Natural Remedies for Losing Weight - Chitosan

This natural remedy for losing weight has a fascinating history and a ton of really useful things it is used for, not the least of which is supposedly being at fat attractant. One thing to note if you are considering trying this natural remedy for weight loss - if you have shellfish allergies do not take this product.

Chitosan is made from something called chitin - a starch found in shrimp, crab and other shellfish skeletons. It's most common uses are:
As a plant growth enhancer, and defender against fungal infections.
As a filtration component in water processing engineering that binds sediment and removes it. It also removes phosphorus, heavy minerals, and oils from water.
As a clarifying agent for wine, mead and beer that removes yeast cells, fruit particles etc
As a blood clotter, used in bandages. Hypoallergenic with natural anti-bacterial properties.

But, what about weight loss?
Where does Chitosan fit into losing weight. Here's where the fat attractent theory comes into play. It's frequently sold in health food stores and billed as a substance that attracts fat from the digestive system and expels it from the body. This in theory means a dieter could lose weight without eating less. Unfortunately, it appears to be just that, a theory. Research has shown unmodified Chitosan would possibly remove about 30 calories a day from a person's diet. Modified, this product boasts claims (mostly unsubstantiated) of absorbing from three to six times its weight in fat and oil.

Evidently initial trials with the product to test its effectiveness as a weight loss remedy were conducted on animals, not humans. So most of the speculation about what this product can or can not do is moot and just that, speculation. It seems most weight loss professionals agree that Chitosan doesn't do the job when it comes to weight loss. And what recent trials there have been only show no more weight loss than a person who took placebo sugar pills.

Chitosan (KITE-o-san). This dietary supplement is made from chitin, a starch found in the skeleton of shrimp, crab, and other shellfish. Chitosan cannot be digested; therefore it passes through your intestinal tract unabsorbed without adding any calories. The chemical nature of Chitosan makes it bind with fatty foods, removing some of the fat from your body as it passes through rather than allowing it to be absorbed. Several studies, however, found no more weight loss from Chitosan than from a placebo (sugar pill).

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