Pomegranate has been credited with everything from improving blood pressure to alleviating the effects of COPD, and it has entered into the diet pill market as well. A popular weight loss supplement for those wishing to avoid exercise and a healthy diet, Super Slim Pomegranate pills may be less expensive than other diet pills but their safety and effectiveness is questionable.
The Claims
The manufacturer refers to pomegranate as "Asia's little weight loss secret," and claims that Super Slim Pomegranate pills can cause you to "shed massive amounts of body weight," with results in less than one week. No dieting or exercising is required. The website has multiple pages touting the antioxidant power of pomegranate, but acknowledges that Super Slim Pomegranate pills do not contain pomegranate, but ingredients that "achieve the same goals." It does not elaborate on how antioxidants trigger weight loss, but it does go on to talk about the fat-burning properties of its other ingredients.
The Pills
The manufacturer lists the active ingredients as Koncing nut and green teas as fat burners and apple and kiwi extract to keep the body from producing fat while boosting energy and supressing the appetite. Giantarum. sweet potato and jerusalem artichoke are added to "increase the potency of the active ingredients". Hoodia, an herbal appetite supressant, is listed as an ingredient but not mentioned on the website at all.
Reality
The only listed ingredient found in the eMedicinal database of over 2,000 herbs is artichoke, which is listed as a diuretic. According to the National Institutes of Health, green tea extract can possibly be effective in helping you lose weight, and it is thought to be effective in increasing alertness due to its caffeine content. Super SLim Pomegranate pills also list caffeine as a separate ingredient, so the stimulant and diuretic properties of the pills may be dramatic. According to Drugs.com, hoodia is a well-known appetite supressant. Basically, Super Slim Pomegranate pills are diuretic stimulants with slight appetite supressant properties.
Effectiveness
None of the ingredients in Super Slim Pomegranate pills have been proven effective for weight loss. A 2007 study at Tsinghua University in Beijing found that five weeks of daily doses of pomegranate leaf extract reduced blood fats and obesity in mice fattened on a high-fat diet. The study's authors noted that the extract may only be effective on obesity caused by high-fat diets. It is important to note that the extract was made from the pomegranate leaf, not the fruit, which is the part mimicked by Super Slim Pomegranate pills.
Safety
To get the benefits of pomegranate, eat the fruit -- it is not only safe, but loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. Pomegranate extract has not been shown to be unsafe, but Super Slim Pomegranate pills do not contain pomegranate. The pills do contain a high-caffeine, appetite supressing diuretic formula, which could potentially lead to dehydration, nervousness and irregular heartbeat. Consult your doctor before taking Super Slim Pomegranate pills, especially if you are taking medication or are sensitive to caffeine.
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