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found more than 140 supplements that contained undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients. DRUGS! These represent only a fraction of the contaminated supplements on the market.

The culprit is lack of regulation in a market where “empty promises” and “quick fixes” sell. Today, dietary supplements are presumed to be safe and can be marketed with very little oversight. Supplements manufacturers are required to report serious supplement-related adverse events to the FDA, but by and large they don’t. The FDA estimates 50,000 adverse events each year go unreported.

As a nutrition expert, I make it my a priority to look at the medications and supplements my new client is taking and ask them what they take each for. It is shocking to see what they are taking and how little they can explain about what the supplement is supposed to do. While I can’t go into detail and review every supplement in this post, here is what I would recommend.

1. Think before you buy. What is in it? Do you need it? Are all the ingredients safe? Do any of the ingredients compromise a pre-existing health condition or interact with medications? What is the cost? Is it effective?
2. Research the company. Has the company been around for a long time? Does it appear reputable? What is its Better Business Bureau rating?
3. Consider the messenger. I’ve heard it all from my clients, anything from “my co-worker sells them to me and they cured her brother’s skin cancer” to “my chiropractor said this cleanse would help me lose five pounds” to “the person at the supplement store said this was the best.”

There is no assurance that hazardous dietary supplements will be identified or removed from the market in a timely fashion. You have to be the cop.

Via New England Journal of Medicine

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Do You Know What’s in Your Dietary Supplements?

From the FDA press release — The FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. One death due to liver failure has been reported to the FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.

The teen’s death happened in 2007, and was only reported to the FDA in March 2009. Dr. Linda Katz of the FDA’s food and nutrition division said it has taken so long to bring this to the public’s attention because the cases were rare and the FDA has no authority over supplements (a government report in March 2009 called for higher supervision of supplements by the FDA). “Part of the problem is that the FDA looks at dietary supplements from a post-market perspective, and an isolated incident is often difficult to follow,” she said.

The FDA does not regulate supplements with the same authority it does pharmaceuticals. Producers do not have to have an FDA approval nor inspection of the products for safety or efficacy before being sold to consumers. “You really have to be careful about dietary supplements, especially weight-loss pills,” said Ano Lobb, who has studied Hydroxycut for Consumer Reports. “People believe that the FDA has verified that these products are at least safe and effective, and that’s really not the case. When you see fantastic claims — that’s generally what they are.”

The FDA does monitor aftermarket reports for health problems related to these supplements. A similar warning in 2004 regarding ephedra forced the government to enact a ban on the supplement ingredient following reports of heart attack and stroke.

This list of Hydroxycut products being recalled include:

Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural

Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products are not affected by the recall.

“The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts,” per the FDA press release.

via FDA and Associated Press

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Hydroxycut Recall after FDA Warning to Stop Using the Diet Pill

In 2008, the FDA received 948 reports of health problems associated with dietary supplements, including 9 deaths and 234 hospitalizations. And the FDA asserts that these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. The regulatory body estimates that each year, over 50,000 health problems are connected to the use of diet supplements.

The F.D.A. currently regulates dietary supplements as consumable nonfood substances, but regulate diet supplements with the same supervision and inspection as it does with drugs and medications. In addition, the FDA cannot force supplement manufacturers to take their tainted products away from drugstore shelves or online distributors. In December of 2008, the FDA issued a list of over 60 diet supplements that contained tainted ingredients and that were associated with health conditions, but there was little else it could do other than put out this warning and hope it was heard and heeded by diet pill consumers.

Therefore the take-home message with this recent report is that until the FDA has more authority to thoroughly inspect and regulate diet supplements, it is important to get medical approval before taking any weight loss product.

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Government Report Calls for More Supervision of Diet Supplements

One of the latest class of products that are designed to help us lose weight are tasteless food additives that are sprinkled on food. Once ingested, they have the power to induce feelings of fullness by acting on certain areas of the brain. It’s kind of like what may happen if hoodia were to meet your salt shaker. But unlike many dietary supplements, these food additives don’t contain hoodia, drugs or any other stimulants.

One such product is Sensa.

“Sensa works with your sense of smell to curb your hunger without affecting the taste of your food. This induces something called ’sensory-specific satiety.’ It makes your brain perceive that you’ve eaten more than you have and, thus, you eat less and lose weight,” says Sensa Creator, Dr. Alan Hirsch.

In one 1,400-person clinical study, participants lost an average of 30 pounds over a six-month period while using Sensa tastants. The exact specifics of this study, which can severely alter the credibility of the study, are not known.

Sensa should not be confused with CalTrap, which is another food additive that contains extracts of an Asian plant that encapsulates up to 25% of the calories you ingest and allows it to be passed through your digestive tract without getting absorbed.

Sensa is instead, sprinkled on your food and imparts its magic by acting on your sense of smell, brain and sense of fullness. The end result is supposed to be a slimmer you as you register a feeling of being full even though your plate still has a good deal of food on it.

The ingredient list sounds fairly benign and since it was created by a medical doctor, one would hope that it was designed with sound science and safety standards in mind. I don’t know about you, but I’m fairly intrigued by this latest creation in food technology.

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Sensa Diet Review: When Biology and Food Technology Meet