Raspberry ketone is fast surfacing as a perfect weight loss supplement. It is touted as a ‘miracle in a bottle’ because the supplement helps in weight loss effectively and easily. Scientific evidence shows that raspberry ketones, when added to your weight loss program, can help you shed that stubborn fat with ease. Read through how raspberry ketones supplements work and what makes them a magic pill.
What are Raspberry Ketones?
Raspberry ketones are a naturally occurring compound that give red raspberries their rich flavour and tantalising aroma. Thanks to these attributes, raspberry ketone has long been used as a perfume in cosmetics and as a flavour in soft drinks, ice cream, and other processed foods.
Although in very small quantities, the compound is also present in other fruits like blackberries, cranberries, and kiwis. But there’s an interesting twist to the story. Although raspberry ketones occur naturally in fruits and berries, the trace quantities do not make them a viable option to consume the compound directly from fruits. According to calculations, you’ll have to eat 41 kg of raspberries a day to derive the benefits of a single dose of the weight loss supplement!
Thus, the weight loss supplement is not extracted from raspberries. Instead, raspberry ketones for weight loss are synthetically manufactured compounds that mimic the molecular structure of the ones occurring naturally.
Why are Raspberry Ketones Important for the Body?
The aroma and flavour make raspberry ketones useful in many domains of human use. But the health benefits of raspberry ketones extend beyond the aesthetics. The benefits of raspberry ketones include:
1. Immune System Support
A weak immune system will not allow you to work out regularly and vigorously to lose weight. This will make the body more susceptible to illness and further weight gain. But raspberry ketones are nutrient rich and vitamin dense and can give a major boost to the immune system, helping you hit the gym regularly to lose weight.
2. Detoxification of the Body
The body gets its toxic chemicals from food, air, and water. For optimal functioning of the body, these toxins must be removed and regulated periodically. Taking raspberry ketones supplements regularly helps the body get rid of excess toxins, making it healthy and active.
3. Improving Overall Health
As the metabolism rate of the body increases, the fat layer present under the skin starts reducing. Furthermore, the fatty deposits that accumulate in blood vessels also begin to come down due to improved susceptibility of norepinephrine in the blood which acts as fat burning hormone. This improves heart health and reduces the chances of stroke.
4. Perking Up Energy Levels
Raspberry ketones are known to increase energy levels. People who invariably feel low on energy and therefore less motivated to exercise seem to have benefited from regular raspberry ketone supplements.
5. Promoting Hair Growth
Local application of raspberry ketone solution to affected areas can promote hair growth in people suffering from patchy hair loss and male pattern baldness.
6. Improving Skin Elasticity
Research shows that applying raspberry ketone solution to the skin can help slow down ageing signs. Women have also reported improvement in skin texture and elasticity.
7. Beneficial for Brain Health
Ellagic acid, a phytochemical present in raspberries, reduces the formation of amyloid plaques which is likely to make Alzheimer’s disease worse. Also, inflammation of the brain can contribute to dementia. Raspberry ketone supplements help reduce this inflammation, lowering the risk of dementia.
How Raspberry Ketones for Weight Loss Work?
The molecular arrangement of raspberry ketones makes them an ideal weight loss supplement, aiding weight loss in two ways:
1. By Boosting Metabolism
Adiponectin, a hormone released by the fat cells in the body, is known to be responsible for regulating metabolism rate and blood sugar levels. Studies reveal that people with normal weight have much higher levels of this hormone as compared to those who are obese and overweight. Raspberry ketones supplements elevate the levels of adiponectin in the body. This increases the metabolic rate of the body, promoting the body to burn fat faster. Once the calories burnt are more than the calories consumed, the body begins to lose weight.
2. By Suppressing Appetite
Decreased appetite and weight loss go hand-in-hand. Research shows that raspberry ketone supplements suppress appetite by increasing the body’s sensitivity to leptin hormone. Leptin, a fat-derived hormone, is one of the three major hunger hormones. Raspberry ketone supplements elevate the levels of leptin which in turn, signals the brain to stop eating. Once you consume fewer calories, weight loss becomes easier and achievable.
Do Raspberry Ketones Trigger Ketosis?
Although the names sound similar and both raspberry ketones and ketosis are linked to weight loss, they are two different things and work on different parameters.
The body enters into a state of ketosis when the body doesn’t have enough carbohydrates to burn for energy. It then turns to burn fats to generate energy which leads to weight loss. Thus, keto diet or low-carb diet plans force the body to burn fats and increase the levels of ketones in the blood.
On the other hand, raspberry ketone supplements boost the sensitivity of adiponectin hormone and leptin hormone. While the former increases the body’s metabolism rate, the latter infuses the feeling of fullness and suppresses appetite. These hormones work in tandem to help reduce weight.
Therefore, raspberry ketones supplements have nothing in common with low-carb diets and do not put the body into ketosis.
Daily Dose of Raspberry Ketone Supplements
There is no approved daily dose of raspberry ketone supplements. However, a diet containing up to 2% of raspberry ketones has shown positive weight loss results.
Side Effects of Raspberry Ketone Supplements
The use of raspberry ketones for weight loss is relatively new. Therefore, not much evidence exists to show how safe it is to take raspberry ketone supplements over a prolonged time.
But with promising results in studies on mice and rats and given the fact that naturally occurring raspberry ketones in fruits and berries is invariably a part of our daily diet, there is not much to be wary about its use and safety in humans.
But eating too much raspberry ketones can lead to diarrhoea in some people. Also, increased incidence of insomnia, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, and increased blood pressure has been reported in some studies.
Who Should Avoid Raspberry Ketone Supplements?
Although raspberry ketone supplements are broadly considered to be safe, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and adolescents should avoid taking raspberry ketones.
Also, people diagnosed with a medical condition and put on prescription drugs or those taking herbal supplements are advised to take raspberry ketones for weight loss only under medical supervision as it could lead to potential drug interactions.
Conclusion
There is a lot of hype surrounding the use of raspberry ketones for weight loss. Though the results appear promising, the supplement reaps results only when used in tandem with a balanced diet and regular workouts. Setting unrealistic expectations of shedding the extra weight without adequate dietary controls and exercise is simply an overstatement.
