The latest “fat-blocker,” made from crushed crab shells.
I had a friend recently extoll the virtues of this dietary supplement, saying that the chemicals bind to the fat molecules, and render them indigestible–and that this binding process can be demonstrated in a glass of water.
I’ve always believed that anything that is called a “fat-blocker” is snake oil. But I wasn’t able to find anything on it other than other sites similarly extolling its effectiveness.
Anyone else???
Well, I’m not a scientist, nor do I play one on TV, but even the moderate amount of science knowledge available to me as a middle-class reasonably intelligent educated person tells me that just because a chemical reaction happens in a certain way in a glass of water doesn’t mean it will happen the same way in your stomach.
Duh.
But what a marvelous way to make money from a heretofore unsuspected resource, that of crushed crab shells. I am speechless with envy.
Am I correct in assuming you already checked the FDA’s website? And anyway, they don’t usually concern themselves with whether something works, just whether it’s toxic or not.
I heard a discussion on a radio consumer information show about this stuff. The verdict: has been proven not to work; yet another product targeted at people who want a magic pill to lose weight by without having to eat less or exercise more.
An otherwise very bright friend of mine is a sucker for these kinds of products. When you read the literature accompanying it, the user is told to eat smaller meals, more fruits & vegetables, and start an exercise regimen blah blah blah, in addition to taking the “melt-away” fat burning pills.
I would say follow conventional advice for weight loss, and don’t give hucksters any money! 
Judging from my gut, I’d say I’m sitting on (and surrounded by) an almost perfect fat-blocking chemical!!
None seems to escape, anyways!
Ground up crab shell (chiton) is actually used in the purification of some pharmaceutical chemicals. Its’ ability to absorb fat makes it a good choice for removing fatty cell membrane components from disrupted bacteria. As shown in the infomercials, the fat just sort of clumps up and is easily removed. I’ve no idea whether the same thing happens in the stomach/intestines, or whether the bound fats are still susceptible to hydrolysis and absorbtion.