Relacore Review: Does Relacore Work?
 Relacore is yet another product (similar to Cortislim, CortiStress and Cortidrene) that claims weight gain is the result of excess stress, and believe it or not, not even your fault. This, from the Relacore Web site...
"Excess stomach flab is not your fault. That's the startling conclusion reached by scientists who discovered stress is the likely cause of belly bulge."
And later...
"Simply stated, a bulging midsection is not your fault… it’s the harmful combination of everyday stress, overeating, and excess cortisol… all conspiring to keep you overweight, tired, and thick around the middle."
Boy, oh boy, wouldn't the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) like to see this. Comments like this are what galvanize these two agencies into action -- just recently the FDA warned 16 manufacturers of weight loss supplements for making exaggerated, unsubstantiated claims about their products.
And Acting FDA Commissioner Lester M. Crawford could well have been talking about Relacore when he said...
"These products give unfounded hope to people who are attempting to lose weight. False and misleading claims have significant health consequences to individuals that may be overweight because these products do not produce the desired results..."
However, as with most fat burners, there is a germ of truth behind the Relacore pitch. It all centers around the body's stress hormone, cortisol...
Cortisol is the body's main stress hormone, and is required for many vital purposes -- proper glucose metabolism, blood pressure, immune function and inflammatory response are a few. In times of stress, either mental or physical, the body can produce an excessive amount of cortisol. At these high levels, cortisol is a nasty little number indeed. It can negatively affect cognitive performance, suppress thyroid function, foster blood sugar imbalances and the subsequent deposition of body fat, decrease bone density, as well as other things. Athletes don't like cortisol, as it is catabolic -- i.e., muscle-wasting, rather than anabolic -- i.e., muscle building.
Bottom line?
Excess cortisol levels may indeed be *somewhat* responsible for excess fat deposition and weight gain, no doubt about it (you'll see why I say "somewhat" a little later on).
OK, now back to Relacore. The main ingredient, as it pertains to cortisol control, is Magnolia bark. Here's what SupplementWatch.com has to say about Magnolia bark...
"... a small dose of honokiol, or a magnolia bark extract standardized for honokiol content, can help to "de-stress" you without making you sleepy, while a larger dose might have the effect of knocking you out. When compared to pharmaceutical agents such as Valium (diazepam), honokiol appears to be as effective in its anti-anxiety activity, yet not nearly as powerful in its sedative ability."
This "anti-anxiety" effect appears to be backed up by numerous animal studies (that, of course, doesn't mean it will work in an identical fashion in humans, but it does look promising). However, while the honokiol element of Magnolia bark may be an effective anxiolytic agent (J Pharm Pharmacol 2000;52:1425-9) there is no scientific data that validates its ability to lower cortisol levels.
However, even if Magnolia bark is an effective "de-stressor", that's a far cry from saying you're actually going to lose weight with this stuff. Most people don't gain weight simply because they are stressed (although for some, stress does equate with overeating).
While it is arguable that stress does play a role in weight gain, it is one that is secondary to sedentary lifestyles and excessive calorie consumption. It is a serious "oversimplification" to suggest that "stress keeps us fat". It's also greatly misleading, since it does not take into account the other major factors that have contributed to the obesity crisis over the last several decades.
I am very surprised that Relacore has not yet found itself in major trouble with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Several similiar products (CortiSlim and CortiStress) have already been forced to pay huge fines for making false and unsubstantiated claims (click here to view the FTC press release). Mark my words, it won't be long before Relacore suffers the same fate. |
Bottom line?
While I think it would be interesting to experiment with the stress-reducing effects of Magnolia bark, I would strongly warn against expecting weight loss miracles from Relacore.
Interestingly, a large number of visitors who have written in about their experiences with Relacore were very happy with it. For the most part, they found it useful as a "mood regulator", with one visitor even calling it her "happy pill." On the other hand however, very few visitors who commented on Relacore found it helpful for weight loss.
If you're interested in experimenting with this product, I highly recommend that you...
Click here to read customer feedback from Relacore users!
Have you used Relacore? Tell me what you think!
Have you been the victim of a product that makes exaggerated claims? Launch a complaint!
US visitors should submit a complaint to the US Federal Trade Commission!
Canadians, submit a complaint at the Canadian Competition Bureau!
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