Author Archives: Lara Knight

PHD Woman Body Sculpt – Positives and negatives

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PHD Woman Body SculptPHD Woman Body Sculpt is a supplement produced in the UK by PHD Woman.

The company produces a number of other supplements and all of them are aimed at women who live very energetic lifestyles.

Body Sculpt is no exception because the marketing material states it is designed for “the active woman” and to “aid with an effective weight management plan and sensible training regime”.

Advertised Benefits

PHD woman don’t really explain what benefits customers can expect, they merely provide a kind of product overview:

  • For the active woman
  • Research proven ingredients
  • High Caffeine formula
  • Green tea extract
  • Alpha lipoic acid

Claims: To be ideal for the active to help aid weight loss with an effective weight management plan

Positives: Reputable company (based in Yorkshire), good set of ingredients.

Negatives: Biggest negative is that it competes with PhenQ

What is Body Sculpt and How Does it Work

PHD Woman fail to state how the formulation is designed to work, but the fact that they are so quick to point out the presence of caffeine and green tea suggest it may be intended to be, first and foremost, a fat burner and energy provider.

Key Ingredients

Two capsules contain:

  • Caffeine anhydrous (200mg): Although caffeine’s ability to provide extra energy is well known, as is its power to boost mental focus, these are not generally the main reason why it is added to diet supplements. Caffeine is also a natural appetite suppressant and it has been scientifically proven capable of assisting weight loss by encouraging thermogenic fat burning.
  • Green tea extract (100mg): A popular diet pill ingredient with proven abilities, green tea contains catechins that have the ability to boost the metabolism and encourage the body to begin burning its stores of fat. Green tea is also rich in antioxidants that can help protect the body from disease and support good health, so it is a good all-rounder that can assist the body in numerous ways.
  • Phosphatidylserine (100mg): A compound that is present in white beans and meat. Phosphatidylserine is often added to bodybuilding supplements because it is believed to encourage speedier post-exercise recovery rates, but the amount included here may not be sufficient to produce good results.
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid (50mg): ALA is an antioxidant that is found in many foods. The body can also manufacture its own ALA, but supplements that provide additional ALA are not without merit because its presence is required in all the cells of the body and an abundance of ALA helps the muscles to absorb glucose more easily. This results in an energy boost that many dieters/gym-goers can find very useful.
  • DMAE Bitartrate (50mg): Sometimes called dimethylaminoethanol bitartrate, DMAE Bitartrate is a chemical that is necessary for the production of acetylcholine (neurotransmitter). Supplement manufacturers often add DMAE Bitartrate to their formulations because its presence is reputed to boost athletic performance. However, we were only able to find one study that (partially) supports such a claim and DMAE Bitartrate was used, alongside vitamins and minerals, to support the abilities of natural ginseng. The Body Sculpt formulation does not contain ginseng.
  • Ginger Powder (25mg): A versatile cooking spice that can be very soothing when taken as a natural remedy for an upset stomach. The results of one study, conducted at the Institute of Human Nutrition (Columbia University, New York) suggest supplementation with ginger may support weight loss by providing a feeling of satiety and enhancing thermogenesis. However, the study was conducted on men, so a study conducted on female volunteers is much to be desired.
  • Dandelion Root (25mg): Although dandelion root often finds its way into weight loss supplements it has no proven ability in this regard. It has a good reputation as a diuretic though, so it can be useful for reducing the amount of water that is present in the body. This will undoubtedly lead to some degree of weight loss, but it is important not to confuse this with fat loss and to be aware the body’s water levels will return to normal when supplementation is stopped.
Usage Guidelines – Two capsules should be consumed once or twice per day and one of the doses must be take half-an-hour before exercise is commenced. No other instructions are provided.

Customer Testimonials

At the time of this review, we were unable to locate a sufficient amount of customer testimonials anywhere online.

Side Effects & Health Issues

No side effects have been reported, but the manufacturer is quick to point out the folly of exceeding the recommended dosage and also asks customers to bear in mind the caffeine content of the capsules makes them unsuitable for use late at night. Apart from than no other health warnings are offered, but pregnant or nursing mothers should always err on the side of caution and avoid taking any form of supplement that has not been approved by their doctor. The same advice is offered to people who have existing health problems and to anyone who is taking medication and/or other supplements.

Guarantee

There is no money back guarantee.

Where to Buy Body Sculpt

It is possible to purchase Body Sculpt directly from the manufacturer’s website and a (60 capsule) bottle has a price tag of £21.99. It is also possible to purchase the pills from Boots and, at the time of this review, the Boots price was considerably cheaper at just £16.49.

Recommended Alternative

PhenQ Phentermine alternativePhenQ is arguably the best selling diet pill currently especially as the UK and Ireland is concerned. It is also extremely popular in the United States, Canada and Australia.

PhenQ is the multi benefit fat burner, fat blocker and appetite suppressor that Utilises a-Lacys Reset, Capsimax, Chromium Picolinate and Nopal – four highly effective weight loss ingredients.

Read the report on PhenQ here and find out how it could help you lose weight

 

Phen700 Review – Positives and Negatives

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Phen700 diet pillPhen700 is a rebranded version of Phentemine, which should not be confused with the prescription-only weight loss drug Phentermine. If you are finding it hard to spot the difference between the two names, Phentermine has a letter “R”. Phentemine does not, but its sound-alike nature is unlikely to be an accident, many diet pill manufacturers produce “Phen . . .[fill in the blanks]“ products to try and entice people who are searching for an online Phentermine supplier or a safe and legal alternative to this effective, but addictive, prescription medication.

According to the manufacturer (Health and Wellness Online LLC), Phen 700 “now contains the strongest fat burning and appetite suppressants to achieve the greatest results within the least amount of time”.

Claims: To be able to increase metabolic rate, suppress appetite, and aid fat burning

Positives: One of two good ingredients

Negatives: Not well received it has to be said

What Phen 700 Is Advertised To Do

  • Suppresses the appetite
  • Provides a faster metabolism
  • Increases the body’s fat burning ability
  • Lose an average of 3 to 6 pounds per week

Health and Wellness Online also make a few more claim for their product and they are more unusual in nature:

  • Reduced aches and pains
  • Overall contentment
  • General mobility
  • Greater self confidence
  • Better appearance
  • Enhanced sex drive
  • More enthusiasm for life
  • Greater opportunities to enjoy life

Key Ingredients & Blend Potential

Phen 700 contains unspecified amounts of the following six ingredients:

  • Phenylethylamine: Often referred to as PEA, phenylethylamine is an ingredient derived from the amino acid phenylalanine. It is often added to diet supplements in the belief that its presence will boost alertness and aid concentration. It is also believed to be useful for enhancing the mood.
  • Synephrine: A popular fat burning ingredient. Synephrine’s ability to support weight loss has been subjected to numerous studies. Experts at Creighton University Medical Centre (Omaha, USA), reviewed the data from a number of these studies and confirmed synephrine’s ability to “increase resting metabolic rate and energy expenditure”, but the study subjects received 10-53 mg of synephrine per day. The amount included here is not known.
  • Caffeine: One of the most popular diet pill ingredients in the world. Caffeine’s most obvious value is as an energy provider, and extra energy is always handy when following a low-calorie diet. However caffeine is also a proven fat burner, so its presence here, presuming an adequate quantity, could serve a double purpose.
  • Yohimbine extract: The results of some studies show supplementation with yohimbine can cause an increase in free fatty acids in the blood. This suggests the ingredient may encourage lipolysis.
  • Inositol niacinate: A form of niacin that can dilate the blood vessels slightly and encourage improved circulation.
  • Nettle Leaf extract: A diuretic that is often used as a treatment for bloating caused by water retention. It will not encourage true weight loss, but nettle leaf extract may create the illusion of such by lowering the percentage of water the body carries.
How to Take Phen 700 – designed to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise. This is made clear on the official website, but we were unable to find any information about the required dosage. However, bearing in mind the fact a bottle of Phen 700 contains 30 capsules we are assuming the dosage is probably one capsule per day for a month.

Customer Feedback

We were unable to find any customer feedback for this product.

Side Effects, Health Issues & Supplementary Information

Health and Wellness Online states Phen 700 “does not have the negative side effects associated with the original diet pills [presumably Phentermine]”. No other health advisory is offered, but the product is unlikely to be suitable for pregnant or nursing mothers. People who have existing health problems or are taking medication should always err on the side of safety and consult their GP prior to taking any new form of dietary supplement.

Guarantee

Although Phen700 appears to be sold with a 30 day money back guarantee, dissatisfied customers may find it hard to get their money back because the offer of a refund comes with strings attached.

In order to be eligible for a refund customers must have taken Phen 700 for 30 days and use it in conjunction with the recommended diet plan and regular exercise. They must also provide a copy of their completed diet plan, showing daily logs of their weight. After the 30 days have been completed customers then have 15 days to make their claim and provide Health and Wellness Online with the necessary information to prove they have not lost any weight.

However things are more complicated than they seem because the Phen 700 website does not appear to provide a link to the necessary diet plan.

Where To Buy Phen700

Phen 700 is only available from the manufacturer’s website and there are several purchasing options available. Customers who opt to buy a single (30 capsule) bottle of Phen 700 pay $67 (£47) and it is possible to buy two bottles for $127 (£89) or three bottles for $197 (£138).

The Bottom Line

PhenQ what does it doAlthough some of the claims are a bit wild, the blend contains a few good ingredients so, on the face of it, Phen 700 could have the potential to support weight loss, presuming adequate inclusion rates.

Unfortunately it is an expensive product and customers who are unhappy may find it ridiculously hard to obtain a refund. This does not compare well to competing products, such as PhenQ for example, that are sold with a no quibble 60 day money back guarantee.

Read more on PhenQ by clicking here

Blocking The Hunger Hormone Using A New Weight Loss Injection – Bariatric Arterial Embolization

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weight loss injection for hunger hormone

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA are working on a new weight loss procedure called Bariatric Arterial Embolisation that reduces hunger levels by limiting the body’s ability to produce the “hunger hormone” grelin. Early trials have produced promising results and the researches at John Hopkins say the procedure is “minimally invasive” and safe.

What is Grelin?

Grelin is a hormone that is produced in several parts of the body including the brain, pancreas, and small intestine; but most of the body’s grelin comes from an area of the stomach called the fundus (located near the oesophagus).

Grelin performs numerous functions within the body, and has a role to play in the production of growth hormone, but it is generally deemed the “hunger hormone” because it stimulates the appetite. Unfortunately, when people embark on a low calorie diet, in the hopes of losing weight, grelin production increases. This is one of the reasons sticking to a diet can be such hard work.

How Does Bariatric Arterial Embolisation Work?

Bariatric Arterial Embolisation involves injecting microscopic beads into the body. The beads are supplied via a small catheter that is inserted into a small incision in the groin or wrist and the researchers at John Hopkins believe the presence of the beads in the fundus will restrict the supply of blood to the area and this will have a negative effect on grelin production.

Stomach pictures

Clinical Trials

The results of an early study called Bariatric Embolization of Arteries for the Treatment of Obesity (BEAT) were promising.

Seven people (1 man & 6 women) were involved in the study and it ran for duration of six months. All of the study subjects were aged 31 to 50 and had a body mass index (BMI) that was between 40 and 50. The threshold for obesity is 30, so the subjects were severely overweight , but they were in otherwise good health.

The researchers monitored the study group regularly and noted their response to the procedure.

Areas monitored include:

  • Hunger & satiety
  • Grelin levels
  • Weight loss
  • Negative reactions

After three months of treatment the study group showed an average grelin reduction of 17.5%. Hunger levels were monitored by the use of questionnaires and, by this point the average hunger reduction was 26%. However the the amount of hunger reduction experienced in the earlier stages of the study was much higher.

  • 2 weeks: 81%
  • 1 Month: 59%

Future Potential

Although the results of the above study are promising, research is still in the early stages and it is unlikely Bariatric Arterial Embolisation will be approved for use any time soon. However, research at John Hopkins is ongoing and further studies are being conducted at Mount Sinai Health System in New York.

Dr Clifford Weiss, Director of Interventional Radiology Research (Johns Hopkins) believes the treatment has a lot of promise for treating patients who need to lose a significant amount of weight in the short and intermediate term. “We’re excited about the possibility of adding bariatric arterial embolisation as another tool for health care providers to offer patients in the effort to curb this epidemic [obesity],” Weiss stated.

Concluding Thoughts

Women lost weightDr Weiss’ use of the word “epidemic” is very apt because obesity is increasing on a global scale and the world is filled with overweight people who want to lose weight, but consistently fail in their attempts to diet. This is a very unfortunate situation because obesity can lead to numerous health problems including, diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes. This places a tremendous burden on health care systems and figures provided by Public Health England suggest the indirect costs related to the treatment of obese patients may have cost the NHS up to £27 billion in 2015.

Despite the claim that Bariatric Arterial Embolisation is “minimally invasive”, it still does not sound like a particularly pleasant experience, but compared to gastric band surgery and some of the other more extreme weight loss measures that are sometimes used to treat the extremely obese, a small incision in the groin is nothing.

Read about Diet products available on prescription