Anatrim Reviewed
If you can look beyond the companies shady marketing

Anatrim has been described in some emails as “an absolutely amazing new pill that actually makes you crave less food!”

So what exactly is in this “Absolutely amazing Anatrim”? Well it seems that it has Hoodia Gordinii in it, although on the links provided in the spam emails it is referred to as Anatrim Gordinii makes you wonder with the bad publicity surrounding the cultivation of the Hoodia Gordinii cactus is it better to make up your own? Or are we riding on the “coat tails” of the popular weight loss supplement? 

But there has to be more to this Anatrim than just “Anatrim Gordinii” right?

Yes there are more ingredients; Garcinia cambogia, Green Tea, Dandelion, Spirulina and Ginger root.

Okay, so what are they?

Garcinia Cambogia is a fruit commonly known as Gambooge, Brindleberry or Malabar Timarind that is yellow in colour and shaped similar to a pumpkin. It is native to Indonesia and grown in Asia and both central and west Africa. As a traditional medicine it was used to treat constipation, intestinal parasites, bowel complaints, edema and rheumatism. The rind and flesh of the Garcinia Cambogia fruit contain an acid commonly known as HCA (Hydoxycitric Acid), sounds familiar if you have been looking up weight loss supplements right? In vitro and animal studies showed that HCA reduced the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol therefore making it become a popular ingredient in many weight loss supplements and aides. Although studies amongst humans have shown that it doesn’t provide significant weight loss results or fat mass reduction.

Green Tea is basically a “true tea” described as one that has undergone very minimal oxidation during processing. Problem with Green Tea as an ingredient? Where does it come from and what quality of tea is being used? Green Tea is grown in China, Japan, India and Vietnam. The various types of tea available are graded on the quality and parts of the plants used. When Green Tea is an ingredient in a dietary supplement there isn’t an indicator of the quality or origin of the active ingredient; only the amount of caffeine per serving. So what does caffeine do for weight loss? It is a stimulant, an ergogenic and diuretic. In plain English caffeine makes you feel good by increasing serotonin and epinephrine/adrenaline in the brain, therefore suppressing appetite and increasing mental alertness temporarily. Diuretic is defined as a drug or herb that increases the rate of urine excretion (increases how often you go “pee”).

Dandelion Think of those annoying yellow flowers that pop up in your beautiful green lawn. Yup that’s what it is! So how could Dandelions help me lose weight, curb my appetite or make me crave less food? Well Dandelion Root in Canada is sold as a diuretic (see definition above). Dandelion contain an antioxidant Luteolin as well as Caffeic Acid which is currently being further tested as it may be a carcinogenic (an agent directly involved in the promotion of cancer or in the facilitation of its propagation). There is no proof documented anywhere that Dandelion assists in weight loss, fat mass reduction or appetite suppressant.

Spirulina is the common name for human and animal food supplements produced primarily from two species of cyanobacteria. Spirulina occurs naturally in tropical and subtropical lakes high in carbonate and bicarbonate (basically very soft warm water). Interestingly enough Spirulina is unusually high in protein and it is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids, it is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which is an essential fatty acid. Spirulina also contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, Vitamins C, D and E. Spirulina is a rich source of potassium and contains many other minerals including calcium, sodium and zinc. Clinical trials of Spirulina include improvement of dark and hard spots in skin due to arsenic poisoning, corrects anemia, protects against hay fever, and improves WEIGHT GAIN!

Ginger Root Commonly used as a spice in food dishes around the world. When Ginger Root was used as a medicine it was known as Jamaica Ginger classified as a stimulant (defined under Green Tea – Caffeine) as well as a carminative (a drug used to treat digestive tract cramps combined with flatulence) and was used to treat heartburn, colic and brewed as a tea to treat colds. However Ginger Root is on the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list from the FDA because it may be harmful and interact with other medications such as warfarin and it is contraindicated in people suffering from gallstones, it is highly recommended that a physician or pharmacist be consulted before taking Ginger Root as a dietary supplement.