White bean extract and weight loss

In recent years, white kidney bean extract has gained popularity as a natural food that aids weight loss. Its scientific name is Phaseolus Vulgaris, and the supplement is obtained from navy beans that is commonly marketed as a “starch blocker.”

Why do people use white kidney bean extract?

Proponents claim that white kidney bean extract can combat the effects of alpha-amylase (an enzyme involved in breaking down carbohydrates into sugar).

By reducing alpha-amylase activity, proponents suggest that white kidney bean extract prevents the body from converting excess glucose into body fat.

White bean extract is marketed as a weight loss aid. The product also has a focus on preventing obesity and reducing abdominal fat.

In addition to the above, white kidney bean extract is good for maintaining blood sugar at acceptable levels, helps in fighting insulin resistance, protecting against diabetes, heart disease, improving athletic performance , increase energy, relieve arthritis symptoms and aid in the prevention of colon cancer.

Benefits of White Bean Extract

To date, there is limited research on the potential health benefits of white kidney bean extract. However, the authors of research published in Nutrition Journal in 2011 concluded that a patented white kidney bean extract product (Phase 2 Carb Controller) may have the “potential to induce weight loss and reduce blood sugar spikes caused by carbohydrates.”

One of the few clinical trials to test the health effects of white kidney bean extract was published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences in 2007. The study included 60 slightly overweight volunteers whose weight had been essentially stable for at least six months. For 30 days, study participants took 445 mg of white kidney bean extract or a placebo daily (before consuming a carbohydrate-rich meal).

At the end of the 30 day period, The researchers found that participants who had taken the white kidney bean extract experienced a considerable reduction in body weight, fat mass, and waist size (compared to members of the placebo group). Furthermore, white kidney bean extract appeared to help participants maintain lean body mass.