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WHITE KIDNEY BEAN
Articles by a Naturopathic
Doctor ( N.D.)
Eat your carbohydrates and lose weight, too!
For those of you looking to lose weight, but who love your carbohydrates - bread, pastas, baked goods, and more... you may be interested in White Kidney bean extract, often marketed as Phase 2.
What is White Kidney Bean Extract?
Phaseolamine, Phaseolus vulgaris, or phase II (2) is a starch blocker. It is thought to support weight loss by preventing digestion of complex carbohydrates therefore preventing, or at the very least reducing, the amount of digested calories. White kidney bean extract inhibits a digestive enzyme called alpha amylase, which breaks down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars to be digested.
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WHITE KIDNEY BEAN |
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| White Kidney Bean Extract is also commonly marketed as 'Phase 2'. |
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White Kidney Bean extract for Weight loss
Weight loss can be challenging for even the most dedicated of individuals. What we have come to understand over recent years is that refined carbohydrates seem to play a much larger role in weight gain than fats themselves. Phase II may provide a way for you to continue to eat the foods you love and still lose excess weight. The alpha amylase blocker action of White Kidney Bean extract may allow complex carbohydrates to pass through both the small intestine and colon without being absorbed, or at the very least significantly reducing the amount of simple sugars that are being absorbed. These starches are thought to be eliminated rather than digested. In this case, despite the fact we are ingesting the foods, they are not adding to our daily caloric count.
Is it safe?
There has been some controversy surrounding the use of white kidney bean extract for weight loss. The white kidney bean, along with the light and dark red kidney bean, are thought, by some, to be toxic. These beans contain a protein that binds to starches in call membranes and blocks digestion. These beans can cause nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea if they are not cooked at high temperatures for a minimum of 10-15 minutes. This 'toxic effect' will not persist after high temperature cooking. Animal studies have disputed any toxic effect of white kidney bean extract when used as a supplement, even in much higher than recommended dosages (2 g/kg of body weight) it was found to possess no danger. At doses higher than 5 g/kg of body weight, acute toxicity may be observed.
Is it effective?
Although studies do seem to confirm the relative safety of using white kidney bean for weight loss (under 5 g/kg of body weight), the ability of these same studies to prove any effectiveness in terms of weight loss has not been as successful. Some professionals will argue that even if the carbohydrates do bypass the small intestine undigested, when they reach the colon, the starches are expose to the colon's 'friendly' bacteria, which will then ferment the starches. This fermentation process inevitably causes much painful gas and diarrhea. Some experts argue that starch blockers are actually not doing their job unless they are causing these gas and diarrhea symptoms, that these symptoms may be the only way to verify that these products are working. Studies have also shown there to be no increase in carbohydrates in the stool of individuals taking Phase II, as opposed to those taking placebo.
Where do I get it and how much do I take?
White kidney bean extract is available at most health food stores - usually in capsule form. It is also found in many weight loss combinations, with other effective weight loss supplements, such as green tea extract, CLA, coleus and more. As mentioned, keep doses under 5 g/kg of body weight to avoid any toxicity. Anywhere from 1500 -2000 mg can be taken with all starch-rich meals. |
White Kidney Bean - QUICK FACTS |
PARTS USED |
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Extracts from the whole bean |
APPLICATIONS |
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Weight loss. |
OPTIMUM DOSAGE |
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1500-2000 mg with all high carbohydrate meals. |
WORKS WELL WITH |
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Green tea extract, CLA, Coleus forskahlii, Guarana, Cayenne. |
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· Avoid doses larger than 5000mg White Kidney bean/kg of body weight. |
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