Are you getting concerned about your weight? Several companies produce pills that they claim to be effective in weight loss. One of such pill is Hydroxycut. In this review, we focus on Hydroxycut and find out whether its weight loss claim is genuine.
What Is Hydroxycut?
Hydroxycut refers to some supplements that can help you in losing weight. The supplements are availed as gummies, shakes, capsules, and pills.
The most important ingredients in Hydroxycut include:
- Alchemilla Vulgaris
- Caffeine
- Cuminumcyminum
- Olea europaea
- Vaccinium myrtillus
Hydroxycut also contains vitamin C, calcium and a variety of other ingredients in insignificant quantities.
How Hydroxycut Works?
The several ingredients found in Hydroxycut work together in helping to achieve weight loss if it is consumed. Caffeine is the most important ingredient in Hydroxycut.
The results from many studies have shown that by consuming caffeine, you can boost your metabolism by up to 11 percent. Additionally, caffeine also aids in fat burning.
Studies on Hydroxycut
The claim that Hydroxycut can help in weight reduction has made it undergo several scientific scrutinies.
A study was conducted on 78 people who were overweight. They were made to take Hydroxycut pills daily for 2 months. The results showed that Hydroxycut pills helped them to reduce weight.
In another study, only the effects of other ingredients of Hydroxycut minus caffeine were tested.
The study took three weeks and it was randomized. It involved 34 obese or overweight people. Those who participated were made to take a placebo or a Hydroxycut extract 30 minutes before meals.
The participants were never asked to exercise or diet but were instructed not to snack but to take 3 meals every day.
The results were interesting:
Those who took the Hydroxycut supplement managed to lose an average of 9.5 pounds, while those in the control group lost only an average of 1.8 pounds.
When their BMIs were calculated, it was found that those who were obese and took the Hydroxycut supplement moved from being obese to being overweight. There wasn’t any significant change in the control group.
Additionally, the study found out that using Hydroxycut had no inauspicious effects on the participants – neither serious nor minor.
The results of the two studies above clearly indicate that Hydroxycut is effective in weight loss.
Dosage, How to Use It and Its Side Effects
The recommended dose of Hydroxycut is one pill 3x per day for a start. After 4 days, you can increase the number of pills to two and take them 3x daily.
A higher dosage of Hydroxycut is not recommended because it increases the chances of experiencing side effects.
The dosage recommendation varies from one product to another. Therefore, it is recommended that you carefully go through the instructions before you start using Hydroxycut pills. You also need to take Hydroxycut pills only when recommended by a doctor.
The side effects of Hydroxycut include diarrhea, nausea, anxiety, insomnia, etc. Most of the side effects are caused by caffeine. If you use Hydroxycut for long, you may become tolerant. So, it is better to cycle the product by going on and off every four weeks.
If you are caffeine-sensitive, you can either avoid Hydroxycut or use the version that’s caffeine-free.
Is Hydroxycut Toxic?
Hydroxycut was found to comprise of ephedra which is a very strong stimulant. Later, the FDA banned ephedra because it made those who consumed Hydroxycut to have significant side effects.
Unfortunately, about 155 people died as a result of using ephedra-containing supplements. This led to the recalling of the product in 2009, more so because there were other several cases of liver poisoning (hepatotoxicity) reported on those who used it. The users also reported some other adverse effects associated with the supplement.
However, in 2010, Hydroxycut was allowed back into the market after its formula was changed. The toxicity and other adverse effects were as a result of the bad formulations that were used in the past. It is now safe to use Hydroxycut but still, you must do so under the strict supervision of your doctor.
Many studies on Hydroxycut have shown that it is safe and effective for use as a weight loss agent. The modern version has undergone several studies and laboratory tests to prove that it is safe. The fact that is was allowed back into the market is a clear testimony that all the ingredients that were harmful in the older versions have been eliminated.
All in all, the use of any weight loss supplement or pills should only be recommended by a doctor. Also, when Hydroxycut pills are prescribed for you, ensure you source them from a trusted and certified supplier.