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All About Chitosan

 

Chitosan is a naturally occurring fat inhibitor. It has the potential to revolutionize the process of losing weight and by so doing, reduce the incidence of some of the most devastating diseases we face today. Chitosan attracts fat and converts it to a form the human body does not absorb. Consequently, by binding to fat, Chitosan renders it completely indigestible, thereby negating it's caloric value. Chitosan-bound fat leaves the intestinal tract having never entered the bloodstream in the first place.
 

Chitosan is remarkable in that it has the ability to absorb 6 to 8 times its weight in fat and oils
 

In addition, because it acts like a super Fiber, supplementing the diet with Chitosan can be considered part of the cleansing process so vital to weight loss. If these two attributes weren't good enough, Chitosan possess many other valuable properties that work to promote health and prevent disease. It would be a gross understatement to say that the substance is anything less than remarkable.
 

CHITOSAN: A BRIEF HISTORY
 

Chitosan has a history of about three decades of use in processes like detoxifying water. When Chitosan is spread over the surface of water, it literally absorbs greases, oils, heavy metals and other potentially toxic substances. Like a "fat magnet," it attracts these big-hazardous substances from drinking water to such an extent that a scum forms in the water, which can be easily removed. Water purification plants throughout the nation use Chitosan for this purpose. What this indicated to scientists was that Chitosan can selectively absorb fats even in a water medium.
 

WHAT EXACTLY IS CHITOSAN?
 

Chitosan is a natural product derived from chitin, a polysaccharide found in the exoskeleton of shellfish like shrimp or crabs. While it has been in existence for millennia, its current form has just recently been prepared. Technically speaking Chitosan is a naturally occurring substance that is chemically similar to cellulose, which is a plant fiber. Like plant fibers, Chitosan possesses many of the same properties as fiber, however unlike plant fiber, it has the ability to significantly bind fat, acting like a "fat sponge" in the digestive tract.
 

The process of synthesizing Chitosan involves taking the shells of shrimp or crabs, grinding them to a fine powder and then deacetylating this powder. This refers to taking off specific chemical groups so that the remaining compound is more active in its ability to soak up fats.
 

Like some plant fibers, Chitosan is not digestible, therefore it has no caloric value. No matter how much Chitosan you ingest, its calorie count remains at zero. This is a very important property for any weight loss product.
 

FUNCTIONS OF CHITOSAN
 

  • ABSORBS AND BINDS FAT/PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS
  • INHIBITS LDL CHOLESTEROL AND BOOSTS HDL CHOLESTEROL
  • PROMOTES HEALING OF ULCERS/LESIONS
  • ANTIBACTERIAL ANTI CANDIDA
  • ACTS AS AN ANTACID
  • INHIBITS THE FORMATION OF PLAQUE/TOOTH DECAY
  • HELPS TO CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE
  • MAY TREAT AND PREVENT IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
  • HELPS TO PREVENT CONSTIPATION
  • CALCIUM ENHANCER/BONE STRENGTHENER
  • REDUCES BLOOD LEVELS OF URIC ACID
  • ANTI-TUMOR ACTION

Under optimal conditions, Chitosan can bind 6 to 8 times its weight with all the lipid aggregates tested. Studies in Helsinki have shown that those individuals taking Chitosan lost an average of 8 percent of their body weight in a week. Chitosan increased its oil-holding capacity over other fibers.
 

CHOLESTEROL CONTROL
 

Chitosan has the very unique ability to lower LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) while boosting HDL cholesterol (the good kind). Laboratory tests performed on rats showed that "Chitosan depresses serum and liver cholesterol levels in cholesterol-fed rats without affecting performance, organ weight or the nature of the feces". Japanese researchers have concluded that Chitosan "appears to be an effective hypocholesterolemic agent". In other words, it can effectively lower blood serum cholesterol levels with not apparent side effects.
 

Studies show that Chitosan is as effective as cholestryramine (a cholesterol lowering drug) in controlling blood serum cholesterol without the deleterious side effects typical of cholestryramine.
 

Chitosan decreased blood cholesterol levels by 66.2 percent.
 

Chitosan effectively lowered cholesterol absorption more than guar gum or cellulose.
 

Laboratory test results indicated that a 7.5% Chitosan formula maintained adequate cholesterol levels in rats, despite a dramatic increase in the intake of cholesterols'
 

ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTICANDIDA PROPERTIES OF CHITOSAN
 

Chitosan has been effectively used to treat acne due to its ability to inhibit certain bacteria which cause the inflammation associated with acne. Chitosan has exhibited the ability to kill candida in clinical tests involving mice due to its effect on protease action. When used as a food preservative, Chitosan exhibited stronger bactericidal activity than lactic acid. In some tests, Chitosan even demonstrated a dramatic antiparasitic action. Chitosan very impressively reduced the amount of bacterial translocation which can occur after a burn injury. It is believed that by reducing the bacterial population of the colon, the potential for a life threatening infection to set in after a trauma is decreased.
 

NOTE: Chitosan also demonstrated that it has the ability to kill certain viruses.
 

WOUND AND ULCER HEALING AND CHITOSAN
 

Tests using topical applications of Chitosan found that it promoted the faster healing of wounds or abscesses that had become infected with staph infection.
 

Topical applications of Chitosan decreased coagulation time which is vital to the healing of wounds like bleeding ulcers.
 

CHITOSAN IS A NATURAL ANTACID
 

Japan has already issued a patent for using Chitosan as a very effective and highly safe antacid.
 

ANTI-PLAQUE ACTION OF CHITOSAN IN THE MOUTH
 

Because of its antacid action, Chitosan raises the pH in the mouth and binds to the bacteria that cause the formation of dental plaque and subsequent tooth decays
 

CHITOSAN AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
 

Some clinical studies have found that Chitosan worked as an antihypertensive agent and lowered blood pressure in male subjects which were fed a high salt diets " Chitosan has the ability to decrease blood levels of chloride which influences the activity of an angiotensin converting enzyme. Angiotensin is vital to the maintenance of normal blood pressured.
 

CHITOSAN AND URIC ACID
 

High protein diets that come from animal sources can cause uric acid levels to rise and for some people that means a bout with gout. Chitosan has the ability to lower uric acid levels.
 

THE ANTI-TUMOR ACTION OF CHITOSAN
 

Clinical tests conducted with in vitro tumor cells found that Chitosan showed a strong inhibitory activity on each of the tumor cells while chitin did not.
 

CHITOSAN AS A FAT BLOCKER
 

While all the above properties of Chitosan are valuable, its extraordinary ability to block or bind fats promises to be its most valuable asset. As mentioned previously, getting rid of fat after it has been stored as adipose tissue is much more difficult than neutralizing its effects before it enters the blood stream. Chitosan accomplishes this very formidable task by converting fat into a form that the body does not absorb. It becomes an inert substance which is readily expelled from the body.
 

HOW DOES CHITOSAN WORK?
 

Chitosan affects fat in the stomach before it has a chance to become metabolized. It dissolves within the stomach itself and converts into a gel which "captures" fat, thereby preventing its absorption and subsequent storage. Chitosan renders the fat useless to the body. Technically, it creates a "grease ball" out of excess fat which is too large to be metabolized. Both the Chitosan and the unmetabolized fat are excreted in the stool.
 

Simply stated:
 

 

  • Chitosan binds excess fat molecules and fatty acids.
  • Chitosan binds dietary cholesterol
  • Chitosan reduces the absorption of all of the above
  • Chitosan can function as a non-digestible dietary fiber
  • Chitosan correlates with improved cardiovascular health

THE REMARKABLE VALUE OF CHITOSAN
 

Any of us who occasionally eat KFC, a Big Mac, Whopper or a slice of cheesecake every once in a while can profoundly benefit from the fat absorbing action of Chitosan. As a fat binder, Chitosan can significantly reduce the amount of fat that enters our blood stream. Chitosan binds to excess fats in the stomach and lower intestine. The foods mentioned above are full of excess fat grams.
 

If you take Chitosan with a fatty meal, a good portion of these dietary fats will be rendered useless.
 

CHITOSAN ENABLES THE BODY TO BYPASS THE METABOLIC PROCESSES NECESSARY TO BIOLOGICALLY AND CHEMICALLY DEAL WITH THE PRESENCE OF FAT IN THE STOMACH AND INTESTINES.
 

Remember when we discussed how the liver has to deal with excess fat? Chitosan decreases the liver's work load which lightens the stress put on other body organs by the presence of excess fat. In other words, Chitosan eases the metabolic processes that kick in after we eat excess fat. As far as our organs know, those fat grams never in the first place.
 

WHY CHITOSAN IS CALLED THE FIBER OF THE FUTURE
 

After years of fiber "hyping" most of us are well aware of the profound benefits that fiber has for human health and longevity. Fiber is considered a dieter's best friend. The International Journal of Obesity has stated that adding dietary fiber to a low fat diet can help reduce hunger and increase the number of bowel movements; two actions which greatly enhance weight loss. Fiber has also been linked to slower rises in blood glucose which also profoundly affect how we store excess calories and when we feel hungry. In some respects, Chitosan is superior to plant fibers in that it forms a gel that is both more fluid and more stable. Imagine a fiber that can do all of these things and binds fats in the process. Chitosan is just such a substance. Chitosan is a positively charged fiber that binds to negatively charged fatty acids. Technically speaking, this means that Chitosan is "lipophilic" meaning that it "loves fat" or is chemically attracted to it.
 

A fiber that attracts fat is unique to say the least. Most fibers are hydrophilic which means they repel fat and attract water. Psyllium, for example, is used for its bulk forming action. This type of fiber absorbs water and is easily passed through the intestine, helping to maintain a normal stool.
 

Chitosan is different. While it possesses many of the same benefits as plant fibers like psyllium, it can inactivate fats. For this reason, combining Chitosan with fibers like psyllium is highly recommended and can only serve to further support the weight loss process. Chitosan will bind the fat and the psyllium will speed its journey through the intestines where it will be expelled.
 

Chitosan is considered a crude fiber that can also improve the bulk of the stool. Stool samples tested in people who have taken Chitosan confirm that an increased absorption of fat has occurred.
 

THE BULKING PROPERTIES OF CHlTOSAN EXPEDITE WEIGHT LOSS BY:
 

1. INCREASING SATIETY

Chitosan creates a sense of fullness in the stomach which serves to inhibit the appetite and discourage eating.
 

2. INCREASING DIETARY FIBER INTAKE

The fact that fiber is the key to good health cannot be stressed enough. Experts have been touting the incredible health benefits of fiber for years now. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, many of us are still fiber depleted.
 

3. NEUTRALIZING EXCESS ACID
 

If you visualize your stomach as a small waste water system, you can more easily understand that Chitosan works in the stomach much the same way that it helps to purify water supplies. Frequently we add alcohol, fats, salt, carbohydrates, minerals and fats to our stomach mixture. Chitosan begins immediately to gather together excess fats from this blend of substances which initially gives our bodies an advantage we would normally not have.
 

SUBSTANCES THAT POTENTIATE THE ACTION OF CHITOSAN
 

Plant fibers can be likened to a bundle of string that can resemble a tangled mass. In order for the human body to utilize the benefits of fiber, it must "unravel." Chitosan is similar to other fibers in that it too must unravel to produce its maximum benefit. Chitosan can absorb 6 to 8 times its weight in lipids.

When certain substances are added to Chitosan, its remarkable fat binding ability can be significantly enhanced. Ascorbic acid is one of these substances.
 

1. THE SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF ASCORBIC ACID WITH CHITOSAN
 

Ascorbic acid, which is a source of vitamin C, serves to enhance and augment the adsorbability of lipids. In other words, it makes the fat binding action of Chitosan more complete. Clinical studies have discovered that supplementing Chitosan with ascorbic acid resulted in even less fat digestion and absorption in the intestines.
 

The addition of ascorbic acid almost doubles Chitosan's effectiveness as a fat blocker.

2. CHELATED MINERALS ARE VITAL TO EXPEDITE THE WEIGHT LOSS PROCESS
 

The very best approach to weight loss is to nutritionally augment food choices with nutrient supplementation. Certain biochemical compounds are essential to promoting vigor during the process of thermogenesis. Certain specific chelated minerals act to bolster, support and protect the organ systems of the body.
 

For example, when fat is burned heat and energy are released. If a lack of certain minerals exists, energy levels will drop. Minerals help to transport needed nutrients to depleted areas of the body, thereby stemming off the fatigue we so often experience after eating a fatty meal. Even more importantly, free radicals are released whenever fat is consumed and burned and the presence of chelated minerals helps to expedite the removal of these metabolizes and facilitate the availability of fuel for energy.
 

CHITOSAN: SAFETY ISSUES
 

Chitosan may seem too good to be true. Can one product really accomplish all of the marvelous things Chitosan does and still be safe for human consumption? Chitosan has been safely used for more than two decades.
 

CHITOSAN IS A SAFE FOOD INGREDIENT THAT IS BIODEGRADABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY BIOCOMPATIBLE.
 

Chitosan is not only safe when ingested, it is also environmentally friendly. Other than its fat binding action, Chitosan remains virtually inactive in the human body. It is low in toxicity and allergic properties and is considered safe. Some people who have taken Chitosan have softer bowel movements, which is considered a plus for most of us. Studies in which rats consumed a diet of up to 10% Chitosan showed that no toxic side effects occurred.
 

YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE CHITOSAN IF YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF SHELLFISH ALLERGY OR ARE PREGNANT OR BREAST FEEDING!

NOTE: Whenever taking any form of fiber, drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day is highly recommended.
 

CHITOSAN PROVIDES A REALISTIC APPROACH TO FAT AND FIBER INTAKE
 

Low fat, high fiber advocates have recommended a diet that is calorically fueled between 10 and 20 percent fat and includes 35 to 45 grams of fiber. Unfortunately, most of us, no matter how good our intentions are, will not be able to sustain this type of diet. Therefore, if we are going to face facts, a diet that reduces fat intake from 20 to 30 percent and increases fiber to 20 or 30 grams is much more feasible in controlling weight, avoiding artery disease and promoting good colon health.
 

Taking Chitosan prior to eating a meal can make dietary fat goals much more attainable while promoting a number of desirable health benefits. Because obesity ranks among the top ten diseases (which, by the way, are almost all related to obesity), the notion of a safe, health-promoting fat blocker is desirable.
 

Weight control needs to be realistic and effective. Workable weight loss programs are few and far between and usually involve a life style that many of us can never incorporate. While Chitosan is not a panacea for maintaining our youthful figures, it is a very powerful dietary complement which can facilitate what might otherwise be unattainable. Lowering the amount of dietary fats we eat, exercising more and making sure we get enough fiber seems to be the winning combination for health and longevity. Chitosan will inevitably serve as a valuable vehicle for attaining optimal nutrition and robust health.
 

Chitosan References
 

  • Fat inhibitor, (1,2,3,4,5,6,7).
  • Chitosan inhibits fat digestion (9,5,7).
  • Chitosan is Biodegradable and Biocompatible (6, 8).
  • Traps fat (9).
  • Chitosan has better lipid binding than some prescription cholesterol-fighting drugs (1,10).
  • Chitosan binds with 4-6 times its own weight of lipids, foods and blood fats (2).
  • Lowers cholesterol, and triglycerides (11).
  • Safety (5,6)

 

1. Michihiro, S. et al, "Hypocholestererolemic action of Chitosans with different viscosity in rats," Laboratory Nutrition, Saga University 1988
 

2. Nauss J L, et al, "The Binding of Micellar lipids to Chitosan," Lipids 18 (10). 1983. 714-719 Chitosan absorbs 4-6 times its own weight in fat
 

3. Kanauchi, K. et al. "Mechanism for the inhibition of fat digestion by Chitosan," Bosci Biotechnol Biochem, 1995 May: 59 (5): 786-90
 

4. Deuchi, O. et al. "Decreasing effect of Chitosan on the apparent fat digestibility by rats fed on high fat diet," Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry, 1994
 

5. Chobot, V. "Physiotherapeutic aspects of diseases of the circulatory system," Ceska a Slovenska Farmacie, Aug 44: 190-5, 1995
 

6. Chandy, T. Sharma, C.P. "Chitosan - as a biomaterial biosurface technology division," Sree Chita Triunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Poojandrum, India. 1990
 

7. Vahouny G.V. et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Aug 1983, 38 (2) p 278-84, ISSN 2-9165, Journal Code: 3EY
 

8. LeHoux, J.G. et al. "Some effects of Chitosan on liver function of rats," Endocrinology, 1993, March l078-84
 

9. Zochina, Z.M. et al. "Inhibition of Chitosan of infection of t-series bacteriophages in the escherichia coli," Mikrobiologia, 1995 March/April: 64 (2) 211-5
 

10. Sugana, M Fujikawa, T. "Hiratsuji, Y. Nakashima, K. Fukunda, N. and Hasegawa, Y. "A novel use of Chitosan as a hypocholesterolemic agent in rats," American Journal of Cain. Nutrition, April 1980: pages 787-793
 

11. Birketvedt G.S. Clinical Report, Dovre Medical Center, Fjellhammer, Norway, May 1991
 


 

 

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