Best Carbohydrate Management Supplements & Carb Blockers
When it comes to weight loss, many people make a go-to strategy of cutting or eliminating carbohydrates an attempt to cut body fat. And many people fail because, well, cutting carbs completely is hard. Cutting weight is always going to start with a healthy diet and avoiding excess calories but if the scale seems stuck or you need one last push, some turn to carb blockers or carbohydrate management supplements as an option.
Carb blockers are an over-the-counter supplement designed to stop the release of enzymes that break down the carbohydrate. When the carb isn’t broken down and absorbed by the body. Instead, it is able to pass directly through to the large intestine, providing no nutritional or caloric value as it’s being eliminated by the body. The claim is that you can eat as many carbohydrates as you want without any of the negative excessive caloric effects. Simply utilize a carbohydrate management supplement and eat whatever you want without any regret. Unfortunately, the research behind it is a little shaky.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, changing your daily nutrition, or adding any supplements to your regimen.
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What Do Carb Blockers and Carbohydrate Management Supplements Do?
Our bodies are able to break down and absorb the food that we eat in order to supply nutrients to working muscle, the brain, and other organs. However, not all foods are easily digested and need a little extra assistance—especially when comparing whole foods versus a liquid variety. When we consume carbohydrates, depending on the type (simple or complex), we need to recruit certain enzymes to aid in breaking down the macronutrient into an easily absorbed source.
There are two kinds of carbs: simple carbohydrates, which are found in foods such as fruits, and complex carbohydrates which are things like potatoes, pasta, and bread. Complex carbohydrates need enzymes to be present to break them down. When a carb blocker is used, compounds called alpha-amylase inhibitors prevent the release of these enzymes so the carbohydrate passes straight through the stomach into the intestines.
Ultimately, these types of carbohydrate management supplements are able to take complex carbohydrates such as a baked potato or the sandwich you had for lunch and run it through your system as if it never existed.
One thing that carb blockers will not help you with are simple carbohydrates—sugars. Due to the make-up of simple carbohydrates, carb blockers are unable to prevent them from being broken down and shuttled throughout the body.
How Do You Use Carb Blockers?
Carbohydrate management supplements are very easy and straightforward to use. Simply swallow the pill (or pills) of the carb blocker you purchased before a meal containing carbohydrates. From there, the pill will be broken down and inhibit the release of enzymes so the complex carbohydrate is not broken down and pass directly through the stomach to the large intestine.
Be sure to speak with your doctor before purchasing or using a carbohydrate management supplement to ensure the supplement is safe for you to use based on your current health and medications. If approved, make sure to follow the directions listed on the packaging to ensure proper dosing and use.
Do Carbohydrate Management Supplements Actually Work?
Here’s where things get a little dicey. The answer is yes and no. To be honest, it can get confusing. Studies seem to be pointing in all directions. Some studies show carb blockers to be effective, some are say they are effective to an extent, others say they don’t work at all. The question left to ask seems to be if the juice is worth the squeeze. In the end, carbohydrate management supplements are just that, a supplement.
So, where do we begin? While carb blockers and carbohydrate management supplements are categorized under weight loss supplements, there are some conflicting studies on the topic.
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