The Feel Great System by Unicity is a weight loss program that has gained popularity, particularly on social media. This article aims to provide a comprehensive, unbiased review of the system, its components, and its effectiveness, drawing upon available information and expert opinions.
What is the Feel Great System?
The Feel Great System (FGS) is a program that combines intermittent fasting with two supplements: Unimate and Balance. It is marketed as a way to improve overall health, manage weight, and increase energy levels.
Unicity is an international multi-level marketing company that produces Balance, a dietary supplement. Balance is a powder mix packaged individually that you mix with water. The fiber matrix is designed to help ease some of the impact excess dietary carbohydrates and cholesterol can have on the body.
Components of the Feel Great System
The Feel Great System revolves around two key products: Unimate and Balance.
Unimate
Unimate is a yerba mate supplement that is intended to be taken in the morning to kickstart the day. Yerba mate is a plant-based tea known for its caffeine content and potential effects on fat oxidation, blood glucose, and cholesterol.
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However, research on yerba mate's effects is still limited, and claims about Unimate promoting well-being, ketone production, digestion, mental clarity, and metabolic health are not definitively substantiated.
Balance
Balance is a fiber supplement that contains a proprietary blend of different fiber sources. It is designed to be taken before meals to help manage blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and appetite.
The Unicity Balance fact sheet indicates that Biosphere is a unique blend that includes five different sources of fiber. The ingredients in Unicity Balance include fiber and a multivitamin.
Ingredients in Balance:
- Biosphere Fiber Proprietary Formula: This contains 2,228 mg of a blend of five different fiber sources. Soluble fiber is well researched for its ability to lower glucose and cholesterol levels. A recent systematic review found that soluble fiber significantly reduced fasting glucose and insulin levels, HOMA-IR, and hemoglobin A1c levels in those with type 2 diabetes.
- Unicity 7x: This is a specialized blend of plant-derived polysaccharides, also known as viscous fibers. Viscous, soluble fibers form a thick gel when mixed with water and as they move through the digestive tract. Polysaccharides are simply long-chain carbohydrates that are abundantly found in plants and animals. Gum arabic is a natural gum occurring in nature.
- Bios Cardio Matrix: This is a blend of plant extracts and phytosterols that supports the body’s cholesterol absorption process. Phytosterols, which are plant sterols and stanols, are naturally occurring compounds in plants. A recent review article suggests that 3 grams of phytosterols per day is needed to achieve these cholesterol-lowering benefits.
- Bios Vitamin Complex: This vitamin complex is essentially a multivitamin, providing a blend of various vitamins and minerals.
How Does the Feel Great System Work?
The Feel Great System combines the use of Unimate and Balance with intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting involves cycling between periods of eating and voluntary fasting on a regular schedule. The Feel Great Program is designed to support better overall health and make it easier to adhere to intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting has been shown to have many benefits for healthy weight management, insulin sensitivity, glucose and lipid levels, blood pressure, and general well-being.
Intermittent Fasting
The Feel Great System encourages users to gradually increase their fasting window, starting with 12 hours and working up to 16 hours to get even more benefits. Unimate is designed to help kickstart the morning and can be used to help extend the fast.
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The Role of Supplements
- Unimate: Provides energy and helps curb cravings during the fasting period due to its caffeine content from yerba mate.
- Balance: Taken before meals, it helps to slow glucose absorption, manage cholesterol levels, and promote satiety.
Potential Benefits of the Feel Great System
The Feel Great Program is intended to support healthy metabolic fitness and weight loss for healthy individuals. In addition to genetic and hormonal factors, a few metabolic factors are related to PCOS: insulin resistance, obesity, and elevated blood glucose. This is where Feel Great can be particularly helpful. Balance is designed to help support healthier cholesterol and blood glucose levels (due to the phytosterols, soluble fibers, plant polysaccharides, etc). Second, the practice of intermittent fasting can help with controlling caloric intake, and during extended periods of fasting, the body also utilizes its fat stores for energy-both of these can help support weight loss.
Weight Loss
The Feel Great System may lead to weight loss due to the combination of intermittent fasting and the appetite-suppressing effects of Unimate and Balance. Fiber has been shown to improve glycemic control, reduce glucose spikes, decrease high insulin levels, and assist in weight management.Some people lose a few pounds, while some have lost over 40 pounds. Some don’t lose any weight. In a recent clinical study, participants (healthy adults with no previously diagnosed chronic disease) lost on average 1% of body weight over 60 days on the Feel Great Program.
Improved Metabolic Health
The soluble fiber in Balance can help lower glucose and cholesterol levels. Research on yerba mate suggests beneficial effects on glucose metabolism and cholesterol levels, as well as weight management.
Increased Energy
Unimate, with its yerba mate content, can provide a boost of energy.
Potential Drawbacks and Considerations
While the Feel Great System may offer some benefits, it's essential to consider the potential drawbacks and factors that may influence its effectiveness.
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Cost
The cost of the Feel Great System is a significant consideration. The cost for a 30 day supply of Unicity products have increased considerably since this review of the product; it’s now between $100 - $150, depending on where it’s purchased. This can be a major barrier for many individuals. Some people do not feel like $219.00 a month is a good way to spend money.
Multi-Level Marketing
Unicity is a direct-sales company that uses multi-level marketing to promote their products. This business model can sometimes lead to exaggerated claims and pressure to purchase products.
Proprietary Blends
Balance contains proprietary blends, which do not specify the exact amounts of each ingredient. This makes it difficult to assess the true effectiveness of the supplement.
Digestive Issues
Increasing fiber intake may lead to digestive discomfort for some people. This is usually short-term but may persist for some individuals. Oftentimes, when you drastically increase the amount of fiber in your diet, you may experience side effects such as bloating, indigestion, and gassiness. This is because gasses are produced as fiber is fermented by the bacteria in the lower GI tract. Frequently, these side effects will diminish as your body and gut bacteria adjust to your new diet. To mitigate some of the gastrointestinal discomfort sometimes associated with high-fiber diets, you may consider taking a lower dose (half or one packet of Balance per day) or the daily consumption of probiotics, such as Unicity Probionic Plus. Alternatively, eating too much, too quickly after an extended fast may also result in bloating or indigestion.
Individual Variability
Weight loss ranges drastically from person to person depending on lifestyle, caloric intake, exercise, and genetics. Some people lose a few pounds, while some have lost over 40 pounds. Some don’t lose any weight.
Lack of FDA Approval
No, Unicity is not FDA approved. Nutritional supplements in the United States are not evaluated by the FDA. However, while Unicity products themselves are not evaluated by the FDA, each manufacturer of raw materials (ingredients) that we work with needs to be in compliance with the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Because supplements are not evaluated by the FDA, the majority of dietary supplement packaging will include a statement like, “This product has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure any disease.” However, some dietary supplements may still be beneficial to human health and support the proper function of various body systems.
Sustainability
The Feel Great System diet doesn’t only use time-restricted eating, it also requires two supplements, Unimate and Balance. When you’re considering a new diet, your first question should be if it’s sustainable for LIFE. That’s how long you’re going to have to follow something like the Feel Great System, in order to keep the weight off.
Alternatives to the Feel Great System
If the Feel Great System seems too expensive or unsustainable, there are alternative approaches to achieving similar results.
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting can be practiced without the need for specific supplements. There is not one specific dietary requirement for Feel Great. The beauty of Feel Great is that it is highly adaptable to many different dietary habits and lifestyles. Whatever your goals, opt for a balanced diet with a variety of whole foods as much as possible. Of course, it’s great to remember to prioritize protein, control carbohydrates, and fuel with fat.
Fiber Supplementation
The fiber component of Balance can be replaced with more affordable fiber supplements or by incorporating more fiber-rich foods into the diet.
Multivitamins
A basic multivitamin can provide similar vitamins and minerals to the Bios Vitamin Complex in Balance at a lower cost.
Reviews and Testimonials
Reviews of the Feel Great System are mixed, with some users reporting positive experiences and others expressing skepticism.
Positive Reviews
Some users have reported weight loss, improved energy levels, and better control of diabetes.
Negative Reviews
Some users have criticized the cost of the system, the lack of transparency regarding ingredients, and the multi-level marketing business model.