There is a lot of controversy
surrounding diet products that are advertised to block the
hormone Cortisol. According to makers of these products, when
stress levels rise, levels of this hormone increase and cause
weight gain. However, leading research institutions are
disputing such claims and calling such products "scams." In
addition, the FTC has even gone after several manufacturers of
such supplements and charged them with making false and
misleading claims. Despite all this, these questionable products
are still prevalent on the market, which is why we will take a
closer look at this hormone to determine if it may really cause
people to gain weight as these companies suggest.
Cortisol at a Glance
Also referred to as the "stress
hormone," Cortisol is produced by the adrenal gland and occurs
naturally in the body. This hormone is said to increase blood
pressure and blood sugar and also reduce immune responses.
Cortisol in Focus
As mentioned, the makers of
supplements targeting the production of this hormone claim that
this hormone increases when stress level rise, and that in turn
may cause weight gain. The only problem with this claim is that
it has not been supported by any conclusive evidence. In fact,
the Mayo Clinic has done its own research on this hormone and
states that the body will only produce excess amounts of
Cortisol as a side effect to medication or due to an underlying
medical condition known as Cushing's Syndrome. In fact,
increased amounts of this hormone are said to be quite rare and
not linked to weight gain.
Diet Lifestyle
These types of products are
widely regarded as a "scam," which is how even the Mayo Clinic
refers to supplements aiming at this hormone. As mentioned, the
Federal Trade Commission has gone after several manufacturers of
these products and made these companies pay out million dollar
settlements to past customers. We do want to note that there are
also many independent consumer reviews for such supplements to
be found online. Many of these reviews are quite negative and
also refer to these products as a "scam" or a "waste of money."
Positives
· There are many different
Cortisol supplements to choose from
Negatives
· Research indicates that
products targeting this hormone may not perform as advertised
· Many negative reviews posted
online
· Leading research institutions
call such products a "scam"
· FTC has charged makers of
these products with making false and misleading claims
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, supplements that
focus on this hormone may have received a fair bit of attention
when they first hit the market, but now many consumers are wary
of these type of supplements due to the above discussed
controversy and current research. Again, we do not feel that a
supplement claiming to reduce Cortisol levels may actually lead
to real weight loss results, and we suggest that consumers
interested in proven methods continue their product search. But
those people who are still interested in this kind of supplement
may wish to take a closer look at these products and the
controversy they have created through various consumer driven
blogs and forums. Interested consumers may click on the links
below, which will lead to more detailed articles on this
subject.
