CraveLess...anybody hear of this?

F

fitfoxie

Active Member
Hi Everyone,
I was hoping someone here could offer some much needed advice and answers to some questions. I don't believe in taking any of those diet/metabolism booster type pills. Anyways, I've been encouraging a friend of mine who wants to lose weight to exercise. So she was happy to tell me she had started eating healthier and had already lost 2 pounds! I was so happy to hear this, but then she told me about this supplement CraveLess, that she got from Whole Foods and how wonderful it's been. Of course I asked if it was a diet pill, but she said it's completely natural and actually good for you. When I did some research on it, I found this from a website called Tao of Herbs:
"CraveLess® is an appetite control formula that also aids in digestion, absorption, and assimilation. It works with the body to reduce hunger and curb sugar and carbohydrate cravings. And since it enhances the digestive process, you get maximum energy from the food you eat. CraveLess helps to control appetite, reduce hunger, lessen cravings, and enhance digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients."
Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take 2 to 3 tablets twice a day, minutes before meals.

CraveLess Ingredients: Magnesium (as magnesium aspartate), Potassium (as citrate and aspartate), Garcinia Cambogia Extract (fruit), Proprietary Herbal Blend: Triphala (fruit), Cascara Sagrada (bark), Glucosamine (n-acetyl glucosamine), Borage Oil (seed), Phenylalanine (l-phenylalanine HCL), Tyrosine (l-tyrosine HCL), Chickweed (aerial), dandelion (root), Echinacea Angustifolia (root), Astragalus Membranaceous (root), Uva Ursi (leaf), Parsley (seed), Horsetail (leaf), Corn Silk (stylus), Atractylodes Macrocephala (root)

Okay, so I know you guys are very wise and educated on health matters, what do you think? There doesn't seem to be any negative to it, so I'm wondering if it works, then I'll try it. I'm just always skeptical. Please any advice????
Thanks so much,
Lisa
 
I would have no problem giving it a try. The amounts of calcium, magnesium and potassium are very modest. I would say if you really want to, give it a try and see how you feel.
-Nancy
 
Thanks for your reply Nancy. Yes it does seem to contain some good things, anybody else ever try this before or have an opinion? Thanks again for the feedback, Lisa :)
 
It does have Garcinia Cambogia Extract which is in a lot of fatburning diet pills. I don't know if it's necessarily bad for you but it is a common ingredient in these type of pills, so that makes me think this particular pill is indeed a diet pill like many others on the market.
 
It doesn't look too bad: there's nothing in it that sets off any warning bells. But I wonder how effective it would be.

Some things to consider:
I'd watch the amounts of magnesium (which can cause excessive bowel mouvements) in it (you didn't indicate the amount). Having too much of one type of electrolyte mineral vs. others can cause imbalances.

Some people say that Garcinia helps with weight loss, but some studies have shown it to be ineffective.

Dandelion and parsley are diuretics (make you pee).

Some doctors (like Andrew Weil) caution against taking echinacea long term (it's good for combatting colds), and if you are allergic to the daisy family of plants, it's a no-no.

Astragalus is a good immune-system booster.

Horsetail is a good source of silcon.

I have never heard of Atractylodes macrocephala (but it must look like something with a big brain, as that's what "macrocephalic" means. Nor have I heard of triphala.

The only thing that makes me cautious is cascara sagrada. I vaguely recall something risky about it. But it's such a vague recollection, I may be recalling some other herb
 
Here's what Andrew Weil says about Cascara Sagrada (I knew there was something hinky about it):

"Overuse is of most concern when the laxatives in question are the "irritant types" such as Ex-Lax and Feen-A-Mint (or the herbal irritants cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana) and senna (Cassia acutifolia). Chemicals and herbs that induce bowel movements quickly, sometimes violently, by irritating the bowel, can cause cramps and diarrhea and lead to laxative dependence, resulting in worse constipation than was present in the first place. Saline laxatives such as milk of magnesia and Epsom salts that work by drawing water into the colon are safer but can also cause problems with chronic use. And those containing mineral oil, such as Haley's M-O, can cause toxicity.""

So there are several laxative ingredients in the mix.
 
Laxatives in diet pills? Yuck. Can we just eat 100 calories less per day, exercise, sleep well and be done with it?

Clare
 
Kathryn, thanks so much for responding. Wow, you've brought a lot of things to my attention. I've been trying to research some of these ingredients, and didn't come up with a whole lot. I had no idea that dandelion and parsley are diuretics (I was wondering if they stuck the parsley in there for good breath or something:D ) and I did find out that cascara sagrada is a type of laxative, which makes me curious on how the directions say to take 2 to 3 tablets 2 times a day? (Hmm, maybe that's where the craveless comes in, you're too busy going to the bathroom to crave food?) On the other hand, the Astragalus being an immune-system booster seems like a good thing. I checked the amount of magnesium and in 3 tablets there is 25 mg. I would never have known that you could have too much and what it could cause. I really appreciate you answering my questions, I learned so much. You really know your stuff. I guess I'll have to really think about if it's worth taking or not. I'll ask my friend as well what/if there have been any side effects for her. I also wonder if any of these herbs can counteract bc pills. Something else to think about. Yeah maybe it is more work too worry about taking these! :) Thanks again, Lisa
 
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