Could You Benefit from a Fat Binder?

            Have you ever looked at a cactus and considered what may happen if you ate it? It turns out your wellness and your weight loss efforts may benefit from a cactus extract food supplement, otherwise known as a fat binder or fat stopper.

A fat binder, as the name suggests, binds with some of the fat in your meals, meaning you won’t have to burn off excess fat calories. The primary active ingredient is called Opuntia ficus-indica, and is a natural fibre complex extracted from a cactus known as prickly pear, or indian fig.

Not only does it bind with your fat intake, it also removes it from your body. The insoluble fibres in the fibre complex combine with some of the fats in the food in your stomach to form a fluid gel and the soluble fibres, form a thick, sticky, viscous substance. Your body finds it more difficult to absorb your fats, as they are so gelatinous, and so they are naturally passed out instead. This also means they remain in your stomach longer which helps you to reduce you cravings as you feel fuller. The complexes also meet and form an adhesive solution, which gradually slows down your body’s digestion. This then slows the absorption of glucose into your bloodstream, which helps with the regulation of blood lipid levels. It also reduces your cholesterol by up to 10%, and so further benefits your wellbeing by reducing your risk of heart disease.

Currently, there are 5 major food supplements available without prescription: Proactol, LipoBind, Alli (which is made with the active ingredient Orlistat that is used in prescription medication Xenical), Liposinol and XLS Medical, which also contains Vitamins A, D and E. The most common side effects are bloating, gas or a slight change in bowel habits, but these can be reduced by shrinking the amount of fat you eat, drinking plenty of water, and following the recommended dosage instructions. No ingredients are derived from animal products, meaning it’s safe for vegetarians to use, but consult a medical professional before using fat binders, and do not do so at all if your are under 18.