In part 1 of our Relacore and Relacore PM review, we discussed in detail the link between stress, cortisol, and body fat accumulation. We also debunked the Relacore claim of being the #1 belly fat pill, and helping to reduce belly fat - because you simply cannot spot reduce.
To recap, stress is one of the causes of obesity. Relacore claims that stress leads to the piling up of fat around the waist area, and that it is the answer to getting rid of belly fat - however, we're smart enough to know that stress causing weight gain will lead to an overall weight gain, not just in the belly area.
Stress is a state of disharmony caused by internal or external forces that threatens your state of homeostasis. This stress is counteracted by a series of physiological and behavioral responses that aim to re-establish homeostasis within your body. Chronic stress is a prolonged threat to homeostasis, and can lead to the manifestation of various diseases and syndromes including obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension. From our understanding of the link between stress and weight gain, we can see how reducing the level of stress is beneficial to preventing weight gain, and perhaps even help with weight loss. This is where relacore can provide various benefits to reduce stress and improve a sense of well being. To understand how it all works, let's review some of the Relacore ingredients.
Relacore Ingredients Information
Although Relacore is not promoted as a fat burner, which it is not, it is promoted as a diet pill that will mitigate stress and reduce your belly fat, and we've already established that you can't spot reduce, so Relacore's claim of reducing belly fat is unsubstantiated. It should really be promoted as a stress reducing supplement, but promoting it as a diet pill will make it an easier sell. Below are the Relacore ingredients:
Relacore Ingredients & Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Capsule
Vitamin C
333
mg
555%
Calcium (as carbonate & Pantothenate)
21.5
mg
2%
Thiamin (Vitamin B1)
5
mg
333%
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
7
mg
412%
Vitamin B6
17
mg
850%
Vitamin B12
3.5
mcg
58%
Biotin
150
mcg
50%
Pantothenic Acid
(as calcium pantothenate)
7.8
mg
78%
Magnesium
67
mg
17%
Relacore™
a proprietary blend of:
266
mg
Magnolia (bark) SE
**
Passion Flower (herb) SE
**
Scutellaria (root) SE
**
Niacinamide
**
Panax Ginseng (root)
**
Pinellia (tuber)
**
Poria (fungus)
**
Jujuba (fruit)
**
Perilla (leaf)
**
Phosphotidylserine
**
Magnolia (bark) - is a traditional Chinese medicine also known as Hou Po used for treating low qi (energy). It is used in Chinese medicine to promote Qi movement. In more general uses, magnolia bark is used as an anti-stress and anti anxiety product. In one study involving rats, the researchers found that "administration of Banxia-houpu decoction and fluoxetine produced beneficial effects on the stressed rats by improving sucrose consumption."1
In another study involving overweight human subjects who eat more in stressful situations, researchers studied the effects of Magnolia on weight control. The subjects were treated with extracts of Magnolia and Phellodendron or a placebo for 6 weeks. Measurements for cortisol levels, weight change, and psychological measures of stress were taken. They found that there was significant weight gain for the placebo group, but no significant weight gain in the magnolia group.
The study also found that the treatment group tended to have lower levels of cortisol in the evening compared to the placebo group. Bedtime cortisol levels decreased in the treated group and increased in the placebo group. The results of this study lead to the conclusion that obese subjects who eat in response to stress may benefit from taking a diet supplement containing extracts of Magnolia and Phellodendron, where the mechanism of action is through the reduction of cortisol levels and possibly perceived level of stress, helping the subjects maintain body weight. 2
Passion Flower - also known as Passiflora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Passifloraceae. Their leaves and roots have a long history of use among native americans where fresh or dried leaves are used to make a tea that is used to treat insomnia, hysteria and epilepsy. Passiflora is also used as a pain killer, and it is found to have anti depressant properties. Studies have found passiflora to improve performance and treat anxiety; however more studies are needed. 3
Niacinamide - is a B Complex vitamin (B3). It is needed for over 50 body processes. Like all the B-complex vitamins, it is important for release of energy from carbohydrates and fats, the metabolism of proteins, making certain hormones, and assisting in the formation of red blood cells. Read more about Vitamin B3 here.
Panax Ginseng - Ginseng is one of the most highly regarded energy tonics of Chinese herbalism. It is an herbal adaptogen, helping the body to adapt to a variety of stresses. It is considered to be one of the most powerful of medicinal herbs-improving one's circulatory system and enhancing the body's metabolism. Read more about Ginseng here.
Pinellia - is also known as ban xia in Chinese medicine. It is often used in conjunction with magnolia bar in Chinese remedies. Pinellia appears to have anti-depressant effects as one of the main ingredients in Banxia Houpu decoction, which is used to treat depression. See magnolia above.
As you can see from the ingredients above, Relacore is designed to combat stress and help reduce the stress levels one experience. With Relacore, the individual can expect to feel less stress while taking it, and they should notice an improvement in overall mood as various ingredients in Relacore have anti-stress and anti-depressant effects.
Relacore Side Effects and Benefits
There are both benefits and side effects of Relacore. Let's start off with the benefits:
More energy
Feel calmer
Better sense of well-being
Stress relief
Some call Relacore their "Happy Pill"
Feel more relaxed
Weight loss - only in some cases
Weight control
Along with the benefits, Relacore comes with various possible side effects as well including:
Dizziness
Feel agitated
Light headed
Increased heart rate
Nausea
Headaches
Difficulty sleeping
While Relacore is not a definitive supplement for weight loss, it can provide many benefits for weight control. It helps reduce stress levels, help maintain weight, and may help you lose a little in the process. However, I wouldn't put your hopes in Relacore for weight loss. You can expect to feel less stressed, and enjoy a better sense of well being using Relacore.
Along with Relacore, you must ensure to have a good diet program that will help you lose weight and burn fat. Your diet must allow you to continue to lose weight or maintain your weight without re-gaining what you lost after you've finished using Relacore diet pills.
1. Life Sci. 2003 Nov 21;74(1):55-73.
Behavioral and biochemical studies on chronic mild stress models in rats treated with a Chinese traditional prescription Banxia-houpu decoction.Li JM, Kong LD, Wang YM, Cheng CH, Zhang WY, Tan WZ.
Institute of Functional Biomolecule, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
2. Altern Ther Health Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;12(1):50-4.
Effect of a proprietary Magnolia and Phellodendron extract on weight management: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.Garrison R, Chambliss WG.
Next Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Irvine, CA, USA.
3. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan 24;(1):CD004518.
Passiflora for anxiety disorder.Miyasaka LS, Atallah AN, Soares BG.
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazilian Cochrane Centre, Rua de Pedro Toledo 598, Vila Clementino, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil, 04039-001. lincoln.miyasaka@terra.com.br
