Orlistol is a popular diet pill currently sitting in the number one bestseller spot in Amazon’s carbohydrate blocker supplement category. Here’s our Orlistol review.
What is Orlistol?
Orlistol is a weight loss aid and diet pill that claims to block the absorption of carbs. It’s one of a growing number of “carbohydrate blocker supplements” on the market.
Like other carb blockers, Orlistol claims to literally prevent your body from absorbing carbohydrates. Instead of being absorbed by your body, the carbs are harmlessly passed through your digestive tract without ever being broken down and stored.
Without a carbohydrate blocker, your body absorbs carbs as normal and stores them as energy for later use – that’s how fat is formed.
Orlistol isn’t just a carbohydrate blocker, however. The supplement also claims to suppress your appetite and provide a feeling of fullness. So you eat less, and even the food you do eat gets blocked from being absorbed.
The name of the supplement, by the way, is designed to sound like the prescription weight loss medication Orlistat (Xenical). That’s not a coincidence. Obviously, Orlistol is available over the counter without a prescription.
So far, Orlistol sounds like a miracle weight loss cure. So what’s the secret behind this supplement? Does it actually work as advertised? Is there any science behind it? Keep reading as we dive further into the truth behind Orlistol.
How Does Orlistol Work?
Orlistol blocks the absorption of carbs and fats, allowing them to be passed through the body without ever being absorbed.
At the same time, Orlistol acts as a powerful appetite suppressant, which means you eat less during meals.
This is why Orlistol advertises itself as a “powerful dual action weight loss aid”. It attacks the causes of weight gain from two angles.
Using Orlistol, you can lose an extra 1 pound for every two pounds you lose through conventional dieting. This isn’t the type of pill you can take to lose weight while sitting on the couch all day. But if you’re already dieting and exercising, then Orlistol can enhance your weight loss effects.
All right, you get it. The real question is: how does it actually block carbs? Which ingredients does it use?
Orlistol Ingredients
Nutratech, the makers of Orlistol, claims that all of the ingredients are legal and available over-the-counter. The official website doesn’t actually say much about the ingredients, nor does the Amazon listing. You have to turn to third party websites to learn what, exactly, is in Orlistol (or, wait for the bottle to arrive at your house and look at the Supplement Facts label on the side).
Even when you learn the ingredient information, you won’t learn the actual dosages. All of the dosages are masked within a proprietary formula. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not the most transparent approach. In any case, here’s the full list of ingredients:
Proprietary Formula (725mg): Chitosan, Phaseolus Vulgaris, Apple Cider Vinegar Powder, Garcinia Cambogia, Gymnema Sylvestre, Aloe Vera Extract and California Buckthorn.
Other Ingredients: Gelatin, Calcium Carbonate, and Magnesium Stearate
Together, these ingredients perform two roles: block the absorption of carbs and fats while also suppressing appetite.
Scientific Evidence for Orlistol
Orlistol makes some big promises about its effectiveness. But what does science have to say? We’ll break down the individual ingredients below.
Garcinia Cambogia
First, garcinia cambogia is a popular diet pill ingredient. Although Dr. Oz famously called it a “miracle weight loss cure”, garcinia cambogia has almost no human trials supporting its weight loss benefits. In some tests, it’s shown a mild reduction in body composition, but no actual weight loss. LiveScience has a good write up on the scientific evidence (or lack thereof) behind garcinia cambogia here.
Chitosan
Second, chitosan is a type of sugar that comes from the exoskeletons of shellfish like crab, lobster, and shrimp. That may sound like a weird ingredient, but it’s actually very common in carb and fat blocking supplements as a way to treat obesity. Studies have shown it can treat high cholesterol, anemia, overactive appetite, and other conditions. It’s a fibrous ingredient that’s been shown to block the absorption of fat and cholesterol according to WebMD. Nevertheless, it’s never really proven to be very effective as a weight loss aid.
Phaseolus Vulgaris
This is another weird-sounding ingredient, but it’s actually just kidney bean pod, a high-fiber herb that’s typically used to fight obesity, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol. It hasn’t been used as a weight loss aid for very long, so studies are lacking. However, the early studies that have been completed are very promising – so we could see some impressive results in the future.
California Buckthorn
Also known as cascara, this shrub contains chemicals that stimulate your bowel and have a laxative effect. These chemicals are so effective that California Buckthorn is used to make drugs for gastrointestinal disorders.
Gymnema Sylvestre
This is a climbing shrub native to India and Africa. You can find it in a wide range of dietary supplements, where it’s typically used as an appetite suppressant. Like other ingredients in Orlistol, it won’t trigger weight loss on its own. However, it can suppress your appetite. Science hasn’t looked at the weight loss benefits of gymnema sylvestre in many reputable studies. However, it has shown early promise as a way to manage blood sugar levels.
Apple Cider Vinegar Powder
Apple cider vinegar (in liquid form) is a popular health supplement. Apple cider vinegar powder, however, has been seen in a growing number of diet pills and weight loss aids. To date, it’s unclear if taking apple cider vinegar as a powder is as effective as liquid form. However, many people agree that it’s certainly easier to consume (drinking apple cider vinegar is a rough experience). The verdict is still out on using any type of apple cider vinegar for weight loss. However, it may encourage you to eat less during your meals.
Overall, based on these ingredients and the dosages given, Orlistol seems to work mostly as an appetite suppressant. It seems unlikely that it’s going to actually “block carbs” from being absorbed into your body. The main ingredients that have this effect have not been studied enough for weight loss. Nevertheless, Orlistol should encourage you to eat less. And, the fiber content inside the supplement should encourage your body to have more regular bowel movements, something that can also contribute to weight loss.
Who Makes Orlistol?
Orlistol is made by a nutritional supplement company named Nutratech Health LLC. That company is based at the following address in Houston:
9801 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77042
You can contact the company using the following methods:
-Phone: (832) 685-8862
-Email Form: http://www.gonutratech.com/contact-us/
Nutratech sells a variety of nutritional supplements, many of which are marketed towards people trying to lose weight. Some of the company’s more popular supplements include Ultra Cleanse, Garcinia Plus, Revitalize, Probio-15, Turmeric Plus, and Omega Plus.
Nutratech is a relatively new member of the supplement industry. The company doesn’t post much information about itself or its history online. However, their social media accounts were only registered in April 2016.
What Do Customers Have to Say About Orlistol?
Orlistol is a popular diet pill. With over 1,200 customer reviews on Amazon, the diet pill currently has an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. We’ve read through reviews to come up with the following list of pros and cons from real customers:
Pros
-It works to help you start losing weight
-“I have absolutely no appetite”
-Appetite suppression effects are so powerful that you have to force yourself to eat, as nothing seems appetizing
-No side effects
-Regular bowel movements
Cons
-You need to actively exercise and diet to lose weight, as this is a weight loss aid – not a magical weight loss pill
-Takes about two weeks to start seeing the full effects, including the digestive effects
As with any weight loss aid, there are angry reviews from people who never lost “a single pound” while taking the diet pill. The majority of reviews, however, are positive. The supplement currently holds the number one position on Amazon in the carbohydrate blockers category.
Nutratech Orlistol Pricing
Orlistol is available through the official Nutratech website at a price of $39.99 USD, which is also the listed price on Amazon.
Each bottle of Orlistol contains 60 capsules, or 60 servings.
Should You Take Orlistol?
Orlistol is a popular diet pill that claims to work by blocking carbohydrates and fats from being absorbed into your digestive system. That sounds like a great thing – but in reality, Orlistol appears to work more as a fiber supplement mixed with powerful appetite suppressants. Many of the people using Orlistol claim they had little to no appetite, which made it easier to trim their diet with foods like salads and low-calorie snacks.
The important thing to remember with Orlistol is that it’s not a magic weight loss pill. The makers of Orlistol, Nutratech, claim you should expect to lose an extra 1 pound of weight for every 2 pounds of weight you lose through dieting. It’s a weight loss aid – not a weight loss cheat pill.
