A Little-Known (but Powerful) Fat Blocker

Arnold Fox, MD, internist and cardiologist in private practice in Beverly Hills, CA. He is coauthor of The Fat Blocker Diet: The Revolutionary Discovery that Lowers Cholesterol, Reduces Fat, and Controls Weight Naturally

In my 40 years of practicing medicine, I've seen every kind of diet aid you can imagine.

But when it comes to producing lasting weight loss, I've never seen anything like chitosan.

This natural food supplement -- made from the shells of lobsters -- forms a gel in the stomach. This gel binds with any fats that are present, forming fatty "clumps" that are indigestible. These clumps pass out of the body when you use the bathroom.

Animal studies have shown that chitosan taken before a meal blocks absorption of up to 50% of consumed fat.

One double-blind study in Italy found that people who ate a low-fat diet and used chitosan lost an average of 16 pounds... compared to seven pounds for those who followed a low-fat diet without chitosan.

I usually tell my patients to set a target weight, then take 1,000 mg of chitosan 30 minutes before lunch and dinner. Once the goal is reached, they can stop taking chitosan.

Taking this powerful fat-blocker does NOT give you permission to eat whatever you want. But it will give you an extra push in the right direction.

There's no evidence that chitosan causes any side effects -- but consult your doctor before trying it just to be safe, especially if you're taking any other medications.

Caution: Avoid chitosan if you're allergic to shellfish, or are pregnant or nursing. Don't take vitamins A, D, or e within four hours of taking chitosan. If you do, the health benefits of these vitamins will be lost.

Chitosan is available at most health food stores, some drug stores, and on Amazon.