Phase 2® Carb Blocker And Starch Neutralizer Review

Phase 2® is the name for the proprietary, clinically studied version of white kidney bean extract. White kidney bean extract is a common ingredient in many fat burners, although only a few contain the registered Phase 2 version (you may also see white kidney bean extract referred to as Phaseolamin, or phaseolus vulgaris).

Of course, the question is...

Why is white kidney bean extract common in so many fat burners and carb blocker products?

Mostly, it's because white kidney bean extract is thought to interfere with the action of the enzyme amylase, which is required for the proper digestion of carbohydrates. In theory, Phase 2® prevents amylase from converting carbohydrates into sugar, thus effectively "blocking" a portion of those carbohydrate calories from inevitably being converted into fat and being deposited on your waistline.

Unfortunately, the scientific data indicating this is so is far from undisputed at this time. A recent UCLA study on Phase 2® concluded...

"Clinical trends were identified for weight loss, inches lost from the waist, energy, and decrease in triglycerides, although statistical significance was not reached. The reason that significance was not achieved was the small number of subjects who completed the study and the wide variability of the results within each group. Further studies with larger numbers of subjects are necessary in order to definitively demonstrate effectiveness."

So while things certainly look promising for white kidney bean extract, it would certainly be incorrect to call it a hands-down winner (incidentally, white kidney bean may have other weight-loss benefits -- it may improve lipid profiles in obese individuals -- Nutrition 2002;18:729-33, and may help to lower the GI (glycemic index) levels of high GI foods).

I've also had the opportunity to chat with a couple of people who used white kidney bean based carb blockers and actually gained weight. To be fair, I suspect that this had more to do with the overeating of simple carbohydrates, brought on by the false sense of security afforded by the use of a carb blocker.

Have you used Phase 2® or any other "carb blocker"? Tell me what you think!

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