Although completely eliminating carbohydrates from our diet isn’t the ultimate solution to weight loss, there can be great benefits reaped from reducing or generally controlling the carbs we consume on a daily basis.
Controlling carbohydrate is especially important for those of us who are already obese or heavily overweight. The reason for this is that our bodies become increasingly resistant to the effects of insulin, essentially causing our bodies to preferentially store glucose in our fat cells.
But what if there was a way to blunt the effects of insulin by preventing the glucose from reaching our bloodstream in the first place?
This is where white kidney bean extract comes into play.
How Does White Kidney Bean Extract Work?
White kidney bean extract is what is known as a carb blocker or starch blocker because it prevent our bodies from being able to digest and absorb carbohydrates.
The enzyme known as amylase which is responsible for digesting starches and sugars is blocked from being produced by the white kidney bean extract so that the carbohydrates you eat are able to pass right through your body without being digested.
Not only does this reduce your overall caloric intake throughout the day but it also prevents the indirect effect that carbs have on your insulin and blood glucose levels.
To illustrate this we will look to a 2011 study published in the Nutrition Journal which showed how white kidney bean acts as an alpha-amylase inhibitor The researchers state that white kidney bean extract, “prevents starch digestion by completely blocking access to the active site of the alpha-amylase enzyme.” The study concludes with the following statement: “[white kidney bean] reduces the rate of absorption of carbohydrates, thereby reducing the GI of foods. The evidence also indicates […] weight loss when taken concurrently with meals containing carbohydrates. […] Reducing the post-prandial spikes of glucose and insulin following a high GI meal may also reduce the risks of developing insulin resistance, which can lead to cardiovascular disease.” So we can clearly see that there are numerous benefits to be gained from supplementing white kidney bean extract; let’s explore these benefits a little more in-depth. It follows that if you are eating a diet from which a large proportion of calories are coming from calories, while simultaneously taking a supplement that blocks the absorption of said calories, you are going to be far more successful in your weight loss efforts. This was demonstrated by an interesting study published in the Journal of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine in 2007 which showed how, “[…] subjects who ate the most carbohydrates experienced a significant reduction in both weight and waist size with the addition of the white bean extract compared to the placebo group of the same tertile of carbohydrate consumption.[2]“ The effects noted above are typically seen in individuals taking an average of 1,000mg of white kidney bean extract twice per day. The reason that blocking carbohydrates specifically is so beneficial as opposed to blocking more essential nutrients such as fats and proteins is that it plays far more vital role in the treatment of obesity and type II diabetes. Eating a diet high in sugars and refined carbohydrates is risky business, especially if you are already overweight and your body’s cells are not insulin sensitive. Blocking carbohydrates will enable you to lose body fat over a period of time, thereby increasing your insulin sensitivity and improving your body’s ability to handle carbohydrates once you have reached a healthy weight and feel ready to cease use of a carb blocker. To reiterate, the benefits of white kidney bean extract can be summarised as such: All of these benefits essentially amount to the same thing, which is a fitter, leaner, healthier body for you to enjoy with greater longevity and reduced incidences of disease and illness. There is, however, one thing we have to take into consideration before making a final decision to use white kidney bean extract, and it is that of safety and side effects. You’ll be pleased to know that the safety of white kidney bean extract supplements is well established for the general population. To emphasize this we only have to look to a statement from a 2009 study published in the Nutrition Journal which reads as follows: “All of the dosages and formulations appeared to be well tolerated as there were no differences in the responses to the 10 point Likert scale for gastric effects. No adverse events were observed or reported during the study.[3]” From this we can gather that gastrointestinal side effects are not likely to occur, but there is still the issue of overall toxicity, which was shown to not be an issue in a different 2007 study published in the Journal of Food and Chemical toxicology. This study clearly states that “[there] were no mortalities, clinical signs, body weight or nutritional effects, gross alterations, clinical or histopathological alterations that were considered attributable to [white kidney bean] administration.[4]” So there we have it; white kidney bean extract is safe and well tolerated. It is important to note that no single supplement is going to result in sudden and miraculous weight loss, but supplementing a controlled diet with regular exercise and a carb block such as white kidney bean extract can definitely help you along the way! [1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3071778/ [2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17658120 [3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2776021/ [4] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17045383 Image Credits: © KaterinaLin DepositphotosWhat are the Benefits of White Kidney Bean Extract?
Is White Kidney Bean Extract Safe to Use?
Conclusion
Leave A Comment