There are two supplements that could help you target belly fat, fucoxanthin and oligonol. “Wait a second you might be saying to yourself, “target” abdominal fat?” You should know that there is no such thing as “spot” fat reduction. Doing 1,000 crunches a day will not TARGET the fat covering your abs either. Buying the latest bogus “ab machine” from QVC or the Home Shopping Network won’t work either. The problem with this is, that most of the time abdominal fat is the LAST place you’ll lose the fat when you diet. If you want abs, you have to get your body fat down to very low levels which are very, very difficult. To date fitness experts, scientists, researchers, exercise guru’s and doctors have not figured out a way to “target” abdominal fat. Most of the time they lie and tell you they have found a way, but in reality, you cannot TARGET where you want to lose fat. Well, I found something that may change all of this and a way to target abdominal fat. I have found a way in which you might be able to target abdominal fat effectively because my knowledge of dietary supplements and how they are manufactured.
If you don’t know yet, I’m a supplement expert. I have been manufacturing supplements for almost 20 years. I’m a lot different than most so-called supplement experts because I know how to make them. Unlike guys like Dr. Oz, and others claiming to be supplement experts and have no clue what it takes to manufacture supplements. Myself, on the other hand, I’ve been in the trenches of supplement manufacturing. This gives me a great advantage over all other self-proclaimed supplement experts, most whom only get their information from the internet. Kind of like saying you’re an automotive repair expert and never have stepped foot in a garage or physically repaired a car. I have been on the manufacturing floor of dietary supplement factories and have had years of direct hand’s on experience with supplements. That being said, I have discovered and put together what I am calling the “Abdominal Fat Loss Supplement Stack.”
Not so long ago I wrote one of the best articles EVER on weight loss supplements. I recommended the best weight loss and fat burning supplements known to man. It was based on a weight loss supplement from each of the weight loss sub categories. The categories were:
You see each category there is one ingredient that works the best and by using a supplement from each category, you will support a better chance for fat loss. However, I did leave out one category that I’d like to tell you about. That category is “mid-section fat loss”.
Mid-section fat loss? Hard to believe I know, but there are two very interesting nutraceuticals out there with good research behind them that results in mid-section, abdominal or “belly” fat loss.
The First Product
The first nutraceutical comes from Brown Seaweed. Extracted from the brown seaweed is an ingredient called fucoxanthin. Fucoxanthin is the ingredient that specifically supports the reduction of abdominal fat. It is a special version of fucoxanthin backed by research studies, and it called Thin0gen. Thinogen is not your ordinary fucoxanthin, thus please do not compare it to regular fucoxanthin that the Chinese export into the US and supplement companies then sell to you. Thinogen is not even comparable to regular fucoxanthin.
“Thinogen Fucoxanthin is a natural carotenoid specific to several different types of brown seaweed. Fucoxanthin is the first marine algae-derived ingredient with a clinically proven thermogenic effect and can be used for weight loss. Metabolic and nutritional studies have demonstrated that fucoxanthin promotes fat burning within fat cells [2].
Unlike other weight loss products like caffeine, ephedra and synephrine (that also add toxins to human body), fucoxanthin can help boost the fat metabolism rate without stimulating a person’s central nervous system, thus helping to ensure that weight lost does not creep back.
Fucoxanthin can reduce fat in different ways [2, 3]. It is noteworthy that the fat loss effect is specific to fucoxanthin and has not been found to be present in other carotenoids. Also, fucoxanthin has undergone research to explore potential benefits in the areas of diabetes and heart protection [4]. In mammals, fucoxanthin is metabolized to fucoxanthinol. Both fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol possess high biological activity. As a result, fucoxanthin and/or fucoxanthinol have other potential benefits.
Fucoxanthin implements body fat and weight loss effect through two different mechanisms. Study of more than 200 obese rats and mice fed fucoxanthin showed that fucoxanthin upregulates gene expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) which is responsible for conversion of energy to heat through fat oxidation (Figure 2 & 3). As UCP1 is found in white adipose tissue (WAT) and the abdominal area contains abundant adipose tissue, fucoxanthin is particularly effective in shrinking oversized guts [2]. Fucoxanthin is the first natural food component that has been shown to reduce fat by targeting the UCP1 protein.
In a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to observe the weight loss effect of ThinOgen™, 19 volunteers (12 males and 7 females) aged between 25 and 50 years old with BMI ranging from 23.0 to 40.0 were divided into three groups: 2 mg/d group, 4 mg/d group and placebo group. The 2 mg/d group was given ThinOgen™ containing 2 mg of pure fucoxanthin per day, while 4 mg/d group was given ThinOgen™ containing 4 mg of pure fucoxanthin per day. The administration lasted for three months and at the end of each month medical examinations including body weight and CT scans of both subcutaneous and visceral fat area were taken. After the administration, the subjects were examined by the end of another month in order to observe the subsequent body weight regain. After three months administration, the subjects in ThinOgen™ dosage groups displayed similar weight loss rate, and with the administration going on, could get more weight loss. For the 4mg/d group, the body weight loss showed a significant difference in the first month and second month (p < 0.05), and a very significant difference in the third month (p < 0.01) comparing with the placebo group. In the fourth month following the administration, there was no administration of any sample, just observing the body weight regain. It was observed that even stopping the administration of ThinOgen™ for one month, the body weights loss trend still kept continuously (Figure 5). The results showed that ThinOgen™ had slow but stable weight loss effect in administration groups especially for 4 mg/d group showing significant difference comparing with the placebo group. There’s no body weight regain one month after the administration stopped, and no abnormal symptom was found in the blood test and clinical examination. This study suggests that ThinOgen™ has weight loss effect without body weight regain and free of side effects.
Stacking Thinogen (fucoxanthin) with CLA.
Studies suggest that stacking fucoxanthin with CLA is more effective.
Therefore, get yourself a good CLA product to stack with Thinogen.
Let’s keep stacking this and make it really awesome!
In addition to stacking with CLA, you can add MCT to further support fucoxanthin abdominal fat loss capabilities.
Here is the study suggesting to take MCT with fucoxanthin.
Therefore, your daily stack would be
- fucoxanthin ( 4 mg per day)
- Oligonol once per day.
- Tonalin CLA (2 to 4 grams per day)
- MCT Oil (taken with fucoxanthin 1 tbs per day)
- Try to avoid caffeine; it is counter productive to this stack. Caffeine increase cortisol in the body which in turn helps support abdominal fat increases.
Get this MCT oil
Where do you get this product if you want to try it.
Before I tell you where to get Thinogen (fucoxanthin), it is important to know that there are hundreds of bogus fucoxanthin supplements out there. Mostly made by fly by night companies that take advantage of the research and information that supports Thinogen. This is a very common scam in the supplement industry. Most of these low-quality fucoxanthin supplements probably do not even contain fucoxanthin even though it says it on the label. If you don’t believe me find yourself a fucoxanthin supplement and contact the company that makes it (good luck even with that). If you do happen to get a response, ask them for a 3rd party lab analysis that PROVES there is fucoxanthin in the product. This is not optional by the way; it is a federal law that a supplement company must have this document(s). Ask for the identity test and 3 party lab test. The most common answer a supplement company will give you is that they do not have one, it is proprietary information, or they will provide you with a bogus certificate of analysis. Anyone can obtain a certificate of analysis (even you) simply by calling up a fucoxanthin supplier.
To get REAL Thinogen I contacted the company that makes it (Thinogen) to find a supplement company that actually legitimately uses it. Believe it or not, they only recommended ONE supplement company to me. Here it is. You have to buy at least 6 bottles. You MUST be on this product for 3 months in order to see any results. That is why I’m telling you to buy 6 bottles. Anything less and you’re not going to see any results. This product is 2m g per capsule and you need two capsules a day
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT FUCOXANTHIN
- You must take fucoxanthin for at least 3 months; best is 4 months. Plan on failure if you supplement less than that.
- I suggest 4mg daily.
- Weight loss is SLOW. Do not expect rapid weight loss. As the study states…slow weight loss, but significant weight loss.
- Stack with CLA. Use this brand only. Again, plan on 3 to 4 months usage.
- Thinogen and CLA belly fat loss stack are not easy. You have to remember to take it every day and for a duration of 3 months minimum. But if you can accomplish this and find it easy, I have a feeling you’re going to love the results
- stay off the caffeine while using these supplements. Caffeine raises cortisol levels in the body which in turn, helps increase the fat around one’s stomach. This would be counter-productive to use these supplements and caffeine at the same time.
Second Product For the Abdominal Fat Loss Stack
The second part of my “Abdominal Fat Loss Stack” is a product called Oligonol. I must say this is a helluva product. It is actually the world’s only pre-digested super fruit. It is a highly absorbable product. Similar to a hydrolyzed whey protein.
Oligonol is a predigested lychee fruit. Supported by 30 human clinical trials, Oligonol is a patented, low-molecular-weight polyphenol derived from lychee fruit (85%) and green tea (15%) with excellent absorption and multiple anti-aging benefits.*
The research behind Oligonol is awesome. Much effort and dollars went into this product to prove how effective it can be. That being said, Oligonol is effective at supporting a reduction in fat around the waist.
I suggest getting 3 bottles of Oligonol to last as long as the fucoxanthin. I researched the company that makes this product. They are right next to me in N.Y. (I’m in N.J.)
Here’s the brand to get.
Conclusion.
For the Abdominal Fat Loss Stack.
- Take 2 capsules of Solaray fucoxanthin per day for a minimum of 3 months
- take 1 capsule of Oligonol per day for a minimum of 3 months
- Avoid Caffeine
- Optional: take 3 capsules of Tonalin CLA per day in divided dosages for 3 months minimum.
- Optional : Take 1 tbs of MCT oil once or twice a day WITH the fucoxanthin
References
[1] Haugan J. A., et al. Isolation of fucoxanthin and peridinin. Methods Enzymol., 1992, 213: 231 – 245.
[2] Maeda, H., et al. Fucoxanthin from edible seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida, shows antiobesity effect through UCP1 expression in white adipose tissues. Biochem. Biophy. Res. Comm., 2005, 332: 392 – 397.
[3] Tsukui T., et al. Fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol enhance the amount of docosahexaenoic acid in the liver of KKAy obese/diabetic mice. J. Agric. Food Chem., 2007, 55: 5025 – 5029.
[4] Ikeda K., et al. Effect of Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) on the development of cerebrovascular diseases in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin. Exp. Pharm. Phys., 2003, 30: 44 – 48.
[5] Okuizumi J., et al. Inhibitory effects of fucoxanthin, a natural carotenoid, on N-myc expression and cell cycle progression in human malignant tumor cells. Cancer Lett., 1990, 55: 75 – 81.
[6] Hosokawa M., et al. Apoptosis-inducing effect of fucoxanthin on human leukemia cell line HL-60. Food Sci. Technol. Res., 1999, 5: 243 – 246.
[7] Kotake-Nara E., et al. Carotenoids affect proliferation of human prostate cancer cells. J. Nutr., 2001, 131: 3303 – 3306.
[8] Yamamoto I., et al. Effect of dietary seaweed preparations on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced intestinal carcinogenesis in rats. Cancer Lett., 1985, 26: 241 – 251.
[9] Yamamoto I, et al. The effect of dietary seaweeds on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumorigenesis in rats. Cancer Lett., 1987, 35: 109 – 118.
[10] Funahashi H, et al. Seaweed prevents breast cancer? Jap. J. Cancer Res., 2001, 92: 483 – 487.
[11] Funahashi H, et al. Wakame seaweed suppresses the proliferation of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene -induced mammary tumor in rats. Jap. J. Cancer Res., 1999, 90: 922 – 927.
[12] Konishi I, et al., Halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol isolated from Halocynthia roretzi induce apoptosis in human leukemia, breast and colon cancer cells. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., Part C, 2006, 142: 53 -59.
[13] Kotake-Nara E, et al., Neoxanthin and fucoxanthin induce apoptosis in PC-3 huamn prostate cancer cells. Cancer Lett., 2005, 220: 75 – 84.
[14] Maeda H, et al., Fucoxanthin and its metabolit, fucoxanthinol, suppress adipocyte differentiation in 3T3- L1 cells. Inter. J. Mol. Med., 2006, 18: 147 – 152.
[15] Yan X, et al., Fucoxanthin as the major antioxidant in Hijikia fusiformis, a common edible seaweed. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 1999, 63: 605 – 607.
[16] Hosokawa, M., et al. Fucoxanthin induces apoptosis and enhances the antiproliferative effect of the PPARgamma ligand, troglitazone, on colon cancer cells. Biochim. Biophy. Acta. 2004, 1675: 113 – 119.
[17] Okuzumi, J., et al. Inhibitory effects of fucoxanthin, a natural carotenoid, on N-ethyl-N’-nitroN-nitrosoguanidine -induced mouse duodenal carcinogenesis. Cancer Lett., 1993, 68: 159 – 168.
[18] Hamman, R. F., et al. Effect of weight loss with lifestyle intervention on risk of diabetes. Diabetes Care, 2006, 29: 2102 – 2107.
[19] Greenlee R T, et al. Cancer statistics. CA-Cancer J. Clin., 2000, 50: 7 – 33.
[20] Kotake-Nara E, et al. Carotenoids affect proliferation of human prostate cancer cells. J. Nutr., 2001,
For more info on fucoxanthin supplements and studies check this out.
Fucoxanthin and weight loss.
Alex Rogers is a supplement manufacturing expert. He has been formulating, consulting, & manufacturing dietary supplements since 1998. Alex invented protein customization in 1998 & was the first company to allow consumers to create their own protein blends. He helped create the first supplement to contain natural follistatin, invented whey protein with egg lecithin, & recently imported the world’s first 100% hydrolyzed whey.
