Celebrity Endorsements or Why I Love/Hate the Bert Show

I love the Bert show, let me say that right now.  Day after day, they entertain me like few other morning shows have.  I like the charity projects that they do, like Bert’s Big Adventure.  Chances are that if you have been in the Atlanta area, you have at least  heard of them.  I personally love the critical eye they cast towards listener’s dubious stories.  If you call in and you don’t have your story straight, you will be eaten alive!

The problem is that when it comes to pseudoscience and woo they are woefully inadequate.  I’ve been forced to listen to those damn Atlanta Ghost Hunters too many times.  Now, their latest golden calf is this weight loss supplement called Healthe’ trim.  They have numerous commercials throughout the day with Bert Weiss, the namesake of the show, giving his testimonial of how effective this supplement is, followed with testimonies of actual users.

My inner voice stewed, “These commercials are so annoying! This is CRAP!”  I turned on the radio today and listened to the creator use Bert show airtime to hawk this junk.  In response I sent this email:

Let’s start with the ingredients, shall we?

1. Hoodia gordonii – This supplement has no scientific evidence to support that it does what it says it does.  This doesn’t mean that this doesn’t work; the problem is that people are ingesting this because of claims of appetite suppression with no proof of efficacy or of its safety or side effects.
2. Green Tea Leaf Extract – There is some evidence on this herb, and while it hasn’t been proven in a large and carefully controlled study, there is enough preliminary evidence to suggest that this is some good stuff.  No real problems here; my only gripe is that if this stuff is so good, why don’t manufacturers get some money together and run a large study?  If it’s as good as they say it is, wouldn’t this be the slam dunk they need?
3. Caralluma Fimbriata – Once again, there is no scientific evidence to of the efficacy of this ingredient.
4. Coix seed – I couldn’t find anything about Coix seed relating to weight loss, except that it is used as a diuretic and that in large enough doses, it can cause dehydration.
5. Poria Cocos – Again, here is an herb that has some promise but is lacking in scientific literature. If it’s so beneficial, why not study it? It is used in traditional Chinese medicine and one of the uses listed is as a diuretic.
6. Cassia Seed – Yet again, no scientific literature but I did find two things of interest: first, Cassia is not a species but a genus meaning it describes hundreds of different species. So what exactly is someone ingesting with this drug?  Since the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1992, the supplement companies have not had to disclose what is actually in their product, nor to supply evidence for the efficacy of their product.  The most notable fiasco was “Boom,” a sexual stimulant that was marketed as all natural, but was spiked with Viagra. Since the company didn’t have to disclose what they were putting into it, the deception went unnoticed until people with high blood pressure and heart problems started going to the hospital.  Second, the references in traditional Chinese medicine say that cassia seed is used to “loosen the bowels” to relieve constipation but mentions nothing about weight loss. What is the purpose of this ingredient in this supplement?
7. Lotus Leaf – The company claims an antioxidant effect but what exactly is an antioxidant effect?  Is it an antioxidant or not?  How can it be not an antioxidant but still have the effect of an antioxidant?  Plus, it fights wrinkles?  Really?  Come on.
8. Water Plantain – Again, little to no evidence for efficacy or safety; nothing mentioning that it is for weight loss and no proof that it is safe for consumption.
9. Cumquat – this is a fruit, not a supplement. We might as well offer vegetables in pill form.
10. Methionine – this is an essential acid and as such we need to ingest it or proteins containing it. But if you eat fish, poultry, pork, or dairy, you will easily exceed your recommended daily amount.
11. Mullberry Leaf – It says it protects blood cell membranes but from what exactly?  While there is some merit for further study, the research is mainly in the area of diabetes. So if it works for anything, it would be diabetes and the regulation of blood sugar. There’s a warning label on this, right?  I mean we don’t want diabetics to take this for weight loss and end up screwing up their blood sugar, would we?
12. Gymnema Sylvestre – This ingredient actually has some merit but again, only for diabetes. It is being studied and it seems to reduce blood sugar levels and actually inhibits the tasting of sugar in the mouth!  For about fifteen minutes.  Hey, that diabetic warning is on the label, right? Seems like it would be almost unethical not to have it!
13. Eleutherococcus Senticosus – More commonly known as “Siberian Ginseng,” this ingredient has had many studies done but all have been inconclusive. In addition, Siberian Ginseng has many known drug interactions which can neutralize proscribed medications or add to the effect of medications which once again brings us to the warning label, or lack thereof! So why change the name from Siberain Ginsent to Elethrococcus Senticosus?  Is it to hide something?   Because we don’t actually want people to think about what they’re taking or be forewarned of possible side effects, that kinda cuts into the profits.
14. Pyruvate – This is probably the biggest pile of baloney in the whole thing. The studies supporting these claims are only preliminary, and have not been reproduced by any independent labs. In addition, the doses used in research are orders of magnitude higher than what is marketed today.
15. Trace Minerals – The reason they are trace minerals is because the body doesn’t need them.  If they were needed, the levels found in the body would be higher. You can get enough of these by eating a well balanced diet.
16. Chromium Picolinate – Another ingredient that has not been shown to have any benefits at all.
17. Reseveratrol – This stuff is legitimately exciting stuff and studies are being conducted right now. Really this is good stuff!  The problem is that the most efficient way of absorbing it is not orally but buccally or by holding it in the mouth.  When swallowed, up to 70% of the reservatrol is broken down and very little actually makes it into the bloodstream.  You take healte trim by swallowing it, right?

So what you have here is a product filled with unproven ingredients, useless ingredients, diuretics, laxatives, stimulants, and ingredients that could have negative reactions with prescribed drugs.  So why should I pay money for this?  You said it yourself, the best thing to do is to get in the gym, learn to exercise and learn to eat.  Although we’re all looking for the Pill that will save us the effort, the reality is that we’re a long way from that and it’s not worth throwing your money away on supplements that are useless at best, dangerous at worst.

Then there is the FAQ:

What are trace minerals?

Minerals are the catalysts that support enzyme function, protein, digestion, metabolism cellular electrolyte impulses, and billions of chemical reactions that keep the body functioning properly. Minerals initiate, regulate and control every organ and function in our bodies

Never mind the fact that you get these if you eat a well balanced meal, or even fortified foods.

Can I take the product while taking other medications?
Our experience has been that taking Heathe Trim with other medications has not been a problem, but you should always check with your physician first to answer any of your concerns

Well! Isn’t that convenient? You load the product up with herbs that have known drug interactions and forget to mention them, then tag on “Check with your physician.” Is this laziness, incompetence or intellectual dishonesty?

Is the product FDA approved?

Under DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act) our products do not need approval from the FDA. However, all of our ingredients are classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe).

The GRAS rating is based on the use of the substance rather than the substance itself, meaning that it takes into account estimates of (from the FDA website):

“taking into account the characteristics of the substance, the estimated dietary intake under the intended conditions of use, and the population that will consume the substance”

I read this as saying that the best guess is that this stuff probably won’t cause harm; that doesn’t mean it certainnly won’t.

I’m sure that many people are taking this pill and reaping the benefits of the energy boosts that come with the caffeine but do you really want to pay $55 for a caffeine boost?  I’m surprised that a supplement chock full of diuretics and caffeine haven’t caused people more problems. I wonder what the summer will bring?  All the research in weight loss points to this simple dynamic, calories in vs. calories out.

No wonder drug has come along that will solve the weight loss problem. In this case, save the $55 and buy some more coffee, leave the cream and sugar out and drink it about 45 minutes before a workout.