Much of what you hear these days about Sugar is that it is public enemy number one, as it relates to our health. The media in our country on a continuous basis likes to beat the drum over and over again about how bad sugar is for us and our children, because it makes us fat, and is unhealthy for us to eat overall. Some so-called experts even suggest sugar should be removed from our diets, recommending that popular restaurants like McDonald’s be mandated to replace their milk shakes with apples and carrots. With that being said, just how much do we all know about sugars really, and are these people justified in making such a broad sweeping claim about them?

I found out that there are many different kinds of alternative sugars available for sugar lovers, good sugars that are completely harmless to Crohn’s, Colitis and IBS sufferers. Not only are many sugars harmless, but have been found to be actually beneficial for us to consume, containing valuable healing properties in them, vital for our good digestive health! Not only are these sugars harmless for our bodies, but they actually possess healing properties in them as well!

True, the bad sugars, like so-called “table sugar” containing corn syrup, are really bad for all of us, and should be avoided at all costs, especially if you’re a Crohn’s, Colitis, or IBS sufferer. This is especially true if you take steroids for your condition. If you are taking steroids and have a diet that is high in sugar, you are setting yourself up for serious problems. Corn syrup based sugar is one of the most toxic foods on the digestive lining and pretty much intolerable by all those who suffer with digestive disorders. The most deceiving part of sugar, is that it does not cause pain or bowel obstructions like nuts or a high fiber food do. Consequently, many people don’t link sugar consumption to their stomach flare-ups, and as a result, continue to suffer out of not knowing the truth.

So, why is Sugar so bad for Crohn’s and like diseases? Sugar totally strips the intestines of its healthy bacteria and replaces it with an overgrowth of bad bacteria, which leads to a condition known as Candida. Sugar consumption also leads to a serious PH imbalance in the body making it harder for us to heal from a recent flare up. The side effects sugar has on the gut, is that it causes gas, bloating, diarrhea, even mouth ulcers (even in those without digestive problems). To make matters worse, Sugar obviously is addictive (just ask millions), and a hard habit to break. It can be especially difficult to wean children and teens with Crohn’s off sugar because they are seeing their peers eating it all the time with no similar side effects. In addition to stay away from table sugar, even the imitation sugars, like NutraSweet and sorbital should be avoided as they are proven to upset the digestion of almost everyone, even those without Crohn’s. Alcohol behaves like sugar too, when in the body and should be consumed only in moderation, if not at all, depending on the seriousness of your digestive condition.

So, what are the good sugar alternatives available for Crohn’s sufferers and what are their positive effects on your body? These kinds of sugars are found naturally in fruits, and vegetables, even honey. Though honey can cause allergy reaction in some, and trigger attacks in people with ADD/ADHD, it is harmless on most people and healthy to consume. Honey is actually much easier to digest than common sugar, can promote wound healing, kill bacteria, sooth digestive upset and even decrease allergy symptoms. The sugar found in the fruit called the wolfberry contain complex sugars called polysaccharides or complex sugars, clinically shown to help to support your pancreas, boost immunity, build and tone muscle, and actually help you loose weight! In addition, this fruit boosts your metabolism, causing it to strengthen the immune system, causing bettor and faster healing from the Crohn’s induced flare-ups you have. The Sugar polysaccharides provide have actually been proven break down tumors, and combat free radicals in the body. These are the toxins we ingest from polluted air, pesticides and carbon monoxide gases from gasoline and diesel powered vehicles to site a few.

Another alternative healthy sugar that you can use in your Crohn’s Disease Diet, which also does not have the bad affects traditional table sugar has on your health, is Xylitol. Like the Polysaccharides found in the Wolfberry, Xylitol too is completely natural, coming from fibrous vegetables and fruit, as well as corn cobs and various hardwood trees like birch. Actually, Xylitol amounts are actually produced naturally in our bodies…up to 15 grams daily. It occurs daily as the natural glucose metabolism of man and animals as well as several plants and micro-organisms. While, Corn Syrup derived sugar wreaks havoc on the digestive system, Xylitol actually helps heal and repair it. It does this by building up our immune system, enabling it to bettor protect us against the chronic degenerative diseases we suffer from like Crohn’s, Colitis or IBS. Xylitol is considered a five-carbon sugar, which means it is an antimicrobial, preventing the growth of bacteria. It actually makes the cell walls of our digestive system slippery, to viruses and germs, allowing them to slip right through and be washed away. Xylitol also has no known toxic levels. Xylitol has even been credited with helping slow the aging process! But most of all, amazingly Xylitol tastes and looks exactly like sugar and leave no unpleasant aftertaste! It is available in many forms. In its crystalline form, it can replace sugar in cooking, baking or as a sweetener for beverages. It is also included as an ingredient in chewing gum, mints and nasal spray. It was actually approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) way back in 1963.

One other good sugar on the list is called Acetylglucosamine. A more commonly heard name for this saccharide is glucosamine, found in supplements to alleviate symptoms of joint and muscle aches associated with arthritis. Arthritis is a by-product of many who suffer Crohn’s. Glucosamine actually repairs cartilage and reduces swelling in joints. This is just another sugar that defies the critics claim that we should eliminate sugar from our diets.

So, though there are sugars (processed sugars) that we truly should stay away from as Crohn’s sufferers, there is an abundance of sugars, natural sugars, some of which have not been included in this article, that we would be foolish not to educate ourselves on, especially with the great access we have to the internet now-a-days. We truly are able to have our cake and eat it too (pardon the pun), by getting all the benefits from good sugar, namely the good taste, but still not have to be guilty over a food that we suspect is bad for our Crohn’s disease.

Growing up, I was always the skinny kid and I simply thought it was impossible for me to ever get buff. I was 5′ 10″ and carried around 120 lbs in a lanky frame. I blamed it on genetics or bad luck and simply continued on in life while secretly being jealous of my peers who seemed to get buff fast so effortlessly. It wasn’t until I swallowed my pride and asked my friend for his secret that I learned how to get buff fast.

If you want to get buff fast, you have to learn to do what actually works and produces results and not from hearsay or what you see on late night TV or read in a magazine. Now, I’m the go to guy my friends ask for advice and here’s what I tell them:

1. Eat Right – In order to get buff fast, you have to consume the right type and amount of food. Foods high in protein will help you build muscle. Protein shakes after a work out will also help with the muscle building process. In addition, it’s much better to eat 6 small meals throughout the day than 3 large meals like most people.

2. Work Smart – Once you’re eating properly, you want to make sure you are working out properly and effectively. You want to work smart not hard as our goal is to bulk up and get buff fast. Free weights are better than machines as they do a better job stimulating the muscles. It’s important to get a workout buddy as well to not only spot you on certain exercises but to also keep you motivated. Keep a journal to document your progress.

3. Rest Up – Most people don’t realize that true muscle building comes when your outside the gym. Muscle fibers rebuild bigger after being stimulated in the gym. Some people think they can get buff fast by working out harder and longer. That’s working hard not smart. You want to work out just enough and then go home and rest so your muscles can rebuild and get bigger.

Following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to get buff fast. The most important thing is to take action. You can read tips and advice but the real measure of success is getting results which cannot happen until you take the first step. I packed on over 50 pounds of lean muscle in under a year and if I can do it, so can you. You just have to take action and follow the steps.

One of the most unused tools available to those individuals looking to add muscle mass to their bodies is a weight lifting program chart. Although they come in many forms, the basic purpose of these charts is to provide a way to document and analyze your strength training progress. If you are serious about adding muscle, you need to work off a weight lifting program chart. Here are three reasons why:

Reason #1: Motivation. I don’t know about you, but I keep my weight training chart up all the time. Why? Because it is a constant reminder of a crucial part of my life: adding and maintaining muscle mass to my body. Each time I see the chart I remember the intensity of my last workout, and more times than not, I start getting mentally prepared for my next workout. Its a great motivator.

Reason #2: Quicker muscle gains. Do you like watching athletes break records? Me too. Well, why don’t you set up your own records to break? That’s exactly how I use my weight lifting program chart. On mine, not only does it show my last 2-3 months of workouts, but it also shows my record bests for each exercise. By constantly challenging yourself against yourself, you will see quicker gains because you will be using your personal best as the goal to beat (and not just the dull routine of keeping track of what you did for that workout).

So remember to include your personal bests for all the exercises you are doing, not just your bench press. And I’ll tell you what, nothing is quite as satisfying as knowing that you just performed at your best. Breaking records can, and should, be just as fun for you, even if you aren’t a professional athlete.

Reason #3: More efficient workouts. I know some guys that lift weights and never keep track of anything. Now, some of them do gain muscle. But my thinking is that they could be adding muscle mass at a much quicker pace if they could analyze their prior workouts from their weight lifting charts.

Who do you think will gain and maintain muscle mass more efficiently?

Weight lifter A is ready to workout. He vaguely remember what he lifted during is last session. He throws some weight on the bar and starts doing some reps. After a few reps, he stops because the weight is too light. So now he adds some more, but again has to stop because now the bar’s too heavy. He’s wasting precious time and energy.

Weight lifter B is ready to workout and looks over his program chart. He sees that in his last three bench press sessions, he has steadily increased the weight by ten pounds each time. He finds out what he lifted during is most recent workout and adds ten pounds to that number. He’s now ready to have a challenging workout.

See the difference in the two weight lifters?

If building more muscle is going to be a priority in your life, you need to use a weight lifting program chart. It will give you additional motivation to workout, cause you to get quicker muscle gains by challenging yourself, and allows you to have shorter, more efficient weight training sessions. Be sure to put your chart somewhere where you can see it often, and never do a workout without documenting your results

So you want to lose weight? That’s awesome! You know what you want to do; now it’s time to set some goals.

When you say you want to lose weight, this is a very broad and non-specific goal. It is a good goal, but it’s not going to get you where you want to be. You need to be able to clarify your underlying ambition for wanting to lose weight.

Keeping Asking Why

In order to really get down to the real reason you want to lose weight, just keep asking yourself “why.” You say you want to lose weight, why? “So I will look better”, Why? “So I can get more dates.” In this example the reason to lose weight is so he/she can feel better about them selves and look better to others. Lets take a look at another example. You want to lose weight, Why? “So I have more energy” Why? “So I can play with my kids, work better and enjoy life more.” The second example is a completely different reason on why you might want to lose weight.

When you know the root cause of why you want to do something, you can start making a plan of action towards achieving that goal.

SCAMPI

Setting goals isn’t as easy as telling yourself you would like to lose 50 pounds by the end of the year. While that is nice, you should follow a more specific way of setting such goals.

SCAMPI is an acronym that can help you go about your goal setting in a way that will increase your chances of accomplishing the goal.

S – Specific. Setting specific goals results in much better performance than setting easy goals, no goals or just saying you want to lose weight.

C – Challenging. Setting goals that are challenging are accomplished better than setting easier goals. However make sure it is realistic, yet still challenging.

A – Approach. Set your goal with a positive mindset as opposed to a negative one. For example you want to lose weight because you will feel better about yourself, and not because you hate being fat.

M – Measurable. How are you going to know if you’re close to your goal if you’re not keeping track? Be sure to track the important aspects of your weight loss so you know how close or how far from your goal you are.

P – Proximal. ­Be sure to break down your bigger goal into smaller more obtainable goals. If you want to lose 20 pounds in the next year, break it down into how much you need to lose each month or even two weeks. You will feel better about accomplishing the smaller goals as you work your way up to the larger goal.

I – Inspirational. Keep your goal inline with your own personal ideals and ambitions. Be sure to do the goal for yourself, and not others.

There you have it, a very easy approach to setting more obtainable goals. Without setting goals, you are really headed nowhere, and no one wants that.

Keep asking yourself “why” and use the simple SCAMPI method next time you are setting your goals and you should find yourself more successful in knocking out your goals.

…And the Oscar goes to the double Calcium and Omega-3.

Sesame seeds are packed with these two nutrients which are well known for their properties to eliminate fat cells.

Including sesame paste or Tahini – as it is more commonly known – for breakfast every day gives a great help for anyone who wants to lose stomach fat and weight in general. You will see the scales pointer going down very quickly. Just a tablespoon of paste made with that seed on a slice of bread.

Study after study has shown that calcium not only interferes with the development of adipocytes – fat cells – but also stops the absorption of fat. So when the body lacks calcium we have an abundance in tummy and love handles. Not to mention that it also has a big role on the utilization of insulin, the hormone that regulates metabolism and hunger. If this substance – the insulin – is left free in the body, the increase in adipose tissue (fat) is clear and certain.

The role of omega-3 in the weight loss is less well known. It is known, however, that one of the functions of this fatty acid is to reduce inflammatory processes. What does this have to do with lose stomach fat? It’s simple: when our body receives the unwanted visit of a microorganism, the body builds up fat as a defence mechanism.

Of course, the body needs to store energy to get rid of the unwelcomed visitor. However, if the body is well supplied with omega-3, the risk of inflammation is quite small. Therefore, it is not necessary to store fat and the chances of you lose stomach fat is higher.

You can make your own paste or you can buy it ready.

Preparation:

Toast 1 cup of skinless sesame seeds. Let them cool and beat in a processor until it turns into paste.

The Beginning of My Journey

I first heard about Raspberry Ketones from a well known TV doctor. This was a little over a year ago when I was first starting my weight loss journey. At the time I wasn’t taking any supplements, I had recently started eating healthier and had started walking and working out at the gym a couple times a week.

Prior to watching the show I had never really believed that a supplement could help me lose weight, I was 100% sold on the “eat healthy and workout” way to lose weight. After watching the show and looking into the supplement a little more I decided to give it a try, its inexpensive and I was willing to try anything (within reason) to lose weight. From research I knew Raspberry Ketone was natural and safe so I didn’t have a lot to lose (other than LB’s).

This one decision, the acceptance of supplements into my weight loss mix no has no doubt helped me lose 30 or more pounds.

How Does it Work

Warning: Please prepare yourself as I may talk a little nerdy in the following paragraphs.

Raspberry Ketone helps with weight loss by starting lipolysis. Lipolysis is the breakdown of fat, in essence Raspberry Ketone takes the fat from a stored state, which is common in overweight and obese people, to a state where the body can use it as energy. Fat is a form of energy that is under utilized in those of us with tons of weight to lose. This ability to start the breakdown of fat is a huge reason why the supplement is effective.

The regulation of adiponectin, which is tied to the above is another reason why Raspberry Ketone is helpful in losing weight. Adiponectin is a hormone that has been found to be tied with obesity. High levels of adiponectin have been linked to being skinny, the reverse is also true, with low levels being linked to obesity. Adiponectin tricks your body into believing it is skinny, so high levels of adiponectin tell your body “Hey Your Skinny, start acting like it” and the body responds by letting go of fat. Raspberry Ketone has been found to increase levels of adiponectin which in turn raises the body’s metabolism and leads to the loss of fat.

This concludes my description of how Raspberry Ketone works, if you are not a fan or talking nerdy you can now start reading again!

Benefits

Obviously the number one benefit of Raspberry Ketone is weight loss and specifically fat loss. Some have also found that it helps suppress your appetite causing you to eat fewer calories. I have never tried to track this as I feel like it would be rather complicated. I never noticed myself more full than prior to starting the supplement. I would be interested if anyone has actually tested this on themselves.

Side Effects

Raspberry Ketone is natural so it is regarded as safe, there are no known negative side effects. With that being said there are things to look for and people who shouldn’t take the supplement. The supplement was created for adults so it is not recommended that kids or teens take Raspberry Ketone. You should also pay attention to the ingredients as some times companies will add fillers or binders or additional ingredients. Sometimes these ingredients are not safe, or have additional side effects. Personally I stick with pure Raspberry Ketone. Also women who are pregnant or nursing shouldn’t take the supplement, you shouldn’t take any weight loss supplement when you are pregnant or nursing.

My Results

Since I also work out and eat healthy every month, it’s hard to judge how much of my weight loss comes from this one supplement, but I know my losses went up after starting the supplement. I also have tested it in a couple of different ways but nothing 100% definite as to its effectiveness. My goal has always been losing weight so I don’t want to affect that goal by doing a proper test and potentially wasting time not taking a supplement that is helping me. For those reasons my results section of this will be somewhat speculation based on my limited tests and the way I feel about the supplement.

I have been taking Raspberry Ketone ever since I first found out about it. For that reason it is certainly the supplement I have had the most success with. On average I would say I could probably attribute 2-3 pounds of my weight loss to the Raspberry Ketone supplement. On average I have lost around 6-7 pounds a month for the last year, so 2 or so pounds is a decent chunk of that.

Suggested Dosage

There are tons of opinions about the recommended dosage, I have always chosen the highest to maximize my losses. In my research I found that the optimal dosage is 500mg twice per day, so that is what I take. I have also seen lower dosages suggested but since there is certainly no harm in taking 1000 mg a day and very little cost difference I opt for the 1000 mg a day.

Who Should and Who Shouldn’t Take the Supplement

I have already addressed this briefly in a section above but I will clarify below.

Who Shouldn’t Take This Supplement

• Women who are nursing or pregnant
• If you are under 18
• If you take a medicine you feel may be affected (talk to your Doctor)

Who Will Benefit for This Supplement

• Anyone who wants to lose weight that doesn’t fall into a category above

*Of course for legal reasons I should state that none of this constitutes medical advice, you should always consult your Doctor with any concerns you may have.

My Brand Choices

In this section I will outline any brands I currently take as well as brands I have taken in the past and note whether they were successful or not.

Currently I take a Raspberry Ketone Supplement from Ava Falco. You can find a link to their Amazon.com page in the section below. You can also check out their website http://www.AvaFalco.com

Nutritionists talk about the benefits of gelatin for health and beauty.

Tasty, refreshing and easy to prepare, gelatin has been treated for many years as a food for children. But after several studies, experts say that it brings health benefits to people of all ages, working, for example, as an important source of collagen, a protein that contributes to the strengthening of the nails, joints, hair and for moisturizing the skin.

Consumed regularly, gelatin aids in reducing levels of blood cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose control. This is good news if you are trying to lose belly fat because this simple food will have an important role in eliminating the bad fat in your body, especially around your stomach area. The food has properties that strengthen bones and prevents the body from diseases like osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. In addition, gelatin can help to retard the skin aging process.

According to research from several institutes, around the age of 25 our bodies begin to decrease the production of collagen and therefore, the substance must be found elsewhere. Combined with other foods, gelatin can greatly help in the fight against aging and stomach fat. With the high levels of collagen, the skin becomes firmer, manages to keep hydrated and is less likely to be marked by wrinkles while maintaining strong hair and nails.

There is a kind of gelatin that is far more effective than the normal ones. It goes by the name of hydrolyzed and is pumped with collagen. This protein is responsible for skin firmness and provides substances that accelerate the metabolism, in other words the burning of fat. By the age of 25 the body produces about 70% of collagen. Eventually, the body stops being able to keep itself from supporting the skin and the hair and nail strength. At the age of 50 the production falls to 30% of ideal. For this reason, the more powerful the gelatin, the better. The hydrolyzed is low in calories and, like the other, reduces hunger. It gives a feeling of fullness. This sends the information to the brain of satiety for longer. This product is incredibly powerful when trying to lose belly fat. See below the difference between these two types of gelatin.

Common Gelatin

It’s a delicious and refreshing dessert. Therefore, it reduces anxiety and satisfies cravings for sweets.

Contains about 4.3% collagen, and the light version, 4.9%

Hydrolyzed Gelatin

Not a dessert. In addition to being consumed in powder form, there is a version in capsules.

Has an average of 85% collagen, 20 times more than conventional.

Remember that there are no miracles to make you lose belly fat. Do your part and use the tips as leverage. You have the choice and responsibility to lose belly fat not only for aesthetic reasons but mainly for health reasons.

There are many different ways to embark on a weight loss program, perhaps you yourself have tried various different ways before, some of you will have been successful and others perhaps not so lucky.

You may be surprised to learn that one of the ways towards weight loss is in fact drinking tea – yes you heard or rather read right. Tea drinking, more specifically green tea. Researchers have actually concluded that drinking green tea can reduce body weight and has health benefits.

Let me tell you a bit about how it works. Green tea is enriched with antioxidants, which are compounds that protect other substances from oxidation.

Antioxidants help to protect cells from chemicals that have destructive actions called ‘free radicals’ which include aging and irregular metabolism. ‘Free radicals’ damage has been implicated in diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancers. By regularly consuming food and drinks that are rich in antioxidants, we can help to soak up these ‘free radicals’. Fruit and vegetables are a good source of antioxidants but we can increase our intake by drinking tea, which is known to be rich in a particular group of antioxidants called flavonoids. Three cups of tea have about 8 times the amount of antioxidant power as there is in one apple.

The Chinese have been drinking green tea for hundreds of years to aid slimming. They use blends of traditional herbs and plants that are known have health giving properties in their green teas. These will usually include, tea leaves, usually oolong that are sun dried to prevent oxidation, Lotus leaf to clean the spleen and aid digestion and metabolism, Hawthorn for assisting digestion, Alisma Rhizome and Cassia seeds, both of which are used to support the body’s organs, and Poria which assists the immune system. You can even learn to make your own!!

In fact in general when you start drinking green tea you’ll be in good company. Famous people such as Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow and Eva Longoria are reported to regularly drink green tea. Best put the kettle on then before you settle back and read the rest!!

One of the more commonly known weight loss teas is Cho Yung Tea. This contains green tea and has an antioxidant function. As with all green teas, Cho Yung is a safe and natural way to improve your health and well being. The way it works is by oxidising fat rather than blocking its absorption. Rather than just take my word for it however, Chinas own Ministry of Health have given Cho Yung Tea a certificate of approval for health food, stating that it has a slimming effect.

As a stand-alone tea, Oolong has qualities of black and green tea. It has a distinctive fruity taste and a lovely golden colour. Again, the Chinese have always used it to aid weight loss and is present in the Cho Yung tea above. Oolong is widely used in many slimming remedies.

Yogi Tea produce an organic womens fitness tea, which again has been formulated using herbs that are said to support good metabolism, it uses Pu-erh tea which is known worldwide for weight loss properties, and is balanced with Mate from South America which is a natural energiser, and combined with Rosemary and Nettle, both of which are rich in nutrients.

Tea producers Birt & Tang have used the same method of combining the Pu-erh or Oolong tea with various different herbs and nutrients to have a range of weight loss teas to suit all palates. These include Detox green tea, designed to help cleanse the major organs. Figuro, made with a blend of cassia tora and hawthorn believed to eliminate stagnant qi (natural body energy). Osmanthus and Pu-erh for weight loss and Slim Art, which claims to be the most beneficial tea on the market, a blend of Pu-erh tea, rosehip and water lily.

Overall tea, whether it be green or black, is a naturally refreshing drink, and taken on it’s own has no calories. It is a drink that is enjoyed all over the world. Black tea is more popular, but green tea more recently seems to be creeping up behind. Both come from the same plant but under go a different process to make the final tea different.

The health benefits gained from drinking green and black tea is comparable in that both help to promote health and well-being. It is the way in which the teas are processed which determines the different health giving effect. So for weight loss or not, who’d have thought anything that was this popular could be so good for you!!

Body Mass Index, popularly known as BMI, is a way of calculating the fitness (or fatness!) ratio of the body. It has a simple formula, by which we can know our BMI quotient, and determine our present state of fitness. BMI figure is determined depending on the height and weight of a person.

Body Mass Index (BMI) = (Weight in Kilo grams) / (Height in Meters)²

or,

Body Mass Index (BMI) = (Weight in Pounds * 703) / (Height in Inches)²

For example, if your weight is 60 kilo gram, and your height is 1.5 meters, than your BMI will be : (60) / (1.5) ² = 26.66. Similarly, if you want to calculate your weight in pounds, then you can convert kilograms into pounds (1 Kg = Appx. 2.20 pounds), and meters in inches (1 meter = 39.37 inches), and calculate your BMI. The resulting figure will obviously be the same!

The BMI figure thus obtained in indicative of our present status of body weight, and it can be compared with help of the following chart:

• BMI less than 18.5 means that your body is Underweight.

• If BMI is between 18.5 to 24.9 means that your body has Normal weight.

• BMI is between 25-29.9 means that your body is Overweight.

• And, if BMI is equal to or greater than 30, it means that you Are Obese

So the person in the above example has a BMI of 26.66, which means that he is slightly overweight, and needs to burn some fats.

Although there are various theories, and debate on what exactly is an ideal eight for a body, BMI is still an effective indicative method, if not the exact one, to determine where do you presently stand in terms of weight, and how much fats you need to loss or gain, as the case may be!

A FitTeam Fit Stick is a proprietary blend of organic ingredients that you can pour into water or mix into a drink of your choice, making it really easy to use on the go.

The product is organic, non-gmo, gluten-free, lactose-free, soy-free, kosher, and vegan friendly. It contains some blend of the following ingredients: green tea, l-theanine, garcinia cambogia, cayenne pepper, 5-htp, caffeine anhydrous, citrus aurantium, grapefruit seed extract, blueberry powder, b-12, and niacin.

The advertised benefits are that it may help provide increased energy, enhanced fat loss, enhanced mental focus, antioxidant benefits, mood enhancement, appetite control, blood glucose control, and improved fat metabolism.

If you read all of the above you may realize that very few bits of the product information actually differentiate from all the other products out there, in fact, it all sounds pretty much the same.

For this review I want to examine four primary factors of what really makes the difference in a health supplement: uniqueness, ease of use, effectiveness, and side effects.

Before I give you an analysis of each of those factors based on the research I did, both online and offline, I have to point out that I am in no way shape or form to give any legally qualified medical advice and that this review is simply my opinion.

Uniqueness

We’ve all heard the “all natural” pitch over and over again as it’s quickly becoming an advertising fad. The words all-natural are not defined and could literally mean anything at this point.

Where this product is unique is that it is Organic, Kosher, and Vegan Friendly. Having just one of these qualities makes the product unique enough but to have all three of those qualities in a single product makes the product a rare commodity.

Being free of soy, lactose, GMOs and gluten is very common thing, so I do not find those details rather impressive as those are almost the default setting for any supplement.

Ease of Use

I have used a lot of other supplements. Some of them are in pill form, powder form, or even drink form. The Fit Stick is really high up on my list for ease of use.

The packaging itself is very small and since it’s not pre-mixed into a drink you can simply buy a water bottle anywhere you go and mix yourself a drink at anytime with relative ease.

There are no pills to take and it is not a messy process. For ease of use I find this product surpasses a lot of the other products I have used.

Effectiveness

Let’s just be honest here, the product comes with a recommended meal plan that focuses on cutting carbs and calorie restriction. Although it contains known metabolism boosting ingredients such as green tea and caffeine, the effectiveness of those natural ingredients is minimal by themselves.

This is not a miracle cure, even if it burns off an extra 10% of the calories you eat, it will not save you from heavy over eating as you will just end up gaining weight slower or not losing.

However, almost all supplements recommend a calorie restricted diet, so I can’t knock too many points off for effectiveness. Some of the customer reviews indicate that they’ve lost as much as 10 lbs in the first 5 days, a few of which I’ve personally verified, but I believe those results can be achieved by many other supplements as well when combined with exercise and calorie reduction.

Side Effects

There aren’t really any worthwhile negative side effects out of the normal unless you have a medical condition or adverse reaction while taking this product.

The amount of caffeine per serving is about half of what is in a can of soda and there’s some niacin in the product which has been known to cause your face to flush, but there is nothing really in it that has any proven negative side effects.