The Shape-Up Review

Caffeine- The bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid caffeine is found in tea, coffee, soft drinks, chocolates, pain relievers, and a variety of over the counter medications. It is a psychoactive stimulant drug that causes increased alertness by stimulating the central nervous system. For the same reason, many people feel more energetic after consuming it. It even elevates the mood but these effects do not last for long. The effects of caffeine usually last for about five to six hours, though caffeine sensitivity varies from person to person. It has been found that people who consume lot of caffeine on a daily basis soon develop less sensitivity and may need to increase their intake to enjoy the same effect. Being a diuretic, a person consuming caffeine may have to urinate more often.

Chromium Picolinate is, besides chromium polynicotinate, a nutritional supplement designed to avoid or treat chromium deficiency. Insulin requires some modest levels of chromium in order to utilize glucose in healthy individuals. There is no record of chromium deficiency occurrences in regular population, only prolonged dieters in clinically observed and controlled obesity reduction treatments have registered any. Clinical trials have suggested that chromium picolinate may have antidepressant qualities, when applied to patients with atypical depression. Further observation signaled a reduction in carbohydrate cravings and seemed to regulate appetite. These results led to the incorporation of chromium picolinate into supplements for athletes who are working on body development and are looking to lose weight. It has been also observed that chromium picolinate is able to boost the blood levels of insulin for a limited time.

Green Tea Extract- Camellia sinensis, or more commonly the tea plant is a genus of flowering plants which is generally being used to produce tea, including green tea, oolong, black tea, white tea and pu-erh tea, also called Bolay tea. The different oxidation process makes the final difference. Tea plants can grow out into a tree, but are generally pruned to allow for easy hand picking. While camellia sinensis is being cultivated all around the globe in tropical and subtropical regions, this South and Southeast Asian native is most popular when imported from India and China. Medical uses of tea stem from the traditional Chinese medicine, where it was used as a bronchodilator and to treat angina pectoris, coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular diseases. Green tea extract is used as appetite suppressant and thermogenesis increasing agent.

Guggulsterone- Commiphora wightii, or the so called Guggul tree is a flowering shrub or rather a small tree which can grow up to a size of 4 meters. Once very common in India, it is now there listed as endangered, but not in northern Africa or elsewhere in central Asia. It was very popular in the Indian Ayurvedic medicine, but also currently in the western medicine for treating of heart problems. The hydrocarbon secretion of Guggul contains a plant sterol, guggulsterone, which in the human body seems to act as an antagonist to the farnesoid X receptor. Furthermore, guggulsterone is active in increasing the natural thyroid production. This in turn stimulates the metabolism and may raise the body temperature, burning stored excess fat.

Kola Nut, bitter brown seed that contains caffeine. Once used to make cola soft drinks, Kola Nut has been replaced by artificial flavourings in most beverages.

L-Phenylalanine gained notoriety with the aspartame controversy where extensive internet bombardment against the artificial sweetener prompted a thorough cleaning by The Coca Cola Company and other interest groups. Now it seems that aspartame has more benefits to health than aspirin. L-Phenylalanine is an essential alpha amino acid that is deemed analgesic and antidepressant. It is hydrophobic and nonpolar, one of only twenty common amino acids that are used to produce protein as coded by the DNA. L-Phenylalanine can also convert into L-Tyrosine, which can then become L-DOPA, going forth to become norepinephrine, dopamine or epinephrine. Phenylalanine is very often found in foods, protein rich foods like meat, milk and milk products, poultry and fish, but also as already mentioned in the artificial sweetener aspartame.

Theobromine, which is a mild diuretic and mild stimulant. Theobromine can be found in cocoa and chocolate products. Theobromine is most commonly used for its diuretic effect.

Vitamin B12- Also called Riboflavin, B2 is a water absorbed vitamin of which the body must replenish its supplies each day as it cannot be stored. It is necessary for the production of red blood cells and, like the other B vitamins, it works at supporting it supports energy production by helping in the metabolism of various foods.B2 is required for healthy skin as well as hair growth, the nails and has a role in regulating the activity of the thyroid gland. It is also necessary in order that the body can process amino acids found in proteins and fats and to activate vitamin B6 and folic acid.

Vitamin B16

White Willow Bark, or Salix alba, is a willow commonly found in Europe and adjacent parts of western and central Asia. The bark of the White Willow has been used for centuries against fevers and to ease pains and aches. Already Hippocrates wrote about the White Willow bark powder two thousand five hundred years ago. The active ingredient of the White Willow bark is called salicin, a relative to aspirin and chemical derivative of the salicylic acid. When ingested, salicin is converted to salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid. As a nutritional supplement, White Willow products are being propagated as weight loss additives, whereby the scientific community has yet to provide any corroboration to this allegation. Besides the well known anti inflammatory characteristics, any other uses have not been approved by the FDA.