Supplements for sports nutrition and weight loss topped $22.7 billion in 2010 sales, according to the "Nutrition Business Journal." Many supplements from China were among them, but Chinese imports are often unfit for human consumption. The Food and Drug Administration halted 1,000 shipments of tainted Chinese dietary supplements in 2007 alone. Super Slim Pomegranate is a product from China whose manufacturers claim it can help you lose weight fast and naturally, but limited information about its ingredients and potential dangers may make this a supplement you should avoid.
Identification
The listed ingredients on the Super Slim Pomegranate label include koncing nut, apple and kiwi extract, giantarum, sweet potato, Jerusalem artichoke, green tea, caffeine and hoodia. There is no information available on "koncing nut," although it may be another name for pomegranate seed; otherwise, the ingredients don't list any pomegranate extracts, despite the product's name. The product web site only states that the mystery koncing nut ingredient is a "fat burner." The information adds that Super Slim Pomegranate is very potent, and you only need to take one pill per day.
Claims
Super Slim Pomegranate claims the weight will melt off your body in just days without dieting or exercising. While it has been demonstrated that a diet rich in fruit can help reduce body weight, as indicated in a study published in the journal "Appetite" in 2008, it's unknown how much fruit extract Super Slim actually contains. The ingredients also list "giantarum," but the only known plant by that name is Amorphophallus titanum, or the giant arum, the world's largest and smelliest flower that is a rare and endangered species. Hoodia and caffeine are often marketed as being able to speed up metabolism, but MayoClinic.com notes that there is no solid scientific evidence to support such claims.
Considerations
The manufacturer cautions that taking Super Slim Pomegranate after 3 p.m. can lead to insomnia, likely due to a high caffeine content. The company also recommends you drink plenty of water, since the supplement causes dry mouth, and avoid alcohol for the same reason. The label recommends you take a Super Slim Pomegranate pill prior to eating or else it could make you feel nauseated. Other side effects mentioned include shaking, an elevated heart rate and dizziness.
Warning
In December 2008, the FDA recalled several diet supplements due to untruthful claims and labeling and reckless disregard for public health. One of these products was Super Slim, the company behind Super Slim Pomegranate. An FDA analysis found that several of the products on the list contained ingredients that far exceeded what was found on labels and sometimes included ingredients not listed, such as prescription drugs, carcinogens and controlled substances. The FDA advises consumers who have used any of these products to stop taking them and to seek guidance from a doctor before taking any weight loss products or diet pills.
References
- MySuperSlim.com: Super Slim Pomegranate
- Food and Drug Administration: FDA Expands Warning to Consumers About Tainted Weight Loss Pills
- "Appetite"; A Low-Energy-Dense Diet Adding Fruit Reduces Weight and Energy Intake in Women; M.C. de Oliveira et al.; September 2008
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International: Giant Arum Flowers at Hortus Botanicus Leiden
- MayoClinic.com; Is Hoodia an Effective Appetite Suppressant?; Brent A. Bauer, MD
- MayoClinic.com; Does Caffeine Increase Weight Loss?; Katherine Zeratsky, RD, LD
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