Phase 2 Carb Control is a purportedly revolutionary dietary supplement created to naturally control carbohydrate intake. Phase 2 helps dieters solve the problems of weight loss plateaus with a proprietary all-natural ingredient derived from white kidney beans that has been clinically shown to digestion and absorption of dietary starches by up to 66%
Does Phase 2 measure up to the competition in a world of dietary quick fixes? We’ll take a look at the Phase 2 Carb Control effect in this article and break down the science involved.
What is Phase 2 Carb Control?
Phase 2 is a new breed of dietary supplement line that claims to help lose weight without the side effects using a technique called ‘carb blocking’.
Phase 2 is the first supplement of its kind and claims to be clinically proven in over a dozen published trials to digestion and absorption of dietary starches. Reducing the amount of absorbed dietary starches reduces in turn the caloric intake, glucose response and glycemic index, creating an overall weight-loss effect.
Carbohydrates are no stranger to anybody who has attempted to lose weight before- there are a multitude of diets that advise cutting down on or removing carbs in order to lower calorie intake- some diets such as the ketogenic diet even go so far as to remove carbohydrates entirely.
The reason behind this is the consumption of carbohydrates leads immediately into a large blood sugar level spike as the carbs are converted into sugars, which is then followed by a blood sugar crash, leading into food cravings and overeating- not good for weight loss!
Phase 2 makes the claim that it can delay the digestion of starches and carbohydrates.
Phase 2 uses a proprietary extract of phaseolus vulgaris, or the white kidney bean, to achieve this effect. Dieters are recommended to take two 10mg supplements of Phase 2 daily- before lunch and dinner- as blood sugar levels tend to increase as the day progresses.
So how does Phase 2 achieve its dietary promises? Let’s examine how it claims to work.
How Does Phase 2 Work?
Phase 2 has been commercially available since 2001, and is one of the oldest and most successful weight loss and carb blocking supplements available on the market. Phase 2 uses a proprietary extract of the white kidney bean called Phaseolamin to achieve the carb-blocking effect that helps with weight loss.
Phaseolamin has been proven in multiple clinical studies to assist in weight control when used in conjunction with a sensible diet and exercise, and reduce the enzymatic digestion of dietary starches.
Phase two was actually developed in the late 1990’s by Pharmachem Labs. The human body creates an enzyme called alpha amylase to break down starches or carbohydrates and convert them into blood sugar.
This enzyme is responsible for blood sugar level spikes after consuming large amounts of carbohydrates. Pharmachem labs discovered that the white kidney bean extract, Phaseolamin, neutralizes some of the digestive enzyme and allows them to pass through the digestive system without being converted to blood sugar, thereby functioning as an efficient carb-blocking supplement.
Does Phase 2 Actually Work?
In 2006 the United States Food and Drug administration conducted a clinical trial of Phase 2 in order to determine the veracity of its carb blocking and weight loss claims. The study was intended to determine the safety and efficacy of Phase 2 in weight management in obese and overweight adults.
The weight loss phase was a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study where all subjects followed a strict diet plan; the second phase was the weight maintenance study over 24 weeks, where the subjects’ energy intake was uncontrolled.
The results of the FDA trial supported Phase 2 and showed that those subjects taking Phase 2 lost significantly more weight than those on placebo after 12 weeks. In the weight management phase, 73.5% of participants successfully maintained their body weight after 24 weeks.
The positive effects didn’t stop there, however- the participants taking Phase 2 in weight-loss study experienced a statistically significant decrease in their desire as well as in their frequency and strength of food cravings for chocolates and other sweet foods- so not only does Phase 2 reduce the impact of carbs on the digestive system, it helps dieters resist the urge to partake in eating unhealthy foods!
Another study in 2007 conducted by the Cosmetic Research Center in Rome showed that those who took Phase 2 lost an average of 6.45 lb (2.93 kg) in 30 days, compared to the control group (not taking Phase 2, on placebo) who lost less than 1 lb (0.45 kg), on average.
There have also been multiple other clinically approved trials of Phase Two in the years since the inception of its commercial offering that support the above trials, showing statistically significant increases in fat loss for Phase 2 users. Overall, science seems to support the Phase 2 Carb Blocker supplement wholeheartedly and Phase 2 has even earned an official endorsement from the FDA as a weight loss supplement.
Phase 2 Side Effects
Although no adverse effects were observed during any of the various clinical trials of Phase 2, there has been some anecdotal reports of gastrointestinal side effects from users of Phase 2 on various diet pill review sites.
Any supplement that interferes with the natural digestive process of the human body is bound to produce the occasional side effect, and in some cases reported online this has manifested as excessive gas or mild nausea, which can be alleviated in most cases with peppermint tea.
Should You Take Phase 2 to Lose Weight?
Like all weight loss supplements, Phase 2 should be combined with regular exercise such cardio, resistance training, or a combination to produce the best results. The science behind Phase 2 is sound, and as a weight loss supplement in combination with a healthy diet and regular activity is very effective.