Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging
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In my opinion, the two most effective weight-loss supplements currently on the market are: the family of hormones related to 1-testosterone that promote fat metabolism; and the appetite-suppressors found in the African succulent plant Hoodia gordonii. These two supplements operate on body fat by completely different mechanisms; they will therefore probably work synergistically when used in combination. Let’s look at these and several other supplements in more detail: 1-Testosterone‘1-T’ (available from LifeLink as ‘Special T’) increases the rate at which body fat is utilized for energy. It is not the same hormone as ordinary testosterone, which could be called ‘4-T’. 1-T works both on subcutaneous fat (i.e., just under the skin), and visceral fat (the fat inside the abdomen between the internal organs). Doses of 300-600 mg/day of 1-T may be needed. A noticeable loss of body fat occurs within a week or so after starting to use 1-T. One’s total body weight does not necessarily decrease, however, since 1-T can cause a gain in muscle weight and in water weight, even while body fat is disappearing. Let me make one thing clear: 1-testosterone is an anabolic steroid. That’s right — it’s one of those substances being demonized by governments and the mass media and portrayed as evil, dangerous, and morally ‘dirty’. While most of my readers are skeptical about government claims and morality crusades, there may be a few readers who still believe what they are being told by the anti-drug crusaders. For them, the choice is easy enough: they can simply avoid anabolic steroids such as 1-T, and forego their benefits. For everyone else, the choice requires more thought. 1-T and its related compounds (such as methyl-1-testosterone) do have side effects. Among these are fast muscle growth and increased libido. Theoretically, 1-T (unlike other classes of anabolic steroids) should not cause acne, breast enlargement, or changes in hair growth; but reality has a way of foiling theory — my impression is that 1-T does, at least, cause an increase in the growth of body hair; it would not be surprising to find that it also causes other typical steroid side effects. NOTE: Anyone who is interested in buying 1-T or methyl-1-T for losing body fat must act quickly — the sale of these substances will be banned in the U.S. on January 15, 2005. HoodiaHoodia supplements have been the subject of many news stories recently. The flesh of the Hoodia plant is dried and ground to a coarse powder, put in capsules, and sold as an appetite suppressant. Its efficacy is not in question, but the dosage is debatable. Most sellers recommend a dosage of 400-800 mg/day. In my experience, this is not enough — a dosage of 1200-2400 mg/day would be more reasonable. Hoodia has no known significant side effects. On the other hand, its supply is severely limited. As Hoodia supplements become more and more popular, the demand is likely to outstrip the supply, causing the price to skyrocket and the quality to decline. Both 1-T and Hoodia are fairly expensive supplements, but their high cost may be justified by their high degree of effectiveness. The remaining supplements on the above list vary widely both in cost per dose and in effectiveness, but the costs and effectiveness don’t necessarily correspond. Three supplements stand out for having a relatively high effectiveness at a relatively low cost. These are: Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Glucomannan, and Conjugated Linoleic Acid. A somewhat more expensive supplement, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, is a good substitute for Hoodia that will remain in plentiful supply as shortages of Hoodia develop. Acetyl-L-CarnitineALC (aka ‘ALCAR’) accelerates fat metabolism in the body. A dosage of 2000 mg/day is suggested by evidence from clinical trials. GlucomannanGlucomannan is a dietary ‘fiber’ that holds many times its weight in water, thereby making the user feel ‘full’ without having actually eaten very much. A dose of 1000 mg before each meal is suggested by published studies. Conjugated Linoleic AcidCLA is a fatty acid, found in small amounts in meat products, that causes an increase in body fat metabolism. A dosage of at least 4000 mg/day seem to be required for reliable results. 5-HydroxytryptophanFor those with larger purses, 5-HTP would make a good addition to a fat-reducing regimen, since its effectiveness in suppressing appetite is well established. A dosage of at least 500 mg/day may be required, making this supplement similar in cost to Hoodia. Typical side effects of 5-HTP include mood elevation, prevention of insomnia, and vivid dreams. General cautions: These and other supplements and drugs often have unexpected interactions when used in combination with each other. It makes sense to proceed cautiously when beginning a new regimen — start with small doses and build up to the desired dosage levels over a period of days or even weeks. A liver function test would also be a good idea for those who start a regimen containing an anabolic steroid like 1-T, to make sure that the liver is coping adequately with this unusually powerful hormone. Comments on the anti-drug crusade:The U.S. Congress and the President have passed legislation that will criminalize the sale of nearly all anabolic hormones and prohormones starting on January 15, 2005. This is yet another step in this country’s march toward totalitarianism. The lackwits who run the U.S. government no longer care whether substances are harmful or helpful, or whether people’s basic freedoms are being trampled on, or whether the War-on-Drugs is a dismal, hopeless failure as a method for dealing with drug problems — they now feel free to criminalize any substance and any activity that has been sufficiently demonized in the mass media. Politicians from both the Republican and Democratic Parties are to blame for this legislation and for most of the other laws that stole from us our right to make our own decisions about our own lives. A hatred of personal freedom runs rampant in the political arena, and manifests itself in the thinking of conservatives and liberals alike. The march toward totalitarianism is being driven by both ends of the political spectrum, as well as by the center. If we think of the Democrats and the Republicans as two sides of the same counterfeit political coin, we see that we should be looking elsewhere for political leaders. — Dr. Alexis Zarkov, Ph.D. You can contact Dr. Zarkov at AskDrZarkov@yahoo.com. Last modified 2004.Dec.31 ReferencesReview article about 1-testosterone A somewhat balanced discussion of 1-T and similar supplements Chronological summary of development of Hoodia as a weight-loss product Frequently Asked Questions about Hoodia Effect of glucomannan on obese patients: a clinical study. Int J Obes. 1984;8(4):289-93. Glucomannan: properties and therapeutic applications. Nutr Hosp. 2004 Jan-Feb;19(1):45-50. Disclaimer: The information provided in this “Ask Dr. Zarkov” article contains no medical advice whatsoever — it contains ‘biological information’. Nothing in the article constitutes an effort to persuade readers to use, or not to use, this biological information as a basis for action. |
Back in 1999, when I was dangerously fat, I used Ephedra supplements to lose 50 lbs. But ephedra was banned in 2004, and now
I’m packing on the fat again. Are there other dietary supplements that are effective for getting rid of body fat?
Yes, there are a number of supplements with proven effectiveness for reducing body fat — most of them are listed below. Many
other supplements are being sold as fat reducers, but have doubtful effectiveness — I won’t bother to list these.
Nutraceuticals
and nootropics
for anti-aging
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