A Supplement That Works Without Exercise
Pharmaceutical companies would love to sell this body-composition-improving compound, but they can't. It's a natural substance. Here's the science.
It's a common fantasy: Take this pill to lose fat and build muscle without exercise or dieting. The people want it. The pharmaceutical companies want to sell it.
The funny thing is that science discovered this "magic pill" years ago. The drug makers can't sell it though because it's not a drug; it's a natural compound. If it were a synthetic pharmaceutical, you'd see endless commercials for it on every news network.
Check out this 2005 study on the compound:
Scientists recruited 30 overweight young men and gave them either 250 mg of this compound (taken twice per day) or a placebo. After 12 weeks, the men taking the compound…
- Decreased their body fat percentages (determined by DEXA). The average man lost 10 pounds of fat mass.
- Increased their lean body mass by 8 pounds on average.
- Significantly elevated free testosterone levels. Most saw about a 17% boost. Some only experienced an 11% boost; others experienced almost a 23% boost.
How much exercise did the subject do? None. They remained sedentary. What type of diet did they use? They just ate normally. The placebo group's calorie consumption was about the same as the group taking the substance. Neither group dieted.
Now, imagine combining this natural compound with lifting, a little cardio, and better nutrition choices.
The Compound? Forskolin
Forskolin is derived from the root of the herb Coleus forskohlii, a member of the mint family. The scientists in this 2005 study used the "old" version, a 10% forskolin extract.
How did it work? Well, the researchers noticed that forskolin increased levels of cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate). cAMP is an interesting compound because it acts as a chemical switch that turns various body cells on and off.
For instance, increased levels of cAMP can cause the Leydig cells of the testicles to produce more testosterone, which in itself can lead to additional lean body mass. Increased levels of cAMP can also lead to the increased production of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), which leads to the release of free fatty acids to be used as fuel by the body.
This same chemical also upregulates the thyroid, causing some researchers to compare forskolin's effectiveness with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
Where Do I Get It? How Much Do I Take?
Forskolin has come a long way since 2005. The latest form is called forskolin carbonate, sold as Carbolin 19 (Buy at Amazon). This form is more bioavailable and each dose lasts longer in the body – up to 12 hours. (The old stuff only worked for 4 hours.) So, you only need two softgels once per day. If you want to emulate the study above, you'd need three bottles.
Does Forskolin Keep Working?
Most compounds that exhibit a fat-burning effect do so by initiating a chemical reaction through receptors – a chemical group or molecule that receives signals from other chemicals or other stimuli. In most cases, receptors generally get de-sensitized to the original signal. Eventually, the signal either fails to initiate a response, or you need a stronger and stronger signal to get through.
But this isn't the case with forskolin because it's a "post-receptor agent." That means the fat-burning response shouldn't diminish over time. It should be just as effective the last day you take it as it was the first.
Does It Work for Women?
It does. While it probably won't increase their testosterone, it will activate cAMP, which will stimulate the thyroid and increase the release of free fatty acids through increased production of the enzyme HSL. Boosted T4 also activates thermogenic brown adipose tissue (BAT).
References
- Godard MP et al. "Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men." Obes Res. 2005 Aug;13(8):1335-43. PubMed: 16129715.
For me it did nothing.