Cortislim Review: Does CortiSlim Work?

Cortislim, if you haven't heard, is a new fat burner on the block. Cortislim features several ingredients typical to common ephedra-free fat burners, but its main focus is not "fat burning" as we have come to know it.

Nope, Cortislim "apparently" works by controlling weight gain and accelerating fat burning by negating the effects of the hormone cortisol -- specifically in the stomach or "belly" area, if we are to believe the advertising hype.

So, I hear you asking -- what the heck is cortisol?

Cortisol is the body's main stress hormone, and is required for many vital purposes -- proper glucose metabolism, blood pressure, immune function and inflammatory response are a few. In times of stress, either mental or physical, the body can produce an excessive amount of cortisol. At these high levels, cortisol is a nasty little number indeed. It can negatively affect cognitive performance, suppress thyroid function, foster blood sugar imbalances and the subsequent deposition of body fat, decrease bone density, as well as other things. Athletes don't like cortisol, as it is catabolic -- i.e., muscle-wasting, rather than anabolic -- i.e., muscle building.

Bottom line?

Excess cortisol levels may indeed be somewhat responsible for excess fat deposition and weight gain, no doubt about it (you'll see why I say "somewhat" a little later on).

OK, now back to Cortislim -- can it really encourage weight loss by addressing the high cortisol levels tied to everyday stress? To answer that, let's look at a few of the ingredients in Cortislim...

The most important ingredient in this compilation is Magnolia bark, standardized for something called "honokiol". According to SupplementWatch.com...

"... a small dose of honokiol, or a magnolia bark extract standardized for honokiol content, can help to "de-stress" you without making you sleepy, while a larger dose might have the effect of knocking you out. When compared to pharmaceutical agents such as Valium (diazepam), honokiol appears to be as effective in its anti-anxiety activity, yet not nearly as powerful in its sedative ability."

This "anti-anxiety" effect appears to be backed up by numerous animal studies (that, of course, doesn't mean it will work in an identical fashion in humans, but it does look promising). However, while the honokiol element of Magnolia bark may be an effective anxiolytic agent (J Pharm Pharmacol 2000;52:1425-9) there is no scientific data that validates its ability to lower cortisol levels.

The other major ingredients in this formulation -- chromium, green tea, banaba leaf, and vanadyl all work well to stabilize blood sugar levels, and moderate insulin reaction. The only other ingredient of note is Citrus Aurauntium (bitter orange) standardized for synephrine -- ephedra's kinder, gentler cousin (unfortunately, there's not much evidence synephrine is good for anything!).

OK, let's get to the bottom line...

Cortislim may indeed be able to reduce your stress levels -- through the effects of Magnolia bark contained in its formulation. But that's not to say it lowers cortisol levels and it's a far cry from saying you're actually going to lose weight with this stuff. Most people don't gain weight simply because they are stressed (although for some, stress does equate with overeating).

Nope, most of us gain weight because we are inactive and consume too many calories. Very simple.

The makers of Cortislim, however, have positioned their product perfectly to tap into one of the major issues with today's hectic lifestyle -- stress, and offer a "magic pill" solution to both it and weight loss. Smart product positioning! However...

While it is arguable that stress does play a role in weight gain, it is one that is secondary to sedentary lifestyles and excessive calorie consumption. It is a serious "oversimplification" to say, as it does on the Cortislim Web site, that "stress keeps us fat". It's also greatly misleading, since it does not take into account the other major factors that have contributed to the obesity crisis over the last several decades.

Perhaps what is even more disappointing is that at the time of this writing, you really have to dig to find any mention of the importance of proper eating and exercise on the Cortislim Web site. That, to me, is a big credibility killer.

Cortislim, like many other supplements, continues to perpetuate the myth that weight loss is easy, and does not require getting off the couch. Nonetheless, it's an appealing scenario, and I have no doubt that they'll have no trouble flogging their products to millions of unsuspecting buyers -- buyer who will be disappointed once again.

Having said that, I must say that I believe that supplements like Magnolia Bark may have some merit. I personally would be interested in experimenting with magnolia bark extract for its anti-anxiety effects, but I'd be hesitant to recommend Cortislim as a viable fat burner (even more so, now that the FTC has taken action against CortiSlim).

Have you used CortiSlim? Tell me what you think!

Want to learn more about fat burners? Industry professional Will Brink reviews dozens of top weight loss products in his superb "Fat Loss Revealed" Click here to read my review! Click here to visit the Fat Loss Revealed web site!

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