SlimGenix Pro – with raspberry ketone and green coffee

slimgenix1Product: Slimgenix Pro
Manufacturer: Unknown
Benefits: Fat burner that can also suppress appetite
Positives: Contains two good ingredients
Negatives: In our opinion it is not as strong as it could be. The auto-billing system is frowned upon.
Shipping: To all countries including the US, Australia, Canada and the UK
Retailers: Official website (s)

In our opinion Slimgenix should be overlooked in favour of Superfruit Slim. It is natural, contains a wider range of ingredients and is better value. 

Read our full review here

Slimgenix Pro Review

Slimgenix pro websiteSlimGenix Pro is a weight loss supplement that promises to melt away fat and help the user get a tight body. It can only be purchased via the manufacturer and most of the marketing is done via three websites: SlimGenixPro.com and SlimGenixPro.co.uk. there doesn’t appear to be a dedicated Australia. .com.au website

Very little is known about the manufacturer and it is hard to say with any degree of certainty where the company is based, but it is probably pretty safe to assume it is somewhere in the USA. Contact options are limited to a toll-free number and an email address.

What Are The Proposed Benefits

  • Help burn off excess stored fat
  • Suppress your appetite
  • Retain muscle mass
  • Boost Energy

What is SlimGenix Pro and how does it Work?

SlimGenix Pro appears to be designed to function as a combined fat burner and appetite suppressant. If the manufacturers have got the blend right it should assist weight loss by helping the user reduce the amount of calories they eat each day, increase the amount of calories that are burned each day, and encourage the body to burn excess fat.

If fat burning is successfully initiated the calories released by the process will provide the promised energy boost, but the formulation does not specify any ingredients that can help retain muscle mass.

Slimgenix operates an auto-billing scheme – something that we advise customers to either avoid or read the fine print very carefully.

Key Ingredients – What Is In It

The manufacturers fail to provide an adequate ingredient profile. The only two ingredients mentioned in the marketing material are raspberry ketones and green coffee bean extract. No inclusion rates are available for either ingredient.

  • raspberry KetoneRaspberry Ketones: A natural ingredient that is usually refined from raspberries. It is a healthy ingredient that provides numerous antioxidants and can also trigger fat burning. Its fat burning abilities have been evaluated via a number of clinical trials and it has quickly become one of the most popular weight loss ingredients in the world.In one 10-week study, overweight laboratory mice were given regular doses of raspberry ketones and continued to be fed a high fat diet. The mice failed to gain weight in the expected way. In fact the mice actually lost weight. The scientists concluded: “RK prevents and improves obesity and fatty liver.”
  • Green coffee beanGreen Coffee Bean Extract: An ingredient that that provides a fat burning compound called chlorogenic acid. Its abilities have been scrutinized a number of times. In one study, researchers in Italy fed male mice regular doses of green coffee bean extract and caffeine for 14 days. The researchers discovered doses of 0.5% and 1% reduced visceral fat and body weight. A mix of caffeine and chlorogenic acid reduced visceral fat and body weight.

Both ingredients can also provide appetite suppression

How to take SlimGenix Pro

Two capsules should be consumed each day. No other information is provided.

Possible Slimgenix Pro Side Effects

Pregnant or nursing mothers are advised not to take SlimGenix Pro. People with known health conditions should be equally careful, as should anyone who is taking medication.

Slimgenix Pro Marketing Methods

There are three SlimGenix Pro websites, but it is only possible to obtain the pills from BuySlimGenix.com. The other two sites (SlimGenix Pro.com & SlimGenix Pro.co.uk) used to link into the site for the ordering process. Now only the UK site links in. The other site confuses customers by sending them to a page that is marketing another product.

Slimgenix trial offer

Site visitors who try to make a purchase from the official websites site will be unable to do so. The only way to get hold of the pills is to sign up for a free 14-day trial. Here’s the rub: customers who order a trial bottle of pills are required to pay a small charge for postage, which must be paid by card. If they don’t cancel the trial within 14 days their cards will be debited for £94.99/$150.00  (for the trial bottle of pills) and they will be shipped fresh product every month at the same unbelievable price. The website fails to make any of this clear, but the terms & conditions page is more informative.

Slimgenix Guarantee

The terms and conditions page states a 30 day money back guarantee is in place, but this is not the case. It is, at best, a 21-day guarantee, but the fact that it does not apply to products that have not been purchased on the trial means the guarantee has no value whatsoever.

What Do We Recommend

Superfruit SlimWe recommend Superfruit Slim over Slimgenix Pro. Superfruit Slim contains Raspberry Ketone as well as several other natural ingredients.

Superfruit Slim is also much better value and produced by a very reputable company

Read what Superfruit Slim can do for you here

Lowerol – lower you cholesterol levels in 30 days

Lowerol reviewProduct: Lowerol
Manufacturer: Napiers
Benefits: Natural and safe formula for reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
Positives: Reputable company, good formula.
Negatives: Nothing really negative about reducing LDL cholesterol .
Shipping: UK, United States, Australia, NZ and Canada.
Retailers: Official website only.

See special offers from official website – Free Home Cholesterol Test Kit

Lowerol Review

Lowerol is product designed to lower cholesterol levels via the use of organic phytosterols, most notably red yeast rice. Phytosterols are plant derivatives that have a similar structure to cholesterol and are capable of performing in a similar manner, and studies prove a regular intake of phytosterols can result in lower the blood concentration of LDL (bad cholesterol). Studies also reveal results can be obtained without the risk of the painful muscle-related side effects that are associated with cholesterol-reducing drugs (statins).

Who Makes Lowerol?

Lowerol is manufactured by Napiers. The company is based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has been producing specialist herbal products since 1860. Napiers ship worldwide and are considered to be innovators and pioneers in the natural health market.

HDL and LDL the differences

What are the Proposed Benefits?

According to Napiers, Lowerol capsules can reduce cholesterol levels by a significant amount in just 30 day and, as an added bonus, the capsule shell does not contain any animal by-products; so Lowerol is suitable for vegetarian/vegan use.

Other notable features include:

  • 100 % natural formulation with clinically proven ingredients
  • Reduces bad cholesterol (LDT)
  • Raises good cholesterol (HDT)
  • Fast acting formulation
  • Side effect-free formulation
  • Worldwide shipping

Active Ingredients

Each dose (1 capsule) provides:

  • Red Yeast Rice (400 mg)
  • Grape Seed Extract (80 mg)
  • Policosanol (10 mg)
  • Coenzyme Q10 (10 mg)

Red Yeast Rice

Red Yeast rice lowers cholesterolAs the name suggests, red yeast rice is red, and its colourful nature is the result of the fermentation process that results when the rice is cultivated with a yeast-type fungus called monascus purpureus. In Japan the ingredient has been in use since at least 300 BC, it has many culinary uses and can often be found in sake (Japanese rice wine).

Red yeast rice is also rich in monacilins, and several clinical trials reveal these can successfully lower (bad) cholesterol levels without offering any of the muscle cramps that so often result from the use of statins.

In one study, conducted in 2009, the researchers discovered that, when the necessary diet and lifestyle changes are applied, supplementation with red yeast rice can reduce (bad) cholesterol levels by up to 20% and none of the volunteers experienced muscle pains like those associated with statin drugs.

Red Yeast Rice Group·      LDL cholesterol decreased by 0.90 mmol/L (35 mg/dL) at week 24Placebo Group·      LDL cholesterol decreased by 0.39 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) at week 24.

Grape Seed Extract

Grape Seed extractGrapes contain a substance (pterostilbene) that is beneficial for regulating cholesterol. In one study, conducted at the Department of Agriculture’s National Products Utilization Research Centre (Mississippi, USA), researchers monitored the way pterostilbene interacts with blood-fat-regulating enzymes and discovered it provided the same benefits as the cholesterol-lowering drug Ciprofibrate. Grapes also contain the polyphenol resveratrol. It has a strong reputation for protecting the heart from disease and lowering cholesterol levels and there is evidence it can relax the blood vessels, prevent blood clots, and help the heart maintain its normal rhythm.
Policosanol

Sugar may have a reputation for rotting the teeth, but it isn’t all bad. Sugar cane is also a source of policosanol and many studies suggest its potential for purging the arteries of bad cholesterol far exceeds the abilities of prescription statins.

In a study conducted in 1999, on human volunteers, 10mg doses of policosanol proved to be more beneficial for controlling cholesterol than 20mg doses of the popular prescription drug Lovastatin. The researchers also discovered policosanol can raise good cholesterol levels. This is an ability Lovastatin does not possess. None of the volunteers reported experiencing any of the painful muscular side effects that are so often the bane of people who use Lovastatin, and other statin-type drugs.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ₁₀)

The reason statin drugs interact with the muscles in such a negative manner is mostly attributable to their unfortunate ability to reduce CoQ₁₀ levels. Red yeast rice contains similar components to those found in statins, but tests show red yeast rice is unlikely to present the same problems as statins. By adding some extra CoQ₁₀ to the Lowerol formulation though, Napiers have ensured further protection against side effects.

CoQ₁₀ is a beneficial ingredient in itself, and has been proven capable of delivering increased amount of bad cholesterol to the liver so that it can be broken down and expelled from the body.

Possible Side Effects and Health Considerations

Although the Lowerol formulation contains only natural ingredients, none of which are likely to present issue, Napiers do not consider their product to be suitable for women who are pregnant or nursing a child. Napiers also warn against using Lowerol alongside medications and suggest statin users consult their doctor before supplementing with Lowerol or using it as a statin alternative.

Lowerol Dosage

  • When cholesterol levels are only slightly elevated, one capsule taken at breakfast and washed down with water or juice should prove sufficient.
  • If the cholesterol levels are moderately high, a second capsule will be required after the evening meal.
  • For high cholesterol levels a third capsule should be taken at lunchtime.

After one month of supplementation, capsule users are advised to visit a doctor, or purchase a home-testing kit to check their cholesterol levels again. The number of doses per day can then be adjusted accordingly.

Product Availability – Stockists

Lowerol StockistsLowerol is only available from the Bauer Nutrition website, but Napiers offer worldwide shipping and all purchases are protected by a 60-day money back guarantee.

Site visitors are also afforded the change to purchase a cholesterol level testing kit. Anyone who purchases multiple items benefits from generous discounts. Prices are quoted in GBP, USD, AUD and Euros.

Click here to visit the Official suppliers website

Contrave Review and Side Effects – Anti obesity diet pill

Contrave diet pillProduct: Contrave
Manufacturer: Orexigen
Benefits: Acts as an appetite suppressant and reduce the cravings for food in some users resulting in a reduced daily calorie consumption.
Positives: Reputable company, clinically tested formula
Negatives: Some users report side effects, not available to all.
Shipping: Available via prescription only.
Retailers: Available via prescription only

What is Australia’s most prescribed diet pill – click here to find out

Contrave Review

Contrave is weight loss medication produced in the US by Orexigen—a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in producing anti-obesity medicines. Contrave is their most recent product and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for prescription use, but the tablets have the potential to cause a number of worrying side effects so the medication’s prescription-only status would appear to be warranted.

What is Contrave and how does it Work?

Contrave is a weight loss medication designed for overweight/obese adults who have weight-related medical problems. It must always be used alongside a low calorie diet and regular exercise, and it is worth noting the FDA has only approved its use as a weight loss medication when it is used in this way, not as a stand-alone weight loss initiative. The formulation works by supressing the appetite.

Appetite suppression alone usually does not ensure weight loss, but appetite suppressants can help prevent people feeling hungry, which can help them stick to their diets and consume fewer calories. So, when used in conjunction with plenty of calorie-burning exercise, results can be good.

Key Ingredients

Contrave contains just two active ingredients, but the manufacturer’s website fails to provide the inclusion rates.

  • Bupropion Hydrochloride: A compound that is commonly used to treat depression and has also been used to provide support to people who are trying to stop smoking. It works by acting on specific areas of the brain. The test subjects in one study, conducted at the Duke University Medical Centre, Durham (USA), achieved a weight loss of 12.9%, most of which was body fat.
  • Naltrexone Hydrochloride: Naltrexone’s abilities as a weight loss provider are far from proven, but its function here is to support the main ingredient (bupropion), so it’s abilities as a stand-alone agent are not such an issue.

Blend Potential

Contrave has been subjected to two separate clinical trials. All of the volunteers who took part were overweight and had at least one medical problem. The average weight loss recorded from the first study was 5.4% (1.3% the placebo group). The average weight loss recorded from the second study was 8.1% (4.9% the placebo group).

How to Take Contrave

The maximum dosage is 2 tablets in the morning followed by four in the evening, but patients must work up to this over a period of four weeks.

  • Week 1: One tablet taken in the morning.
  • Week 2: One table in the morning + one tablet in the evening.
  • Week 3: Two tablets in the morning + one tablet in the evening.
  • Week 4: Two tablets in the morning + two tablets in the evening.

Tablets must be swallowed whole and Orixigen warns against taking Contrave with high fat meals because this may increase the likelihood of seizures.

Possible Contrave Side Effects

The manufacturer’s website bears the following warning: “CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects of suicidal thoughts or actions.” Orexigen states such side effects are possible due to the inclusion of bupropion, which has a history of producing such side effects. The disclaimer further suggests the dangers only relate to the first few months of treatment, and points out not every user will feel this way, but that will be of little recompense if the an altered state of mind results in fatal consequences before the first few months of treatment have run their course. Bearing this in mind it is easy to see why a doctor’s supervision is necessary and anyone who is prescribed Contrave should inform their doctor straight away if they begin to experience any negative thoughts.

Other possible side effects include:

SeizuresRashes, swollen glands, and other allergic reactions
Elevated blood pressureChanges to the heart rate
Chest painVomiting
Liver damageConstipation
HepatitisEye problems (including angle closure glaucoma)
Manic episodesTrouble sleeping
DiarrhoeaHeadaches

Contrave User Feedback

Customer feedback suggests the product works better for some users than others.

“I’ve been using this medication for 10 weeks and have lost nearly 2 stone. After a few bites of food I feel too stuffed to continue. The only side effects I’ve experienced is a little lower back pain and a dry mouth. I can live with that.”

“Two weeks in and nothing has changed. My doctor hasn’t put me on the full dose yet, so there’s still a change it will work, but to be honest I’ve been feeling more hungry on the tablets than I did before I began taking them. Oh well, fingers crossed.

“Four pounds in two weeks. It’s not a lot, but my doctor is happy (she doesn’t want me losing weight faster than that). But I may lose weight faster when she prescribes me the full dose.”

“I had to stop the treatment. I stuck with it for 3 weeks, but the side effects were unbearable. My stomach was giving all kinds of problems and, what with the pounding headaches, I kept having to take sick days from work. I can’t afford to do that and I hate feeling that way so that’s it for me. Never again.”

How To Obtain Contrave

In the US Contrave is only available via a doctor’s prescription and it seems likely that the governing bodies of other countries will apply similar restrictions.

Recommended Alternative

PhenQContrave is likely to be prescription only in many countries including Australia – our preference is for a commercial diet pill called PhenQ. Released in 2015 PhenQ is arguably the best of its genre – a dual action appetite suppressant and fat burner.

PhenQ is available to buy direct from its own official website and does not require a prescription in most countries (including the the US, Canada, Australia and the UK)

PhenQ is reviewed in detail here