Posted 29 March 2018
 | Herbex is extensively advertising Herbex Fat Burn on DSTV channels, particularly on MNET, and specifically on Carte Blanche. Viewers who consider Carte Blanche to be a credible program, may therefore think that Herbex Fat Burn’s claims of being beneficial for weight-loss, to be valid.
There is NO evidence to support the claims that this product can result in weight loss. There is not a single study showing that Herbex Fat Burn can result in weight-loss. |
According to the Herbex website, this product contains Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (Green tea leaves) and Paullinia cupana Kunth (Guarana seeds).
According to Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (Unbiased, Scientific Clinical Information on Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies), previously used by Herbex’s “experts” to argue (falsely) that their products work, there is no evidence that the ingredients individually contribute to weight-loss.
In 2012, EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) assessed whether the claim that “a combination of Paullinia cupana Kunth (guarana) and Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (green tea) extracts and reduction of body weight” was valid and truthful, concluded that “a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of a combination of Paullinia cupana Kunth (guarana) and Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (green tea) extracts and a reduction in body weight”.
Although the dosage of the product in question is different from the Herbex product, the scientific panel concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that these 2 ingredients, through “a synergic action between guarana (rich in caffeine) and green tea (rich in epigallocatechin-3-gallate) extracts increase[s] energy expenditure and fat oxidation, and thus may help to improve weight loss“.
Worse, Herbex claims that to use the product, one has to “Dilute 25 ml of concentrate in 1 litre of cold water. Mix well. Drink throughout the day”. Imagine that for your headache, I suggest you dilute 1 panado tablet in 1 litre of water and drink throughout the day?
Don’t waste your money on this product.
We have had this product analysed to confirm whether the ingredients are present, and their dosages. We will post the full results in due time, but in the interim:
Wikipedia states that EGCG is found in high content in the dried green tea leaves (7380 mg per 100 g)
Green tea bags contain 2 grams of of green tea leaves.
Therefore, one green tea bag contains 147.6 mg EGCG** (7380 mg/50).
Herbex Fat Burn contains 10.3 mg EGCG* per 25 ml with “Directions: Dilute 25 ml of concentrate in 1 litre of cold water. Mix well. Drink throughout the day”.
*EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate measured in Herbex was approximately 412.1 mg/Litre, which works out to be 10.3 mg in 25 ml
**Other sources claim green tea bags to contain 25 mg to 86 mg EGCG per bag.
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