In a world saturated with weight loss solutions, Calorad, a collagen-based dietary supplement, has been making claims of helping people lose weight, rebuild lean muscle tissue, and restore a natural collagen base. Marketed across the United States and Canada for over 30 years, Calorad boasts an impressive success rate and promises additional benefits like improved sleep and increased energy. But does this product live up to the hype? Let's delve into the details and examine the evidence.
What is Calorad?
Calorad Classic is a liquid protein weight loss supplement that was introduced in the US and Canadian marketplace in 1984 and advertised on television and radio. It comes in both bovine and marine forms. Calorad is a liquid dietary supplement composed primarily of 3,000 mg (3 grams) of Type II hydrolyzed collagen (hydrolysate) from either beef (bovine) or tuna (marine) sources and 8 mg of aloe vera, both of which are listed as active ingredients. The supplement label states that Calorad is fat-free and carbohydrate-free and that 1 serving (1/2 ounce) provides 3 grams of protein and 10 calories. Calorad Classic also comes in a Kosher formulation (marine).
Calorad claims to support lean muscle, which in turn facilitates fat loss. The idea is that as we age, the body produces less collagen, leading to a change in the fat/muscle ratio. Calorad aims to address this by helping to lose weight, rebuild lean muscle tissue, and restore a natural collagen base of self-repair.
The Science Behind Collagen and Weight Loss
Collagen is a protein that makes up about 30% of the body and is a natural component in our tendons, joints, ligaments, muscles, and hair. It's essentially the 'glue' that holds us together. As we age and are exposed to environmental factors, our natural collagen production decreases, leading to wrinkles and breakdown of lean muscle.
Calorad leverages hydrolyzed collagen, a degraded form of protein. The theory is that this collagen supplement can help rebuild muscle mass and, in turn, facilitate weight loss.
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Collagen is one of the most satisfying proteins, in that, it may help you stay full for longer, thereby, reducing the amount of calories you consume throughout the day. With that in mind, it seems that collagen does have the potential to create a feeling of fullness, that could help you lose weight.
Ingredients and Their Potential Effects
The key ingredients in Calorad Classic are:
- Collagen Hydrolysate (bovine or marine): (340mg) The primary ingredient, intended to rebuild lean muscle and restore collagen base.
- Aloe Vera: (8mg) Known for its laxative effect, which may cause gastrointestinal upset in some individuals.
- Sodium: (12mg)
Claims and Supporting Evidence
Calorad makes several claims, including:
- Weight Loss: The primary claim is that regular use causes weight loss without loss of lean muscle mass.
- Muscle Rebuilding: Calorad supports lean muscle which in turn facilitates fat loss.
- Improved Sleep, Energy, and Overall Wellness: Most people will also experience welcome ‘side benefits’ such as improved sleep, increased energy, overall toning, rejuvenation, and a greater sense of wellness.
The distributors of the product offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. The manufacturer claims that 40% of subjects will lose weight within 1 month, 75% after 2 months and 87% after 3 months. To support these claims, the distributing companies cite a clinical study of Calorad (also unpublished and non-peer reviewed) by Joel B. Lao. Lao is a Doctor of Internal Medicine, and medical consultant in the Philippines who studied the effects of Calorad and its effect on overweight and/or obese individuals. The subjects included 50 overweight or obese individuals who were observed over a 90-day period. One bottle of Calorad was provided to each of the subjects every month for a 3-month period. In month 1, the average weight loss was 5.7 pounds. The claim that Calorad Classic facilitates weight loss while building or maintaining lean muscle mass is based upon an unpublished and non-peer reviewed study by Davis et al. in which 300 subjects between the ages of 17-77 years, were followed for 1 year, and the majority of whom lost weight (an average of 3.75 pounds per month) but maintained lean muscle mass.
However, it's important to note that the studies cited are:
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- Unpublished: These studies have not been formally published in a scientific journal.
- Non-Peer Reviewed: They have not been scrutinized by other experts in the field.
This raises concerns about the reliability and validity of the findings.
Examining the Claims Critically
Several points need careful consideration:
Testimonials vs. Scientific Evidence: The company lists a number of anecdotal testimonials claiming that Calorad is great. One of the main limitations of testimonials is that they do not separate cause and effect from coincidence. For example, if someone started using Calorad at the same time they started eating healthier and exercising, then they would have lost weight and felt healthier anyway.
Collagen as Degraded Protein: Hydrolysed collagen is nothing more than degraded protein (collagen is a bodily protein). Why not eat an egg or a slice of chicken, or a can of tuna for $1.39?
The Importance of Caloric Deficit: It is probable that the said weight loss associated with Calorad stems from the fact that you’re not supposed to eat anything before bed - three hours to be exact. Let’s say you were previously eating 2500 calories per day, and hypothetically, 500 of those calories were regularly consumed within three hours before bed. This alone would constitute a pound of fat (half kg) per week. If you eat less that what our bodies need, you lose weight.
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Muscle Gain Requires Resistance Training: Believe it or not, claims persist that Calorad will actually increase muscle mass. To take this one step further, you could inject yourself with anabolic steroids (not that I advocate that) and not gain an gram of muscle unless you add in some heavy resistance training. But even so, this would not cause an increase in lean body mass. If you’re selling Calorad, then you should be able to provide evidence that the product can support muscle growth. To the best of my knowledge, there are no other independent and unbiased reviews on the internet that do not have an ulterior marketing motive.
Potential Side Effects and Concerns
While Calorad is generally considered safe, some users have reported:
- Unappealing Taste and Smell: Some users reported that this product had an unappealing taste and smell.
- Gastrointestinal Upset: Due to the aloe vera content, some individuals may experience gastrointestinal discomfort.
Dosage and Usage
Suggested Use: Take a measured half ounce (one tablespoon) each night, before bedtime with water on an empty stomach.
Since Calorad® Classic is a natural product, it is recommended to use it for three to five consecutive months.
Calorad and Candida
Due to the extensive use of antibiotics and other drugs in our country, some people may have changed their body’s natural chemistry and flora of their intestinal tract. This reduces all good & necessary bacteria and microbes. And in some cases they are destroyed all together. Candida is totally devastating to the body and only forms when the body’s good bacteria is no longer present enough to keep the yeast in check. Excess yeast can coat your internal organs with a thick layer of mucus. This can prevent the transfer of nutrients into and out of the body. Candida can be very hard to get rid of.
Agrisept-L® is an all natural, synergistic blend of anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties found from citrus. It eliminates bad bacteria and microbes in the body. It’s non-toxic and has been proven in live blood cell testing to be helpful against the outgrowth of Candida. Agrisept-L® has NO negative or harmful side effects! Agrisept-L® is so versatile and easy to use, we recommend it to everyone! This all-natural, non-toxic liquid is loaded with bioflavonoids for healthy antioxidant benefits-inside and out.
Cost and Availability
You can buy the liquid drops or get this product in capsule form. A 30-day supply of capsules retails for $45.00, while 30 servings of the liquid will cost $40.95.
Personal Experiences and Flea Market Memories
Back in 1997, my mother and I sold a weight-loss product called Calorad at a flea market in Union City, Tennessee. Calorad was a milky liquid that rolled down the throat like snot. We were no strangers to the weight-loss product game. For years, my mother had sold herbal supplements which promised energy, vitality, and weight loss from companies whose business models resembled pyramid sales programs, like Tupperware.
One weekend at the flea market, I was finishing a sale with a customer when my mother called me over. She was talking to a woman who was holding the slim white bottle of Calorad. The woman scanned me from head to toe. “Really?” She handed my mother $20 and walked off with the Calorad. “I didn’t tell her that you did. I only told her you’d lost weight. This was the distinction that our family’s ethics hinged upon. My mother never lied to the woman. She allowed the woman to make her own associations. Our family code was very clear about this: a lie of omission is not a lie. A secret is not a lie. If you were confronted with a direct question, you were obligated to tell the truth. Sometimes this did not require the whole truth. The quest for answers depended upon asking the right question.