NeuroTRIM, The Miracle Supplement?

While flipping through a magazine at the grocery yesterday (my guilty celebrity pleasure fix), I noticed an article on successful weight loss. I couldn't help myself. Most of the ideas were great - eat more vegetables, eat oatmeal, walk more, etc. Then, there was a suggestion to drink NeuroTRIM followed by pics of many celebs drinking the nutritional supplement. (I personally can't stand celebs using their fame and frames to market dietary supplements and fad diets, but I of course had to look this one up!)

I am definitely going to do everything she does.
Genius this one.

Here's the scoop. NeuroTRIM is one of many products from Neuro, a line of dietary supplement drinks. NeuroTRIM's claim to fame is Luralean, a Japanese fiber from the konjac root. It supposedly swells to 200 times its size in the stomach giving someone the feeling of satiety, making them eat less. It is also supposed to collect particles of fat and carbohydrates that have not been digested yet, and pull them through your system as well. So, so far, I'm reading that NeuroTRIM is a glorified laxative. I keep going, though. I then try to research Luralean. Well, turns out that this is a company that makes a "purified" form of glucomannan, the actual substance considered a fiber that is from the konjac plant. Luralean is claiming that their product is more purified than just your average glucamannon (that is found in countless dietary supplements). However, keep in mind that because this is a dietary supplement, it is not regulated by the FDA, meaning that claims can be meaningless. On their website, it says the product has been involved in over 60 clinical trials and 14 safety tests. I can't find them anywhere.

So, what sounds like a miracle, may be far from it. The issue with continuous use of laxatives is that they can't tell the difference between nutrients you don't need (like saturated fat) and nutrients you do need (like Omega 3's and 6's, and vitamins A, D, E, and K. Because of this, you begin to under nutrient yourself causing more problems than before.

"What kind of laxative did you want, Mariah?"

Here's a thought!!! Instead of buying and using a product that will help you shoot whole fat particles out your butt, try eating less fat! Ahhhhhh, genius you say? I know. Can't stay satisfied throughout the day? Try adding in healthy snacks full of natural fiber from whole grain products, fruits and veggies!!