Ingredient Spotlight: Raspberry Ketones
We think it is about time to address the elephant in the room, or rather the ingredient; raspberry ketones. Raspberry ketones, or RK as we will call it for short, have had quite the roller coaster of reviews since it made a big splash in the supplement market about 5 years ago. At first it was touted as a miracle ingredient labeled as the next big product to combat obesity and aid in weight loss. Then, two years later it was ridiculed as the most useless supplement on the market and the only thing it made lighter, was your wallet. We have done the research, read the studies, and think it is important to address what raspberry ketones are and what they do; because they ARE beneficial.
First, Raspberry ketones are a natural phenolic compound, which gives the aroma of red raspberries. The odd thing is, raspberry ketones aren’t just found in raspberries, they are found in other fruits such as cranberries, and blackberries as well. RK do not have a lot of quality studies done on them which makes it tough to judge effectiveness relative to the claims made about them. However, numerous clinical trials as well as anecdotal evidence has been sited showing that RK has the ability to suppress appetite, improve lipolysis and fatty acid breakdown, and provide other anti-obesity actions. Let’s take a look at why we use raspberry ketones, and what you can truly expect from this ingredient.
Appetite Suppression:
Appetite suppression can be a touchy subject to study because hunger is subjective and can be altered by a variety of things. We were able to locate a study that put RK to the test against other ingredients that claimed to suppress appetite to determine whether or not it was actually a benefit. A 2018 study tested food consumption over the course of 2 hours after ingesting raspberry ketones. This study showed that dosing raspberry ketones before a meal caused a 79.4% reduction in food consumed an hour later (1)! In fact, out of the 6 different ingredients tested, only one, named UP601, showed a greater appetite suppressant effect than raspberry ketones. As listed on the label with Lipøshield, you can either use this with a meal, or before a meal, or even an ingredient in a meal. We have had positive feedback from individuals who use Lipøshield anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour before eating. Many anecdotal reviews state that appetite suppression hits hard, and lasts, especially if you are looking to cut cravings mid-day. This can play a huge role in any diet plan where you are counting calories, or even in everyday life to help you make smarter choices.
Anti-Obesity effects:
While appetite suppression can be catalyst to anti-obesity effects, raspberry ketones provide other benefits that can lead to weight reduction as well as prevent weight gain. One aspect RK can help with is improved lipolysis and translo
Raspberry ketones have also been studied at the genetic level to find what role it plays with certain adipogenic (fat creating cells) gene expressions. A 2015 study tested RK to determine by which mechanism it works to improve lipid metabolism. The study found that adipocytes (fat cells) treated with RK suppressed the expression of major genes involved in the adipogenesis pathway, while also suppressing fat accumulation (3). This study concluded that raspberry ketones can inhibit the production of fat cells at the GENETIC level! For those who may store fat easier or in specific areas, raspberry ketones could potentially help to reduce the production of fat cells in those ‘problem’ areas, most typically around the waist and thighs/glutes! Now, we do not claim that raspberry ketones or Lipøshield will spot reduce the places where you hold fat but the studies have shown that it can reduce the amount of fat cells that are created throughout your body.
Lastly, but definitely one of the most important aspects that RK has shown, is its potential to turn white adipose tissue (WAT) to brown adipose tissue (BAT). These two types of fat have completely different purposes with the body, with brown fat generally helping the body to produce heat and thermogenesis; it is the “good fat”. On the opposite side, white fat is generally stored, and frequently found around the mid-section, certain small bones, and heart; and contrarily named the “bad fat”. White fat commonly leads to cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and a long list of other diseases. In a 2018 study conducted on RK effects, research showed that through a few biological mechanisms, RK has the ability to have a “browning” effect on white fat, converting white fat to brown fat. It was found that RK increased mitochondrial biogenesis and the expression of browning-specific proteins and lipolytic enzymes (4). Through these different effects, it was concluded that the supplementation of raspberry ketones can be very effective at treating obesity, especially in the mid section!
By using Lipøshield regularly, especially if you are carrying additional fat around your waist, you will benefit from white fat “browning” and potential to have it burned as energy rather than being stored. While more mechanisms are still being studied and discovered, this is by far one of the biggest reasons we chose to include raspberry ketones into Lipøshield.
We have done the research, read the studies, and have concluded that yes, Raspberry Ketones provide a variety of health benefits, especially when it comes to anti-obesity and weight reduction properties. This ingredient has been put in the doghouse for years and frowned upon after its shining moment, but we feel it is a great addition to those looking to lose body fat and change their overall body composition. We found raspberry ketones also provide a great satiety benefit within Lipøshield, and help to reduce our appetite and food consumption, especially when taken before a meal. User feedback has reported many of the same effects we have mentioned here, and we are confident that this ingredient will no longer be looked at useless but as a gateway to reducing obesity and improving weight loss.
Studies:
1- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.
2- https://www.researchgate.net/