The Healthy Skeptic: Trimspa and Anna Nicole Smith Part II
Published January 20, 2006
Here's part two of my look at the supplemental members of the Trimspa family of products, Lipospa and Carbspa.
Lipospa is billed as a supplement that in some way will lessen the negative effects on your diet in the event that you have a fatty "treat" every once in a while. Actually, there isn't too much information about this product on the Trimspa web site. They do instruct users to take these capsules 5 minutes before eating a fatty meal - fast foods, take out foods, foods with oil or butter - and chase it with an 8 ounce glass of water.
Based on the ingredients of Lipospa, I can kind of guess what the Trimspa people want you to think will happen if you take this stuff. Lipospa consists of Vitamin C and Chitosan. There's nothing new to know about Vitamin C so let's look at the Chitosan.
Chitosan - in addition to being a primary source of Glucosamine - is basically considered a dietary fiber. Over the years supplement makers have alleged since Chitosan binds itself to fat molecules in the intestines and blocks absorption that this somehow results in weight loss. There is not any scientific evidence to support this assertion.
There are some indications that Chitosan can help reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), but the studies performed on animal subjects have produced better results than the human trials. Worth noting is that in both animal and human Chitosan trials the most significant results were found with subjects that were suffering from renal failure.
There is no reliable data available to support statements that Chitosan has any curative or other effects including any effects on the immune system.
And the Vitamin C is probably included in this mix so the makers of Trimspa can say that this stuff is good for you.
Carbspa is supposed to protect you from the negative effects that a carbohydrate binge might have on your diet. As with Lipospa, we don't get a whole lot of detail here, but again the dosing instructions are the same, but now we take these capsules before a high carbohydrate meal.
Based on the ingredients of Carbspa, the Trimspa people are really asking for us to take a huge leap of faith here if we're to believe that this stuff can actually work. The ingredients in Lipospa are, Chromium, White Kidney Bean Extract and Vanadium.
- The Healthy Skeptic: Trimspa and Anna Nicole Smith Part II
- Published: January 20, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Sci/Tech
- Filed Under: Sci/Tech: Science
- Part of a feature: The Healthy Skeptic
- Writer: Sal Marinello
- Sal Marinello's BC Writer page
- Sal Marinello's personal site
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Comments
the sad thing is that this information is "well-known" yet people still take the bait...
Lots of people aren't really people. They're sheeple. They'll buy into anything, no matter how illogical, as long as some celebrity offers a (paid) endorsement... :-/
I have started taking trimspaX32 8 days ago. I am eating healthy. I am not hungry all the time and I feel wonderful. I feel like it is gonna work. It doesnt have anything to do anna nicole.
Sal,
I have taken that Trimspa x32 with success.
So Iam willing to give them the Ok.
Why are you so negative on them there is something
in that product that worked for me. I have tried
everything else. (Hoodia?)Columbus Ohio
trimspa is garbage a) because there isn't a proven ingredient in the list and b) especially since the FTC has ruled that trimspa has used false and misleading advertising in promoting their products.


Sal Marinello is a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer, a U.S.A. Weightlifting Certified Coach, a full-time, private Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach, an assistant football coach and a Head Strength Coach for a suburban New Jersey High School. He writes a lot and has no free time. 

You mean...gasp! The key to losing weight isn't to be found in a pill?
Whatever will the pseudo-drug companies do if this information becomes well-known? :-/