The keto diet has been around for decades. It was first developed to help people suffering from epilepsy avoid some of the triggers that set of an attack, notably in children. The diet involves starving the body of its normal sources of fuel – carbohydrates and to a lesser extent, protein. When the body runs of these, it turns to its fat deposits and starts creating an alternative type of fuel called ketone bodies. When this happens the body is said to be in ketosis.
Remaining in ketosis can be difficult. Athletes who follow the keto diet for instance may need to consume carbohydrates and protein just prior to an event, or strenuous training. When this happens it can take a while for the body to go back into ketosis again. This is where keto supplements come in. However, the Shark Tank keto pill is not one of these.
There are several plant compounds that have traditionally been used in weight loss preparations. They have also attracted the attention of weight loss supplement manufacturers and science. Some of them, like the forskolin that is included in a type of ‘keto’ pill, work by stimulating fat cells to release stored fat. Because this is similar to what being in a state of ketosis does, pills that contain these compounds have been called ‘keto pills’. In reality though they’re not related to the keto diet, ketosis, or the ketone bodies produced by the body when it goes into ketosis. Rather, they simply encourage fat cells to give up their fat more readily to be used as fuel.
Whilst there has only been limited research to date into forskolin and its fat burning effects in humans, there is some evidence to suggest that it may help. For example, the overweight men in one of the trials who were given a pill containing forskolin lost body fat during the trial compared to the control group. However, they didn’t actually reduce their body weight overall. This group were also found to have elevated blood levels of free testosterone compared to the control group. Testosterone can help upregulate the release of fat from fat cells so it’s thought this may have been partly responsible for the reduction in body fat experienced by those who took the pills.
Forskolin – What Is It?
Forskolin is one of the plant compounds found in Coleus forskholii roots. The correct botanical name for this plant is Plectranthus barbatus whilst its common name is Indian coleus. It grows in India, Nepal, and Thailand, and is closely related to mint. It has traditionally been used as a treatment for skin, lung and heart conditions. The herb is also being studied in relation to treatments for asthma, glaucoma, and of course weight loss. It may also be useful in treating a range of other health disorders including allergies, Ibs, psoriasis, hypertension and congestive heart failure amongst others.