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Doctor Reviews: Fitspresso

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Fitspresso is a supplement you’re supposed to take with your coffee to “create the most potent weight loss solution on planet Earth.” Now this already sounds insane, and whenever you hear insane claims, you should immediately question the validity of the remaining claims they make. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do in this review.

Ingredients of Fitspresso

The suggested intake is one capsule per day alongside your regular cup of coffee. Now, let’s break down each ingredient.

Fitspresso-review-ingredients
Ingredients of Fitspresso supplement

We’ll investigate if the dosage is adequate, check if they contain the crucial active components for effectiveness, and assess their potential impact on weight loss.

Chromium and zinc

Chromium and zinc play crucial roles in our body’s metabolism. These minerals may hold potential benefits, especially for those managing diabetes, aiding in blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.

Chromium, in particular, has been linked to a slight reduction in weight. However, this effect is quite minimal, resulting in an average loss of about one pound over several months. It’s worth noting that these weight benefits are more likely to be observed in individuals dealing with metabolic issues like diabetes and PCOS.

For those in good overall health, chromium supplementation may not show any noticeable impact on weight beyond the power of the placebo effect. It’s essential to understand that adding chromium to your routine is unlikely to lead to significant weight changes.

While we do see positive effects on blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes or PCOS, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the doses of chromium and zinc in Fitspresso are relatively low. As a result, any potential effects, if present, might go largely unnoticed.

Alpha-lipoic acid

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), is a natural antioxidant our body produces that’s crucial for supporting certain enzymes involved in energy metabolism.

Research suggests that taking ALA supplements within the range of 300-1800 mg daily for periods spanning from 2 to 48 weeks might lead to slight weight reductions. Interestingly, it’s not a straightforward correlation where more ALA or a longer duration equals more weight loss. This raises a couple of interesting points.

Firstly, there could be a point of saturation in the body. Beyond a certain ALA level, additional doses might not bring extra weight loss benefits. This level likely varies among individuals. Secondly, different people may respond differently to ALA based on their unique characteristics, metabolism, and overall health. This means that ALA might be more beneficial for specific individuals, with varying outcomes in terms of speed and amount of weight loss.

In Fitspresso, however, the provided 75 mg of alpha-lipoic acid is notably lower than the suggested 300-1800 mg daily range for potential weight loss benefits. Therefore, it’s unlikely that the ALA in Fitspresso will have a significant impact on weight loss as per the existing research.

Green tea

Green tea extracts are packed with a compound known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This compound collaborates with caffeine, working to boost fat utilization and oxidation during your workout sessions. But, here’s the catch – you might need a substantial amount of EGCG to truly tap into these benefits.

A comprehensive analysis of 25 trials discovered that folks who combined green tea extract with caffeine witnessed an average weight loss of 1.8 kg over a span of 12 weeks. The magic, however, happened for those sipping on about 500-800 mg of catechins daily. If your doses fall below 500 mg of EGCG, the perks for weight or fat loss don’t seem as promising. Considering Fitspresso offers a modest 75 mg per day, it’s safe to say that the supplement is unlikely to deliver these specific benefits.

Berberine

Berberine has an ability to regulate blood sugar levels, and is especially beneficial for those grappling with diabetes. This unique feature not only aids in blood sugar control but also holds promise for potential weight loss. How? By improving the transformation of carbohydrates into energy rather than storing them as fat. So, if you’re dealing with blood sugar concerns, berberine could be your ally in shedding some extra weight.

Various studies point to a modest weight loss effect in individuals incorporating berberine into their routine, averaging around 3-5 pounds over a few months. It’s worth mentioning that these changes aren’t monumental, especially if you don’t already have existing blood sugar issues. The impact on your weight might fly under the radar.

Crucially, the observed weight changes were linked to a daily intake of 500 mg of berberine, taken 2-3 times a day, totaling 1000-1500 mg daily. Now, Fitspresso offers just 50 mg per day, falling significantly short of the 1000-1500 mg range needed to potentially witness these benefits. It’s essential to keep these dosage details in mind when considering the weight loss aspects of berberine in Fitspresso.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a specific type of polyphenol found in foods like red wine, grape juice, nuts, and berries.

According to a comprehensive analysis of 28 clinical trials, individuals taking resveratrol witnessed a tiny weight reduction of about 0.5 kg when consuming around 500 mg daily for at least 3 months. Now, 0.5 kg might not sound like a big deal, and truth be told, most folks might not even notice such a small change in weight over a 3-month period.

Here’s the kicker – Fitspresso provides only 20 mg of resveratrol daily, a minuscule fraction of the amounts used in these studies. So, it’s pretty safe to say that the resveratrol in Fitspresso isn’t likely to make a noticeable impact.

Let’s dive into the remaining five ingredients in the unique blend of Fitspresso. I won’t delve too deep because their combined amount is only 56 mg per day, averaging about 11 mg each. To give you a visual, that’s roughly equivalent to the weight of 2-3 grains of sand for each ingredient. These doses are quite low, and despite some ingredients like L-carnitine showing potential uses in diabetes and weight loss, their impact might be limited at such small amounts.

Milk thistle

Commonly used to support liver health, milk thistle supplements containing the active compound silymarin may offer potential benefits for blood sugar control in individuals with diabetes.

Cayenne extract

Theoretical evidence from cell and animal studies hints at cayenne extracts supporting metabolism. However, when it comes to human studies, there’s no concrete evidence supporting its role in weight loss.

Panax ginseng and Banaba leaf extract

While these ingredients show weak evidence suggesting they might assist in blood sugar control for diabetics, there’s currently no substantial evidence supporting their role in weight loss.

L-Carnitine

L-carnitine seems most beneficial as an exercise aid, enhancing exercise intensity and duration. Whether this translates to weight loss depends on the type of exercises performed. Unfortunately, when taken outside of an exercise setting, L-carnitine doesn’t appear to have a significant effect on weight loss by itself.

Side Effects and Warnings

Let’s talk about potential side effects and warnings associated with Fitspresso. It’s crucial to be aware that certain ingredients, such as ALA and berberine, might interact with medications. ALA has the potential to influence blood sugar levels, possibly interacting with diabetes management medications.

Similarly, berberine may interfere with diabetic medications and could also affect medications processed by the liver. For individuals with diabetes who are on prescribed anti-diabetic medications, it’s essential to consult your doctor before considering this supplement.

Is Fitspresso Effective?

After analyzing its ingredients, Fitspresso is likely completely useless for weight loss. While the ingredients might be beneficial for aiding blood sugar control in diabetics, the main issue lies in the fact that the doses of these ingredients are too low to yield significant effects, regardless of their potential benefits. To reach a decent therapeutic dose, one might need to take around 6-10 pills per day, making it both expensive and impractical.

The supplement leans towards being similar to a chromium supplement, which, even on its own, offers modest benefits for weight loss and primarily aids in blood sugar control.

Interestingly, the suggestion to pair Fitspresso with coffee might indirectly acknowledge its limitations. The reality is that the coffee, not the supplement, could be the key factor in improving energy levels and helping some individuals increase the intensity and frequency of exercise for weight loss. While using Fitspresso with coffee might give the impression that the supplement is boosting energy, it’s crucial to recognize that it’s the coffee doing the heavy lifting. Adding Fitspresso to coffee likely won’t amplify the coffee’s effectiveness for weight loss or enhance your exercise routine beyond the coffee’s inherent benefits.

Overall review

Fitspresso-review-overall-summary-rating
Overall rating Fitspresso review summary

Rating Fitspresso by effectiveness for weight loss, I’m giving it an F. It won’t affect your weight. It tries to jam pack a number of ingredients, but uses doses that are far too low to do anything useful.

Rating it by cost, I’m giving it a F. You can obtain its benefits far cheaper by getting generics separately.

Rating it for safety, I’m giving it a C. Some of the ingredients may interfere with medications.

Overall rating, I’m giving an F. I would recommend you stay away from it.

Top alternatives to Fitspresso

If you’re looking to achieve similar effects, but better than those of Fitspresso, I would combine a quality:

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Citations

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Asbaghi O, Ghanbari N, Shekari M, et al. The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity parameters, inflammation and liver function enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020;38:43-49. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.04.010

Hsu CH, Liao YL, Lin SC, Tsai TH, Huang CJ, Chou P. Does supplementation with green tea extract improve insulin resistance in obese type 2 diabetics? A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. Altern Med Rev. 2011;16(2):157-163.

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Jang HH, Lee J, Lee SH, Lee YM. Effects of Capsicum annuum supplementation on the components of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):20912. Published 2020 Dec 1. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77983-2

Kucukgoncu S, Zhou E, Lucas KB, Tek C. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) as a supplementation for weight loss: results from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obes Rev. 2017;18(5):594-601. doi:10.1111/obr.12528

Lin Y, Shi D, Su B, et al. The effect of green tea supplementation on obesity: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2020;34(10):2459-2470. doi:10.1002/ptr.6697

Mielgo-Ayuso J, Pietrantonio L, Viribay A, Calleja-González J, González-Bernal J, Fernández-Lázaro D. Effect of Acute and Chronic Oral l-Carnitine Supplementation on Exercise Performance Based on the Exercise Intensity: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2021;13(12):4359. Published 2021 Dec 3. doi:10.3390/nu13124359

Mousavi SM, Milajerdi A, Sheikhi A, et al. Resveratrol supplementation significantly influences obesity measures: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obes Rev. 2019;20(3):487-498. doi:10.1111/obr.12775

Namazi N, Larijani B, Azadbakht L. Alpha-lipoic acid supplement in obesity treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Clin Nutr. 2018;37(2):419-428. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2017.06.002

Naseri K, Saadati S, Sadeghi A, et al. The Efficacy of Ginseng (Panax) on Human Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2022;14(12):2401. Published 2022 Jun 9. doi:10.3390/nu14122401

Onakpoya I, Posadzki P, Ernst E. Chromium supplementation in overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Obes Rev. 2013;14(6):496-507. doi:10.1111/obr.12026

Phung OJ, Baker WL, Matthews LJ, Lanosa M, Thorne A, Coleman CI. Effect of green tea catechins with or without caffeine on anthropometric measures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(1):73-81. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28157

Snitker S, Fujishima Y, Shen H, et al. Effects of novel capsinoid treatment on fatness and energy metabolism in humans: possible pharmacogenetic implications. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89(1):45-50. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.26561

Trent LK, Thieding-Cancel D. Effects of chromium picolinate on body composition. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1995;35(4):273-280.

Vajdi M, Abbasalizad Farhangi M. Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation significantly reduces the risk of obesity in an updated systematic review and dose response meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials. Int J Clin Pract. 2020;74(6):e13493. doi:10.1111/ijcp.13493

Volpe SL, Huang HW, Larpadisorn K, Lesser II. Effect of chromium supplementation and exercise on body composition, resting metabolic rate and selected biochemical parameters in moderately obese women following an exercise program. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001;20(4):293-306. doi:10.1080/07315724.2001.10719050

Voroneanu L, Nistor I, Dumea R, Apetrii M, Covic A. Silymarin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Diabetes Res. 2016;2016:5147468. doi:10.1155/2016/5147468


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